[SandyB]

"True, we had alternatives back then, good paying jobs in factories that have now moved overseas, but that is another topic."

It seems to me that this is no concern to you, whereas I believe it should be.

It is a concern to me, but there is nothing I can do about it, most people are in favor of free trade. That large pool of males who left high school and got good high paying jobs with lots of beneifits and pensions and medical insurance, etc, that enabled them to support a non-working wife and 3 kids doesnt exist anymore.

When I went to school , only the male flunkies and drop outs got poor paying jobs at stores or hamburger joints - yet today, it is so common to see young men working at flunkee poor paying jobs with no benefits and no pension plan.

[Nowhere Man]

It is a concern to me, but there is nothing I can do about it, most people are in favor of free trade. That large pool of males who left high school and got good high paying jobs with lots of beneifits and pensions and medical insurance, etc, that enabled them to support a non-working wife and 3 kids doesnt exist anymore.

I'm for fair trade, not free trade myself, and yes, I get a hailstorm slung at me. Like you said, there was a time where people out of high school can get entry jobs, learn the business and have upward mobility, it ain't so now, either you are stuck or there are less jobs in the pool. This is a huge concern for me too.

[brownsfan]

"most people are in favor of free trade. That large pool of males who left high school and got good high paying jobs with lots of beneifits and pensions and medical insurance, etc, that enabled them to support a non-working wife and 3 kids doesnt exist anymore. "

It's a by-product of free trade, one the free traders don't want to acknowledge. Aside from the drop outs. There are males who just aren't suited for college. Men who are bright, good, decent people who just aren't suited for college. They used to get factory jobs, became good husbands, and raised kids who became good decent doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
The free traders would tell you those folks need to hustle and start their own business. Otherwise, they have no right to reproduce.
You are feeling the effects of this.
I wonder how many free traders had factory worker parents?