General Discussion

BlindTiresias

(1,563 posts)

30. Man this is actually bothering me now

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Original post)

Wed Nov 12, 2014, 05:28 PM

Nov 2014

This is ignoring the fact that rigorous licensure is intended to keep the labor supply low and well qualified, which is why veteran plumbers can pull in six figure salaries in metropolitan areas. The median salary is closer to 49k a year, far from the gravy train people are saying it is. If you had a sudden upsurge in labor you would see those high paying positions deteriorate and licensing costs and educational requirements would increase as an attempt to keep the top tier labor supply artificially low would set in, and you would see the wages for the rest of the field plummet.

No, this is bad economic thought, or rather, it is beneficial to aristocrats but would be a disaster for the skilled trades.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

146 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Billionaire says: "Why not become a plumber instead of going to college?" [View all] ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 OP

plumbers make more than a lot of college grads tk2kewl Nov 2014 #1

yep. Everyone wants to be a lawyer or stock broker - LawDeeDah Nov 2014 #3

Not sneered at as much anymore as English lit majors and PhD candidates. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #78

I have much greater respect for plumbers, electricians, etc., LawDeeDah Nov 2014 #79

Not boob docs Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #83

FYI: Cosby is also a total sleaze bag, a serial sexual harasser of the worst sort. Blech. bettyellen Nov 2014 #123

they are afraid of getting dirty krawhitham Nov 2014 #118

No one gets looked down upon more than liberal arts majors Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #140

So you're changing careers then? tenderfoot Nov 2014 #12

if i could go back and be a plumber from the beginning, i might tk2kewl Nov 2014 #14

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with being a plumber deutsey Nov 2014 #17

THIS RIGHT HERE ^^^^, said better than I did in my OP. nt ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #21

Yep. Same attitude underwrites his 2A philosophy. Eleanors38 Nov 2014 #60

Your statement about class stratification hits the nail on the head. Thanks. greatlaurel Nov 2014 #73

All well and good, but a livable-wage "good" job is still mandatory. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #80

So sorry you do not find other people interesting. greatlaurel Nov 2014 #104

Thanks...+1 deutsey Nov 2014 #94

Glad your kids are doing well. Do check out the ideas on academic scholarships. greatlaurel Nov 2014 #103

I don't mind if it's nursing school or an EE degree Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #84

Yeah, when I went to college deutsey Nov 2014 #92

Oh I get it now, if a subject is not something you think will make money then it is not worth it. greatlaurel Nov 2014 #105

An Independent plumber maybe Catherine Vincent Nov 2014 #81

that depends on if it's union tk2kewl Nov 2014 #113

There is a rather classist attitude that the trades are "below" white-collar jobs. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #97

It's actually a great idea. Union plumbers in NYC =$60/hr. JaneyVee Nov 2014 #2

Until the same billionaires kill the unions, at least. Orsino Nov 2014 #18

However, your job can be done by 'guest' workers or cheap imported Nay Nov 2014 #46

ibew unionthug777 Nov 2014 #69

ibew 596 spyker29 Nov 2014 #76

Plus at the end of the day you don't usually take work or stress home! Red State Rebel Nov 2014 #121

Do you know this from experience? BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #128

We've got an oversupply Proud Public Servant Nov 2014 #4

It's because people were told that college was THE way to the Middle Class. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #98

What's wrong with being a plumber? sharp_stick Nov 2014 #5

I didn't say there was anything wrong with it, and you have missed my point. I worked next ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #7

Ideas about what? Transcendental poets and the philosophy of Star Trek? Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #86

Most plumbers I see are private business people. upaloopa Nov 2014 #8

My nephew- in-law is a UNION plumber HockeyMom Nov 2014 #29

Nothing wrong with being a plumber. Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #6

Didn't say there was. That wasn't the point of my pointing out what a 1%er's idea of what we proles ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #11

Mario and Luigi need their pound of flesh. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #99

Better a plumber than a barista with six-figure college debt. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #9

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers too." FSogol Nov 2014 #10

Fed my kids' digging thousands of feet of ditches, thank you. nt ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #24

"If you don't get good grades, you'll end up digging ditches" MindPilot Nov 2014 #28

I've been saying that for years... TreasonousBastard Nov 2014 #13

Welcome to -- FALSE DICHOTOMY! immoderate Nov 2014 #15

If everyone decided to become Plumbers then dilby Nov 2014 #16

True - there's the lack of ability to outsource treestar Nov 2014 #47

Plumbers can't be outsourced. hifiguy Nov 2014 #19

They can, however BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #42

Why not, indeed. Plumbers make bank. nt Dreamer Tatum Nov 2014 #20

Duetsey said it upthread better than I did in my OP: ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #22

Not everyone needs college Dreamer Tatum Nov 2014 #61

And Bloomberg's Attitude. . . ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #130

If everyone went into those skilled labor positions BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #23

Doncha just love it when the monied elite hand down advice to their lessers? MindPilot Nov 2014 #25

This ^^^ geardaddy Nov 2014 #55

What's wrong with being a plumber AND going to college? Depaysement Nov 2014 #26

Ummm..... a six figure student loan debt, perhaps? (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #27

Me? My degree is in Medieval Art History... MindPilot Nov 2014 #33

Thank you for making me feel exceptional! Depaysement Nov 2014 #48

People don't want to be in debt up to their eyeballs? Odin2005 Nov 2014 #100

That's the problem. RedCappedBandit Nov 2014 #126

My exact first thought/ RedCappedBandit Nov 2014 #125

Man this is actually bothering me now BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #30

as the son of a plumber DonCoquixote Nov 2014 #31

yeah that is an element BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #37

Nobody's going to sneak into power getting bullshit degrees. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #88

Ah the resentment just seeps through whatthehey Nov 2014 #119

Bloomberg is a billionaire BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #136

I disagree. I think he's right. chrisa Nov 2014 #32

i see nothing wrong with it, plumbers could also more easily start their own business JI7 Nov 2014 #34

Welcome to Scrooge's America! cascadiance Nov 2014 #35

It was just a suggestion for kids to consider.......and a very good one, at that. WillowTree Nov 2014 #36

Good? For who? BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #38

I don't begin to know what you're talking about. WillowTree Nov 2014 #41

Hm, alright BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #45

What a bunch of bullshit joeglow3 Nov 2014 #132

Yeah and it would be true BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #134

President Obama has advocated EXACTLY this same thing joeglow3 Nov 2014 #138

What are you talking about? BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #139

You claimed the mayor's comment was a negative comment joeglow3 Nov 2014 #141

Ok BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #142

What do you think illegal immigrants do to these fields? joeglow3 Nov 2014 #143

yeah? BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #144

I still think it is good advice joeglow3 Nov 2014 #145

I think I'd rather hear how we could alleviate student debt and protect us from outsourcing... cascadiance Nov 2014 #43

Oh. So you think that those working in the trades are living a "LOWER END reality"? WillowTree Nov 2014 #51

Like others have said here, I am not saying this, but I think Bloomberg is saying this! cascadiance Nov 2014 #91

Bam! geardaddy Nov 2014 #57

Why not become a revolutionary instead of some billionaire's lackey? - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #39

At the same time, they want to raise retirement age to 70 or more. alarimer Nov 2014 #40

Lots of billionaires didn't go to college Boom Sound 416 Nov 2014 #44

Is that the measure of a man? WinkyDink Nov 2014 #53

It's a measure of success. Boom Sound 416 Nov 2014 #54

The 1% sees danger in much education and freedom of thought and freedom of expression. blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #49

very true; I was a college-educated auto mechanic -- a real misfit MindPilot Nov 2014 #58

What a bunch of shit. Dreamer Tatum Nov 2014 #62

Thank goodness people don't listen to politicians Kalidurga Nov 2014 #50

Funny how the wealthy send their scions not to trade schools but to the Ivys; not to the job market WinkyDink Nov 2014 #52

Will there still be UglyGreed Nov 2014 #56

Judge Smails: "The world needs ditch diggers too." badtoworse Nov 2014 #59

Once the Republicans start removing those pesky regulations procon Nov 2014 #63

One thing about plumbers... their jobs can never be outsourced to India or China (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2014 #64

During Bush some rich asshole suggested people go to butler school.... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #65

The uber wealthy ought to be taxed out of existence. hunter Nov 2014 #66

I guess it all depends on what you want in life. Vinca Nov 2014 #67

I have an MEd in Adult Community Education, among others) and 20 years as a repair plumber. jtuck004 Nov 2014 #68

Hope that Micheal doesn't develop a need for a plumber... Thor_MN Nov 2014 #70

with the degree inflation caused by treating college as a revenue stream plumbers will soon MisterP Nov 2014 #71

Not a bad idea really. I made a lot of money with my degree and the ballyhoo Nov 2014 #72

He might as well have said "Let them eat cake". Initech Nov 2014 #74

Better than saying let them make burgers. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #85

For some people it is the best option One_Life_To_Give Nov 2014 #75

A professional office? What about all the Renaissance Art majors Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #82

There's no reason an art history major can't then learn to be a plumber Recursion Nov 2014 #90

if they have to worry about paying off college loans JI7 Nov 2014 #101

Trade school isn't for everybody Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #117

Well, it's up to the person Recursion Nov 2014 #129

you seem really hung up on this BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #108

I'd love to plumb their homes with some lead pipes. nt Ilsa Nov 2014 #77

I'm all for it! obxhead Nov 2014 #87

Except that isn't Bloomberg or his ilk's game BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #135

You'll probably make better money (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #89

Why not do both? surrealAmerican Nov 2014 #93

How about Bloomberg become worm food. JEB Nov 2014 #95

There is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in this country... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #96

There's two things to say here Prophet 451 Nov 2014 #102

My BIL didn't go to college and became a plumber abelenkpe Nov 2014 #106

There is also that Libertarian davidpdx Nov 2014 #107

Me and plumbing don't get along. Not everyone can be a plumber, the same B Calm Nov 2014 #109

I know a plumber that drives a Rolls Royce AngryAmish Nov 2014 #110

Try an electrician. Mine just charged me $40.00 per quarter hour for work in my home. mfcorey1 Nov 2014 #111

Well, why not? Spider Jerusalem Nov 2014 #112

Hey Mr. Bloomberg! I graduated college and... meaculpa2011 Nov 2014 #114

While I share LWolf Nov 2014 #115

Plumber, electrician, HVAC/R, carpenter, welding, mechanic... Kaleva Nov 2014 #116

I agree with Bloomberg WestCoastLib Nov 2014 #120

I Happen RobinA Nov 2014 #122

Why the fuck should our young people have to make that choice? RedCappedBandit Nov 2014 #124

Median plumber income is 49k BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #127

Median income for people with a bachelor's degree is 46K WestCoastLib Nov 2014 #131

Yeah BlindTiresias Nov 2014 #133

Billionaires need to just STFU . . . Brigid Nov 2014 #137

College is highly overrated and discriminatory Reter Nov 2014 #146