General Discussion

One_Life_To_Give

(6,036 posts)

75. For some people it is the best option

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Original post)

Wed Nov 12, 2014, 07:11 PM

Nov 2014

The world only needs a limited number of Cardiologists, VXware Architects etc. We need people who can fill a whole host of functions, laying brick and stone walls, to plumbers/electricians and Dirty Jobs people. The day you can't find someone to repair your car, you realize just how important a good mechanic is.

I see this as a much needed pushback against the everyone must go to college junk. For some college is the right choice. But some people really are best a a host of other activities. Attending a Technical High School and learning a trade IMO is a much better choice for some people. Not everyone is cut out to be a college grad and work in an office/profession. And we need to acknowledge they are every bit as valued as the college grad.

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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