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Attorney in Texas

(3,373 posts) Tue Nov 10, 2015, 11:16 PM Nov 2015

GOP debate fact check: Was Marco Rubio right about welders vs. philosophers? [View all]

Source: CBS News

Instead of raising the minimum wage, Rubio said the U.S. should focus on tax reform, regulatory reform and higher education reform -- including a more robust embrace of vocational training.

"Welders make more money than philosophers," he said. By encouraging Americans to get vocational training, he argued, "We will be able to increase wages for millions of Americans without making anyone worse off."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are in fact 849,930 workers in welding or a related category, such as soldering or brazing. Their annual mean wage falls between $36,450 and $40,040.

Meanwhile, the BLS says there are 23,210 postsecondary philosophy and religion teachers (probably the closest one can be to a professional "philosopher&quot . Their annual mean wage is $71,350.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-debate-fact-check-was-marco-rubio-right-about-welders-versus-philosophers/

66 replies

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GOP debate fact check: Was Marco Rubio right about welders vs. philosophers? [View all] Attorney in Texas Nov 2015 OP

on average he may be wrong drray23 Nov 2015 #1

Unionized welders can make good money persuadable Nov 2015 #36

An interesting "aside" to your specialty welder argument.... Plucketeer Nov 2015 #49

Philosophy students also have some of the highest MCAT scores exboyfil Nov 2015 #2

I don't know about the MCAT. potone Nov 2015 #12

Probably a different study exboyfil Nov 2015 #13

i disagree with him about the minimum wage, DesertFlower Nov 2015 #3

Unfortunately, teaching trades in high schools TexasBushwhacker Nov 2015 #54

Stupid statement JenniferJuniper Nov 2015 #4

you missed the point. not everyone DesertFlower Nov 2015 #5

No, I didn't JenniferJuniper Nov 2015 #7

of course i agree about the minimum wage. DesertFlower Nov 2015 #11

and someone needs to wash dishes and clean hotel rooms JenniferJuniper Nov 2015 #14

Welders make about $32 B. Philosophers make $1.6 B. immoderate Nov 2015 #6

A philosopher, a welder and Rubio walk into a bar... kairos12 Nov 2015 #8

:-) Bigredhunk Nov 2015 #25

Well done underpants Nov 2015 #32

What are you..... PosterChild Nov 2015 #34

Nice. (nt) Paladin Nov 2015 #40

Could be true in some ways forsaken mortal Nov 2015 #9

Talk to a welder at lunch Yupster Nov 2015 #62

Narco Rubio probably knew that well ahead of time. forest444 Nov 2015 #10

I don't like using the wrong doing exboyfil Nov 2015 #15

Being a racist is not illegal. Darb Nov 2015 #37

Narco Rubio. LOL. Thanks. kairos12 Nov 2015 #38

#Philosophers4Rubio so appreciate someone finally standing up for them L. Coyote Nov 2015 #16

I would say that "philosophy professor" and "philosopher" are different jobs Recursion Nov 2015 #17

But what demand is there for a professional ethicist? christx30 Nov 2015 #58

No one thinks Rubio is smart or honest, do they? nt valerief Nov 2015 #18

Sly comes to mind. Downwinder Nov 2015 #21

Welding can be difficult, demanding and dangerous work. cheapdate Nov 2015 #19

Why can't someone with a philosophy degree.......... mrmpa Nov 2015 #20

If people flood into welding daleo Nov 2015 #22

Speaking as a welder, some of us double as philosophers in our free time. JoeyT Nov 2015 #23

I was going to say that's really low wage bracket for welders underpants Nov 2015 #33

A good ASME Section IX welder cand easily make Kilgore Nov 2015 #44

Not if the welder is a robot. yellowcanine Nov 2015 #24

^^ this ^^ Myrina Nov 2015 #45

In the same topic they tried to say we can't pay people more because "replaced by robots" thats why! phantom power Nov 2015 #50

Nice fact check. PatrickforO Nov 2015 #26

absolutely. in addition, trade jobs restorefreedom Nov 2015 #60

All jobs matter Puppyjive Nov 2015 #27

lol. Carly Fiorino and Carl Icahn were philosophy majors ErikJ Nov 2015 #28

His comparison may be wrong, but I highly recomment vocational training. napi21 Nov 2015 #29

I agree 100% and congrats to your son wordpix Nov 2015 #52

muhahahahhahaha trillion Nov 2015 #30

I know many people who were fully qualified welders. Most of them drive trucks for a living. CBGLuthier Nov 2015 #31

Tell them to move here Kilgore Nov 2015 #43

Mostwelding is now done through automation. napi21 Nov 2015 #59

Not only that, but philosophers.... PosterChild Nov 2015 #35

Trade School Woodwizard Nov 2015 #39

I would disagree with CBS on one point. Chan790 Nov 2015 #41

In my world, Rubio is right Kilgore Nov 2015 #42

I agree but I'd also have h.s. trade courses for those who want/need them wordpix Nov 2015 #53

An opportunity for a cheap shot Jimbo S Nov 2015 #46

exactly - facts and numbers don't matter one bit 0rganism Nov 2015 #47

I used to watch American Chopper and this reminded me of an episode Calista241 Nov 2015 #48

I've taught hs seniors who read/write/do math on low elem. level ---read on wordpix Nov 2015 #51

538: "Philosophers Don’t Get Much Respect, But Their Earnings Don’t Suck" Attorney in Texas Nov 2015 #55

That Mean for Welders Is Suspiciously Low ProfessorGAC Nov 2015 #56

Rubio reinforced-Republicans will NOT raise the $7.25 minimum wage. Sucks for American workers. Sunlei Nov 2015 #57

its not a fair comparison but i tend to think rubio is on to something restorefreedom Nov 2015 #61

its a pointless comparison when his point was to say a non living min wage isn't the problem markishilaurelius Nov 2015 #63

rubio definitely wants to keep the serfs in their place restorefreedom Nov 2015 #64

i believe that he believes it when he says it. and tyvm for the welcome :) markishilaurelius Nov 2015 #65

:) the anti min wage folks are pretty dug in for sure restorefreedom Nov 2015 #66