15 ms·

We wouldn't need 4 year degrees if we hadn't dumbed down public school. We wouldn't need 4 year degrees if employers were allowed to give potential employees a

We wouldn't need 4 year degrees if we hadn't dumbed down public school. We wouldn't need 4 year degrees if employers were allowed to give potential employees an IQ test. Want to become an electrician? You aren't allowed to take an unpaid internship, so what do you have to do instead? Now you have to pay the electrician to teach you in a classroom setting, putting you in massive debt. >I'm of the opinion that yes, even minimum wage jobs should be able to get the bare minimum expenses of an average family covered (housing/food/medicine), let alone two incomes making more than minimum wage. Do you support us immediately ceasing trade with China and Mexico? Or is it only a problem when you can actually see the people that can't afford to live a lifestyle similar to yours?

maxerickson 9y ago
An electrician union here advertises apprenticeships with (decent for entry level) hourly pay, benefits and no debt upon completion. It's several years to complete, but the 8000 hours of work experience is then sufficient to get a license to work independently.
- Consultant32452 9y ago
  What's really important is that we design the system so that incumbent wealth can maintain their position by controlling the market through government regulation (licensing).
  - maxerickson 9y ago
    That's a great defense of your misstatement about what it takes to become an electrician. Of course regulation often goes wrong. I'm pretty sure that isn't a reason to do away with it altogether, it is merely a reason to find ways to do it better.
    - Consultant32452 9y ago
      I didn't make a misstatement. Both cases have the same problem. The government has stepped in and made it more difficult for you to enter the market. In one case, you have to pay an electrician to take a class because the government won't let you learn for free. In the other case the government has made it even worse because you now have to perform labor at sub-market wages for 4 years before you're allowed to do work that you likely could've performed on your own after just a few weeks.
      - maxerickson 9y ago
        There's a difference between the requirements for licensing being excessive and "massive debt".
        Consultant32452 9y ago
        In both cases the government regulation is making you an indentured servant to incumbent wealth. In one case you're a slave to financiers and the education incumbents and in the other case you're a slave to the labor union who doesn't want you coming in and undercutting them. I'm not interested in debating which one is worse, they're both very similar problems. And neither is necessary.

maxerickson 9y ago

An electrician union here advertises apprenticeships with (decent for entry level) hourly pay, benefits and no debt upon completion. It's several years to complete, but the 8000 hours of work experience is then sufficient to get a license to work independently.

Consultant32452 9y ago
What's really important is that we design the system so that incumbent wealth can maintain their position by controlling the market through government regulation (licensing).
- maxerickson 9y ago
  That's a great defense of your misstatement about what it takes to become an electrician. Of course regulation often goes wrong. I'm pretty sure that isn't a reason to do away with it altogether, it is merely a reason to find ways to do it better.
  - Consultant32452 9y ago
    I didn't make a misstatement. Both cases have the same problem. The government has stepped in and made it more difficult for you to enter the market. In one case, you have to pay an electrician to take a class because the government won't let you learn for free. In the other case the government has made it even worse because you now have to perform labor at sub-market wages for 4 years before you're allowed to do work that you likely could've performed on your own after just a few weeks.
    - maxerickson 9y ago
      There's a difference between the requirements for licensing being excessive and "massive debt".
      - Consultant32452 9y ago
        In both cases the government regulation is making you an indentured servant to incumbent wealth. In one case you're a slave to financiers and the education incumbents and in the other case you're a slave to the labor union who doesn't want you coming in and undercutting them. I'm not interested in debating which one is worse, they're both very similar problems. And neither is necessary.