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Would it not be fairer to say that the demand for highly-paid work has increased and that college is simply a victim? Going back a few decades in the UK, a man

Would it not be fairer to say that the demand for highly-paid work has increased and that college is simply a victim? Going back a few decades in the UK, a manual labourer could afford to buy a home, own a car, provide for the family, etcetera. Nowadays that is falling fast. Add to that the 'pandora's box' element of education (those who are educated will likely feel depressed if low-paid or non-stimulating long hours bar them from continuing to learn) and I think it's a natural reaction. If you want to fix 'learning for learning's sake', then you need to get rid of the idea that the winner takes all and that those who are unskilled are fit for dog meat. This also wasn't an issue when only the rich went on to further education, because they are not constrained by work.

mistermann 12y ago
> Going back a few decades in the UK, a manual labourer could afford to buy a home, own a car, provide for the family, etcetera. Nowadays that is falling fast. You could now say the same for college grads in many countries as well, and not just the peasants with arts degrees - the housing bubble is such that unless your parents can help you out in a very big way, owning a house is simply not realistic for even the very well paid, unless you want to spend 75%+ of your income on a mortgage.
sharkweek 12y ago
I have a bit of a theory, specifically in the US, that in the near future there will be some very lucrative opportunities in things like plumbing and electrical as most folks got the idea in their heads that they HAD to go to college to avoid such work. And now equipped with a college degree there is a strange mental block in becoming s blue collar serviceperson despite the absolute need for plumbers and electricians. A friend of mine skipped out on college, worked for 5 years for the local union and last year started his own electrician business. He now has two employees and makes fantastic money, which I only expect to go up as more of the old guys retire with no replacement. Yeah it's not glamorous but at the same time he's doing what most folks on HN dream of in running his own business with high paying customers.

mistermann 12y ago

> Going back a few decades in the UK, a manual labourer could afford to buy a home, own a car, provide for the family, etcetera. Nowadays that is falling fast. You could now say the same for college grads in many countries as well, and not just the peasants with arts degrees - the housing bubble is such that unless your parents can help you out in a very big way, owning a house is simply not realistic for even the very well paid, unless you want to spend 75%+ of your income on a mortgage.

sharkweek 12y ago

I have a bit of a theory, specifically in the US, that in the near future there will be some very lucrative opportunities in things like plumbing and electrical as most folks got the idea in their heads that they HAD to go to college to avoid such work. And now equipped with a college degree there is a strange mental block in becoming s blue collar serviceperson despite the absolute need for plumbers and electricians. A friend of mine skipped out on college, worked for 5 years for the local union and last year started his own electrician business. He now has two employees and makes fantastic money, which I only expect to go up as more of the old guys retire with no replacement. Yeah it's not glamorous but at the same time he's doing what most folks on HN dream of in running his own business with high paying customers.