Mike Rowe testifies before US Senate about the skilled trades
 

There certainly isn't a shortage of skilled labor in Northern California and I dont think I'll be moving to Alabama in this life time.

I do appreciate him giving us recognition though.

I watched this video a month ago or so. The biggest point I took from it was the fact that most kids don't grow up wanting to be plumbers, electricians, etc. anymore. It's like the country looks down their nose at the hard working laborers in our society. We all can't be Bill Gates and we need skilled workers. I thought it was an excellent point. I also feel that things will start going back that way naturally in our NEW reality.

Wow -- That's really powerful in a very simple kind of way. And so dang true!


My son is always hot for me to BUY some exotic car... and I've always told him that doing that is for guys that don't have the skills to build their own... But I was really saying to him -- IMHO it's better and enjoyable to do it yourself if you can. And he knows I'm the kind of guy that never calls the plumber... I go out to the shed grab a bucket of tools and fix whatever it is that needs fixing. My friends think I'm an idiot.... well....and a lowlife... :lol:

No, your just still grounded and they are the disconnect Rowe is speaking of. Kudos to you.:thumbsup:

Dude! I thought maybe Kelli took your keyboard away.... Good to see you still have some manhood intact and can post once in awhile. :cheers: :woot:

Been busy living that American Dream. :lol:

It seems like the days of learning from your neighbor down the street, how to change your clutch, or how to install a manifold, or a faucet, or a Light fixture are gone...

The days of the Metal Shop, Wood Shop, Auto Shop days are gone.

A friend along time ago said "face it the fact is not everyone is college material, more are canidates for tech schools than college" I've never forgotten that. The US labor market is way over-priced and under-skilled and I believe much of that is due to lack of competition in the market place. The lack of balance impacts the white collar ranks with over-saturation. The expectation on kids to go get a college education puts a lot of stress on them as well. The one's that are college material end up with a career and peace of mind, the one's that aren't quite there end up working their butt off to be mediocre when they could have had a skilled trade education that rewarded daily with a sense of accomplishment and personal pride for a job well done. There needs to be a paradigm shift, but the colleges are big money machines that will fight that shift.

I watched that video a while ago and wanted to shake his hand and buy him a beer.

Isn't that the truth. The damn city ordinances are killing most chances of this being passed on neighbor to neighbor or father to son. I've been rebuilding the front suspension of my truck and have it sitting on jackstands in my driveway 15 feet from the curb. Not only did I get a citation to move it or else, but I also got a "friendly" visit from the city enforcement police about it. WTF, some of these people should be proud to see someone having enough pride to take care of their possessions.

Kids don't have much to look forward to as far as the trades go in school. Its sad really.