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Notes -
I think at least 3/4 of the problem here is culture. For whatever reasons, anything other than “go to a four year university” is seen as unacceptable to most people. The schools, even public schools, love to brag about kids in college prep, and the rates of kids getting into college. They have a few other courses at least around me, but they’re mostly afterthoughts— the equipment never gets updated, the teachers are barely interested, it’s seen by parents and kids as lesser than academic work. And really, most parents would at least in private consider a child who wanted to go into skilled trades as disappointing and not living up to potential. They’re embarrassed to tell other parents about it.
It might be a waste for a truly top 20% intellect to do HVAC. But for most people, it’s really a better option than the typical office drone. More opportunities for owning a business, less exposure to AI replacement. The money is respectable and the pot is sweetened significantly by the fact that instead of taking on thousands in debt for the education, you get paid to learn the trades. There are downsides, but there are downsides to everything.
Pretty big tribal difference here. Of course, the tribe which genuinely does see becoming an electrician as disappointing compared to the lower pink collar jobs which absorb excess college graduates controls the schools. Red tribe parents don't mind the idea, electrician and HVAC tech and plumber are ordinary jobs like teacher or accountant or cop, and income and personal behavior are what counts for success, not education.
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