I agree. Before too long, mechanics will be few in number and will be able to charge absurd amounts. we might even see the reemergence of guilds controlling trades.

You are missing the point. Like you said, there was a time when being a factory worker was enough to provide for a family...but not anymore. And like you said, many jobs are being outsourced to other countries. That leaves Americans with only the highly skilled jobs, that are limited and require extra education.. Education acts as a proof of qualification for these jobs. Without education , these jobs may be nearly impossible to get. However, other jobs may not provide enough income for a family to live comfortably.

Im not saying that you cant get a good job without a degree, but i am saying that the chances of getting a good job go way up if you do. But i do agree that something like a degree in art could very easily be a waste of time.

I agree with the general idea but not those hogwash ideas in your post. If you don't have the drive to go to college of course you shouldn't go. But if you are on your way to becoming the next Bill Gates, you should not be forced into trade school. And 4 years of a language goes against your main point. If a kid is just going to do construction, he should not be forced to learn German lol.

Because factory workers get laid off by the same corporations that give out massive bonuses to upper management. A Bachelor's degree has become the new method for achieving social stratification. Not having one is essentially a salary cap for most people. You want to keep the riff raff out? Put up an educational gate. I even see this in technical industries where experience and certifications should have greater weight.

You're right, though. The working class has become the new poor. Such is capitalism in a political and legal environment designed around protecting those at the top.

You need a College education for everything nowadays; including jobs such as mechanics.

Without college, what can you do? Newspaper delivery? Burger flipper? If you don't want to be lower class, without an education your future is a huge gamble with odds very much against you. What the US should do is lower the burden on prospective students and fully subsidize education in fields require expansion.

Going to college is more than just getting a degree or earning a "useless major"; compare someone who only went to high school versus someone who went to college, the level of critical thinking is very different. And again, compare someone who went to college and someone who went to grad school there is yet another gap. There are materials you learn from your mentor, professors, and college level course you do not get in "trade" school.

Do you want a job, or do you want a career? Being an electrician is a job, being a successful entrepreneur is a career.

I, myself, have gone through 4 years of University with a biology major, then 4 years of medical school, and 3 years of internal medicine residency. That's 11 more years of schooling than people who did not go to college. The level of thinking, reasoning, degree of religious/political tolerance is totally different. I had plenty of friends who dropped out of high school, or finished high school and did not pursue college they seem to be stuck where they were 11 years ago when I hang out with them (nothing wrong with that i guess...).

And I hang out with my college friends, even though our discussions are more sophisticated, they are still less thoughtful than with my "doctor"-friends; I have to definitely adjust my conversation with my HS friends vs my college friends vs my medical school friends.

Education is never bad, if you don't think so that's because you haven't discover the wisdom in the books yet; most of u guys are young and probably in ur late teenage years. My only advice to you is keep reading, and keep your play time apart from your study time. I grew up as a gamer, didn't have the best grades in school. But hey, the only way to "level up" yourself is to study! There is no way around it.

Lol I agreed with you on college not being for everyone. But you are going beyond that which is where I disagree. What is wrong with a history major needing to take more classes though? If you want to be a historian that's what you have to do. I happen to be double majoring in engineering and BUSINESS so I'll just leave it up to your imagination to figure out my opinions on your second paragraph hahaha.

@Jumpin

Agreed. But some people want to just flip burgers and live a lazy life. For them they shouldn't be pressured into waisting money at school. I would love for school to be cheaper too lol.

I think you're almost completely wrong.

Though (good) teachers should get payed more and bad teachers should get fired, no holding back on teachers should be tolerated.

I'm starting to think the economic problems we now face are related to our society are related to it becomming a meritocracy ...

To understand my thinking ask yourself this question "Would the decisions made by the people in power of most companies be different if they were running the companies to pass them onto their children, rather than running these companies to receive the rewards of a lifetime spent 'gaming' the system?"

The education system is one of the core pillars of the meritocracy and the higher education bubble is the consequence of success being determined by going to the right school and getting the right degree.

Yeah I agree. Nowadays degrees are nothing special, you need one just to keep up with everyone else...not to get ahead. That's why free/subsidized University isn't a great thing. I've heard in the European countries where post-secondary is free that people with degrees (even masters/PhD) are serving hamburgers. Too many people are going now that it has become so cheap.