No money's to be had

[busker]

There are so many keyboard warriors,
armchair farmers and farriers,
who think they're smarter than the rest
because they flunked the final test
and graduated only from the best
of schools, they think, the one of knocks -
these cocks are the first to shout
instead of being stout
heroic and stoic
when the hospital beds run out
and they cough their rogue lungs out.

There's no medal for flunking school,
No prize for being a fool.

[dukealien]

There are so many keyboard warriors,
armchair farmers and farriers,
who think they're smarter than the rest
because they flunked the final test
and graduated only from the best
of schools, they think, the one of knocks -
these cocks are the first to shout
instead of being stout
heroic and stoic
when the hospital beds run out
and they cough their rogue lungs out.

There's no medal for flunking school,
No prize for being a fool.

I like the concept of an armchair farrier - working with horses, hammer and tongs, but no need to muck out the stables.  Or dodge the one that kicks.

Other than that, the poem meanders a bit on the way to its final couplet.  Worth it to qualify the noble-savage myth that all sons of toil are pure-hearted non-SOBs, but for some reason the plumbers, finish-carpenters and welders who never saw diplomas with their names on them seem to find money quite adroitly.

[busker]

Other than that, the poem meanders a bit on the way to its final couplet.  Worth it to qualify the noble-savage myth that all sons of toil are pure-hearted non-SOBs, but for some reason the plumbers, finish-carpenters and welders who never saw diplomas with their names on them seem to find money quite adroitly.

Plumbers and welders need to go to trade school and they do receive diplomas though.
Those working in the really high paying industries (oil and gas, mining) are at the top of their profession and need additional training.
They don’t make as much for as long as fully qualified engineers, but that’s a different point

[Xlateralus]

People thinking becoming a tradesman is easy but it takes just as long as getting a masters degree at a university.

Is just cheaper.


The real issue isn’t college vs trade school is wanting to work hard for little pay early. There aren’t many people willing to do that anymore so it’s a lot of grief. I mean, an obviously there are structural changes to the economy that have made it more difficult. But still I think hard work is a large determining factor in your outcome.

[dukealien]

People thinking becoming a tradesman is easy but it takes just as long as getting a masters degree at a university.

Is just cheaper.


The real issue isn’t college vs trade school is wanting to work hard for little pay early. There aren’t many people willing to do that anymore so it’s a lot of grief. I mean, an obviously there are structural changes to the economy that have made it more difficult. But still I think hard work is a large determining factor in your outcome.

Good point.  Basic university degree, even advanced degree, could be work-study and arrive (tired) with degree *and* work experience after a year or two over par.  If the work-part was in the field of your major (engineering, for example), better yet.  Now it's full ride but arriving at the end with a tan, a diploma, and student debt rather than work experience.  The attitude of 'degree or nothing' and humanities preferred led to finance-debt for many and resentment for the debt.  For which a sense of entitlement was either foundation or result... or both, amplified.  (And we wonder why they riot!)

[busker]

People thinking becoming a tradesman is easy but it takes just as long as getting a masters degree at a university.

Is just cheaper.


The real issue isn’t college vs trade school is wanting to work hard for little pay early. There aren’t many people willing to do that anymore so it’s a lot of grief. I mean, an obviously there are structural changes to the economy that have made it more difficult. But still I think hard work is a large determining factor in your outcome.

Good point.  Basic university degree, even advanced degree, could be work-study and arrive (tired) with degree *and* work experience after a year or two over par.  If the work-part was in the field of your major (engineering, for example), better yet.  Now it's full ride but arriving at the end with a tan, a diploma, and student debt rather than work experience.  The attitude of 'degree or nothing' and humanities preferred led to finance-debt for many and resentment for the debt.  For which a sense of entitlement was either foundation or result... or both, amplified.  (And we wonder why they riot!)

Tradesmen start making money earlier and have low or no debt (a uniquely American consideration), but also finish up earlier as the body gives way, and the vast majority don't make that much.
By contrast, degree holders in STEM have an almost infinite choice of high paying careers. Over time, the money they make vastly outstrips the trades option. It's not even a contest. 

So yes, if you want to make the big bucks in your twenties while the rest of your peers struggle, then by all means go for the trades.
If you want to have a decent amount of wealth in your forties, study engineering. It's not even close.