Going blind.

It seems that we are losing sight of something important in this country: the working man.


I'm not really sure when it was, exactly, that working hard for a living (read:manual labor) became a sin. We have been focusing on, preaching the value and necessity of a "four year degree" for so long now, with such zeal and fervor, that we have neglected a very valuable and needed section of our workforce. Think about it; if everyone went to college, got a degree, became an architect or doctor, lawyer or chemist, who would do the work?


Who is going to collect your garbage weekly? Who will install your satellite? Who's gonna fix that garbage disposal or running toilet? Who will you call when your roof starts leaking, or when you need a new light fixture in the nursery? Who will build the grain silos that hold feed for the cattle we eat? Who will raise those cattle? Who will farm the corn, potatoes, wheat, carrots, cabbage and greens that go so well with them thar beefs?


Who will repair our cars? Who then will sew our clothes together, and dye them such wonderful colors? Who will assemble our HD televisions and Blu-ray players? Who will paint our houses, pave our streets, put up billboards? Who will keep the water flowing at the pumping station, keep the gas coming at the petrol station? Who will keep the damn lights on??


While there is something to be said for the "four year degree" careers, they aren't for everyone. Not everyone is cut out for college. And it's a good thing too, or the world would stop turning, literally. No gas at the pump, no juice at the A/C plug, no water at the tap, no sewage flushing down the toilet, no fries with that burger.


We seriously need a revival in support of the skilled tradesman. Welders, carpenters, mechanics, air conditioning repairmen, electricians, etc. Mike Rowe, of Discovery Channel fame, recently went before congress to make this very observation and plea to support more "Dirty Jobs." You should watch it. And then thank a tradesman, before we become extinct.




-Owen