Okay, even though this might appear to be a political post, it is not. Elites, no matter what their political alignment may be, have a bad habit of looking down on blue-collar workers.
So, if it appears that I am throwing stones at one political party, I am not. I have a whole bucket of stones, and I am throwing them at every political party.
When I say elites, I’m not just talking about politicians or the wealthy. I’m talking about anyone who sits behind a desk, has a degree or technical skill, and somehow thinks that makes them better than the person turning a wrench, driving a truck, or working with their hands.
So, who am I talking about here? Plumbers, roofers, automotive mechanics, utility workers, farmers, and just about every other job that requires people to do physical labor type of work. And not those who spend their workday sitting in front of a computer or shuffling papers.
Why do I think these hard-working individuals are looked down on by the elite types? Well, let’s just look at the fact that people are pushed toward going to college instead of learning one of the skills I described. You are told that you will have a better life if you have a college degree.
And I am not trying to say that you shouldn’t get a degree in some type of skill or another. But we are not all cut out for that type of life.
And, to be quite honest, with the advancement of AI, there are many white-collar jobs that are going to be, or are already being, handed over to AI. So the job market for white-collar workers isn’t what it used to be. That genie is already out of the bottle, and it isn’t going back.
Let’s look at annual income. Have you had to get a roof put on? Get your car fixed? Or had any plumbing or heating work done lately? Now, think about how much that cost you.
These types of jobs can pay good money. The worker may have had some lean years as they gained experience, built a reputation, and earned certifications. But just like starting out in an office, the longer you do that type of work and the more skilled you become, the better the pay can become.
So, the argument that you can’t become financially self-supporting as a blue-collar worker just isn’t true.
Now, let’s talk about intelligence and how some people think that because a person does physical labor, they are not smart. I hate that. I absolutely hate that. It is just not true.
And I will give you a personal example of this. When I worked in IT for a national utility, I supported crews in the field who used an application that IT had developed. I would have many of these workers tell me, “I know nothing about computers. I’m sorry.”
I told them flat out, “And I know nothing about your job. But you are keeping the heat on for people. You are making sure people are safe from gas leaks. So don’t worry about it.”
Why did I say that? Respect for someone who was doing a needed service for all of us.
Now, there are many white-collar jobs that require a high degree of math to perform their work. Scientists, IT professionals, accountants, and many others.
Well, guess what? Most blue-collar jobs require higher math skills too. Plumbers, electricians, roofers, and people working in similar trades are using algebra and geometry. They are working out the proper degree of angles, figuring out how much PSI a pipe can handle with water or gas, calculating square footage, and determining the proper amount of raw materials in board feet or other measurements.
They have to make sure they don’t order too little or too much of the materials needed to complete the job. Now, let’s talk about farmers. If there is one blue-collar job that gets looked down on, it is farming. Dumb hick. Trailer trash. Kiss my ass.
Farmers are about as high-tech as you can get. They use computers and satellite information for irrigation and crop planting. They need to know what types of nutrients their livestock need. They need to know what types of fertilizer to use, how much to use, and when to use it.
They are feeding the world. And as the population gets larger, they need to be able to grow more food in the most efficient manner possible to make sure we don’t starve.
Farmers are far from stupid. And the nimrods who think they are are just assholes. Damn, you can get college degrees in farming, for crying out loud. And a lot of farmers do have those degrees.
Maybe the attitude toward blue-collar workers is because they can be a little rough around the edges. Maybe they use some colorful language.
Well, shit mother yuckers. I have partied with the best of both worlds. They sure as fuck aren’t that different when the ties come off and the beers start flowing.
Trust me when I say this. Office workers want nothing more than a cold one at the end of a long day, just like a blue-collar worker does.
So, in conclusion, if you are trying to decide what your children should become to have a good life, don’t dismiss a blue-collar job. They can pay good money. And of all the jobs that are not going away for a very long time, physical labor jobs are among them.
And even if you are a white-collar worker, I am sure you have at least thought about job loss due to AI. Hell, I love AI. But I understand that concern.
Even if you aren’t worried about losing your job as a white-collar worker, you will always need someone with a blue-collar skill set. You can’t avoid it.
So, climb off that pedestal if you’re on one. Respect these men and women for providing the needed services that neither you nor I can live without.