With the Presidential Election less than 30 days away, it’s hard to write about anything else – or think about anything else. From someone who lives in a battle-ground state (Wisconsin), I often feel like I watch political commercials with a little TV thrown in between. I don’t think I’m alone when I say, I’m ready for Nov. 7 to come. However, it’s important to recognize there is a lot at stake with this election: unemployment rates averaging 8 percent over time, high gas prices, volatile international atmosphere, struggling housing market and so on.

In September, Mike Rowe, most notably known for the show “Dirty Jobs,” penned an open letter to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. In this letter, he writes about the growing unemployment rate and the decline in skilled tradesmen. “Any kind of training or study that does not come with a four-year degree is now deemed ‘alternative.’ Many viable careers once aspired to are now seen as ‘vocational consolation prizes,’ and many of the jobs this current administration has tried to ‘create’ over the last four years are the same jobs that parents and teachers actively discourage kids from pursuing,” he writes. I encourage you to read the whole letter. Disclosure: Rowe is now campaigning for Romney, and also wrote a similar letter to President Obama in January 2009.

In my editorial “Presidential Election Focuses on Manufacturing,” I share information about the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative. Announced in 2010, President Obama assigned $2 billion to provide financial support for two-year training programs – with $500 million announced last month. The focus may need to be on manufacturing but there also needs to be a spotlight on the education for those areas.  

For years, young people have been told they must go to a four-year school to succeed as an American. As Rowe points out, that mindset is hurting the pool of skilled tradesmen. What are you doing to change that mindset? Are you standing up for your industry? Share your thoughts.

Comment on this story New Comment Created by Dirk in 10/9/2012 1:26:42 PM I completed a 3 year apprenticeship in the German woodworking trade, worked for 3 years as craftsman and then went back to school to become a mastercraftsman. After that I decided to get an engineering degree. I have been in the store fixture industry in Michigan for 13 years. I have worked with businesses in a variety of trades and industries and there is a lot more to be done than a couple nice speeches by Romney, Ryan and Rowe. Parents and kids are programmed for expensive colleges and kids get degrees that have little to do with their talents or jobs they don't know anything about. There seems to be little respect for people that gets their hands dirty in order to make a living. More and more business leaders have no idea of what it takes to make the parts and products they manufacture and the blue collar positions in their production are best filled with a temporary workforce that qualifies by passing a drug test. On top of all that we are outsourcing more than ever and slowly destroy manufacturing. Consumers doing their fair share of that as well. Business leaders seem to prefer the republican candidates, but Romney and Ryan are the last ones I would think off if I wanted this development turned around and unemployment solved. Republicans and Bush were in charge prior to prior to President Obama's presidency and they left a disaster behind. Why would you believe that they are going to get it right this time??? $$MIke$$ Created by BMcP in 10/9/2012 12:51:24 PM Now he's chasing the Big Bucks after riding the working stiffs to the top. Ain't the pool, it's the money in it. He should have went for VP with Mitt. Better pay back and he'd like the company after working with the dirty stiffs. He may hear differently when the fat lady sings..... I'll think about his politics in the future as he sells his stuff/soul. Another lesson about fame money & power Not much working stiff oxygen at the top. I continue to work and hope for better days. My skills are there, the work isn't. The trickle down is a small stream to drink from. Breaking into the network can be a challenge and soul killer. Your Name Email Website Title Comment New Comment Enter the code