Re: degrees

On 10/19/2024 9:50 AM, bitrex wrote:

It acts like there's some nice low-risk generic "baseline job" you can get with just a high school degree in the US, there isn't.

Waiting tables?  Fast food counter-person?  Here, they are:  landscapers,
swimming pool cleaners, etc.  Your total "investment" is the means of
transportation you use to get to the gigs.

You can do about one of three things (unless work for your Daddy is an option): go into the trades,

Tradesmen tend to have trouble as they age and their bodies can't
keep up with the demands of their trade.  So, you have to aspire
(and work) to become a "Master" so you can have "Apprentices"
in your later years *or* stash a lot of your earnings (after
union dues) and hope to retire early.  Nothing sadder than some
carpenter, roofer, automechanic, etc. doubled over with back
problems from advanced age.

try to start your own business and probably fail, or get a

It takes a particular mindset and level of discipline to
"have no boss".  And, in order to remain viable, a keen eye
on the trends in your particular market.

low-paid job in the service industry about which every right-winger will tell you "just get a better job!" if you complain.

All of the "low end" jobs effectively pay the same.  A job
may be "better" in some sense (working conditions, hours,
job description) but rarely a significant enough boost in
income to move you into a higher socioeconomic class.

Or some combination.