David Harvey "The End of Capitalism"

[nailer]

Originally Posted by finnbow

It does suck here that all work is not afforded the same dignity and benefits. I was impressed by the German system whereby all work from department store clerk to plumber to lawyer are have their own career ladders, training, apprenticeships, etc. Then again, more is expected from every trade in terms of professionalism and competence.

It was amazing that at a department store, the floor personnel had undergone training/apprenticeships and fully understood their merchandise, from stitch count, to fabric to button material on every item of apparel. Everybody has health insurance and everybody, from the janitor to the CEO, has the same amount of vacation time.

Germany sounds very regimented.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by nailer

Germany sounds very regimented.

In many ways, it is. OTOH, it is also very efficient and honest. It's hard to find a bad meal or a bad car mechanic. Something to be said for that.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

In many ways, it is. OTOH, it is also very efficient and honest. It's hard to find a bad meal or a bad car mechanic. Something to be said for that.

And a reasonable respect for social contract.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

And a reasonable respect for social contract.

I very much liked living there, but it has changed quite a bit since I was there (early '60's and again 1978-1986). Open borders with eastern Europe and immigration from the Mideast has definitely changed things, as has the relative cost of things (it was mostly inexpensive when I lived there). Still love it though and still have a lot of friends there.

We're going back over in September to take my daughter and her new groom. She's the only kid who hasn't yet been there.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Seriously, I don't mean to rag on liberal arts education. All education is good.

OTOH, I have several friends' (very smart) kids who went to expensive private schools majoring in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Business, etc., do very well, and then, on a whim, change their majors to Psychology or History in their junior years and then complain when the only jobs they can find upon graduation are waitressing and bartending (after having spent $250K on a degree). Worse yet, they move back into their parents' erstwhile empty nests.

Vocational counseling, I said. If you're going to major in Psych. you need to plan on an advanced degree, or else know you can sell cars or insurance, or have some other earn-a-living plan available. Like, can their dad get them into the IBEW or something? Whatever it may be, there should be a workable 'work' plan. Someone should have explained this to the kids changing majors, and helped them make the plan. Usually, no one does this.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Vocational counseling, I said. If you're going to major in Psych. you need to plan on an advanced degree, or else know you can sell cars or insurance, or have some other earn-a-living plan available. Like, can their dad get them into the IBEW or something? Whatever it may be, there should be a workable 'work' plan. Someone should have explained this to the kids changing majors, and helped them make the plan. Usually, no one does this.

In several specific cases I was referring to, the parents are quite wealthy and enablers of what occurred. I think the kids are biding their time working in bars and restaurants waiting to inherit their parents considerable wealth, though it has been diminished by probably $500K by their unfruitful educational choices. There's NFW either of the kids would ever work in the trades. They're way too high-falutin' for that.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by finnbow

No, but I've heard that a degree in Underwater Tennis Shoe Repair is also pretty worthless. Almost as worthless as one in art history.

So then our universities are simply there to turn out worker bees? How about the concept that corporations should be doing their own training. Then our universities could turn out people who can think outside of the box.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Learning a desirable skill it an option now if you haven't heard. Vocational skills for non professionals is a slur, because wrenching or sawing is a minimum wage job?

Pete

Called in a plumber lately?

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by finnbow

In several specific cases I was referring to, the parents are quite wealthy and enablers of what occurred. I think the kids are biding their time working in bars and restaurants waiting to inherit their parents considerable wealth, though it has been diminished by probably $500K by their unfruitful educational choices. There's NFW either of the kids would ever work in the trades. They're way too high-falutin' for that.

There you are. A degree in Art History is completely vocational for persons like that.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by merrylander

So then our universities are simply there to turn out worker bees? How about the concept that corporations should be doing their own training. Then our universities could turn out people who can think outside of the box.

Not necessarily. OTOH, certain degrees result in numerous lucrative job offers and others don't. I suppose it depends upon what you want out of your investment of $100-200K in a college education.