Why the white working class is alienated and pessimistic

America has been dumbed down and outsourced. All those people with degrees doesn't mean they know anything. I am a university graduate but I received a better education in high school than my granddaughters receive at university now. Having a skilled trade is looked down on by elites who can't change a lightbulb. Unions have made a joke out of the word craftsman. We can't go back in time but we can take some of the best things from the era of our parents and grandparents and start doing something right. For one, get the academics out of the government and make them perform at a real job for a while before they think they know everything. Bring back craftsmanship and apprenticeships. Let's stop making things that will break in 90 days and add to the trash heap. Let's do more with less and have some pride in workmanship. Let's make ethics a mandatory course in all high schools. Let's do something before it is just too late.

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE ALIENATED AND LABELED PESSIMISTIC FOR
SPEAKING THEIR MIND.

We have spent trillions on war and fixing up sand countries.

We have give away billions in foreign aid and still are.

We have had thousands of dollars took from our pay check for our So.Sec.
that they are now calling an entitlement.

Prices have soared on everything not just gas and there is no way minium
wage workers pay checks can keep up with todays prices.

Elderly retired people are hurting after losing their COLA.

Wall St speculators have helped drive gas prices higher.

There is no gas shortage,we have a gas glut and sombody is makeing
billions off of it.

Rich lobbist are allowed to buy favoritism from poloticians.

They just keep on pretending that things are better and pay little
attention to voters opinions.

If what i have mention here makes me a pessimist so be it just call
me pessimist #1
There is little to be optimistic about.

After spending billions on foreign countries they act like it is all
the american peoples fault.

knarf wrote:Call me pessimist 1A, like my draft card classification.

Asked if they were better off than their parents were at the same age

Jen wrote:I'd say this survey is right on. I'm one of those people that doesn't have a college degree and I couldn't feel more alienated and pessimistic.

Asked if they were better off than their parents were at the same age

That would be a big fat NO! Back then, they didn't have to have a college degree to work at good jobs that paid a living wage with real benefits.

new_wave_princess wrote:I am not better off than my parents. At the age I am now my parents had already owned two houses, many cars, had gone on many vacations with me and my brother, etc. Neither of my parents attended college (my mom should have) but they had excellent jobs with benefits.

springflowers wrote:

Jen wrote:I'd say this survey is right on. I'm one of those people that doesn't have a college degree and I couldn't feel more alienated and pessimistic.

Asked if they were better off than their parents were at the same age

That would be a big fat NO! Back then, they didn't have to have a college degree to work at good jobs that paid a living wage with real benefits.

Don't feel bad the college degrees really aren't making that much of a difference anymore. One could get a decent job that provided a real life with stability even without college.

springflowers wrote:

new_wave_princess wrote:I am not better off than my parents. At the age I am now my parents had already owned two houses, many cars, had gone on many vacations with me and my brother, etc. Neither of my parents attended college (my mom should have) but they had excellent jobs with benefits.

My father made it to college but mother got good job without college. We had large homes and vacations, always more then 2 cars, and roast beef every week and full pantry. I didn't know what was awaiting me not at all. Both of us are college educated and as far as income went I guess it meant 9 or 10 bucks an hour instead of 6 or 7 but big whoop. The money used for college could have been used for something better.

requete' wrote:Jen, same here! Even with College degrees, I also feel alienated and pessimistic, along with being stressed out and depressed. I always thought that working hard through all of your life, that when the time came, you could Retire out when you were ready to, with grace and dignity. Not so, because a lot of people like me are now being forced into Retirement ( early ), and not on our own terms. College degrees are no longer a guarantee that one will get a good job that pays living wages and good benefits. Colleges are even putting disclaimers on their ads now saying " employment is not guaranteed, but career services are available to help "

disgustedwithgovt wrote:No guarantee of employment, and you come out as an indentured slave as well. Don't even think about getting the money off your back, the lenders pick your bones even if you die.

springflowers wrote:When there are so many college degrees, they really mean nothing anymore. College does not show any real knowledge anymore, just that you had the money to pay the tuition to get through. College is a waste of time in a land with no jobs. Better to learn real skills via doing.