‘I always thought there something ill-fated about . . . “shovel ready jobs” [for] a society that no longer encourages people to pick up a shovel.’

Ace of Spades HQ calls our attention to an interesting letter from the Dirty Jobs guy, Mike Rowe.

But mostly, Dirty Jobs was an unscripted celebration of hard work and skilled labor. It still is. Every week, we highlight regular people who do the kind of jobs most people go out of their way to avoid. . . .

. . . our country has become emotionally disconnected from an essential part of our workforce.  We are no longer impressed with cheap electricity, paved roads, and indoor plumbing. We take our infrastructure for granted, and the people who build it.

. . . 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. (I always thought there something ill-fated about the promise of three million “shovel ready jobs” made to a society that no longer encourages people to pick up a shovel.)

As Charles Murray says, our society must again learn to value and respect everyone, not only the academically gifted.

If you’re not familiar with Dirty Jobs, here’s a sample.