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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs Mike Rowe a total fraud and grifter?
He seems almost as bad as the Kardashians and Palins at times. Sure he might talk a good game now and then, but his actions say otherwise. And the last few years he seems to have gone almost full Teabagger. His latest nonsense:
https://www.facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe/posts/1097218143621661:0
Mr. "I try not to be political" is once again as he completely misses the point of Senator Sanders' tweet.
But I don't know. Maybe I'm just as guilty and missing Rowe's point. But his response for some reason really pissed me off more than usual.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)....as not being "good" jobs.
He has a point, but he's reading way too much into what Sanders said and I doubt he agrees with much else Bernie says.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Whether it's making college available, reinstating Glass/Steagall, or providing more economic opportunity. You name it, it's been twisted by others into an alleged one-and-only solution.
Throd
(7,208 posts)Release The Hounds
(467 posts)I'm only the second person ever in my family to go to college (older brother was first), so I am certainly not knocking the non-college career path. It's just that IMHO he is using the tweet to further grandstand to the Right.
a la izquierda
(11,797 posts)He's excellent at his job.
College isn't for everyone, evidenced the countless students who are forced to be there by their parents, who are not interested in learning anything at university, and who would better serve society (and themselves) doing a trade.
Human101948
(3,457 posts)The economic analysis finds that Millennial college graduates ages 25 to 321 who are working full time earn more annuallyabout $17,500 morethan employed young adults holding only a high school diploma. The pay gap was significantly smaller in previous generations.2 College-educated Millennials also are more likely to be employed full time than their less-educated counterparts (89% vs. 82%) and significantly less likely to be unemployed (3.8% vs. 12.2%).
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/02/11/the-rising-cost-of-not-going-to-college/
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)Last edited Wed Dec 16, 2015, 04:59 PM - Edit history (1)
with a criminal record than drop outs.
underpants
(182,866 posts)Totally lost credibility for him
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)Telling blue collar dudes that they're underappreciated and then selling them stuff is a pretty decent path to celebrity and success, to say nothing to being the foundation of a hell of a lot of political careers.
He gets paid to shill pickup trucks, not college loans.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)He seems like one of the few actual spokespeople for the blue collar in this country.
Who else is doing it?
MADem
(135,425 posts)That Rowe guy is a GOP voting one percenter who makes a great deal of money "playing at" being a working man. He's a working man like Joe The Plumber was an actual plumber (he wasn't).
TipTok
(2,474 posts)Union leadership has left a bad taste in many people's mouth over the years. Earned or not, it is there...
That is part of the reason why Rowe is so successful in putting out his message.
MADem
(135,425 posts)a few more union members before I start throwing the union leadership down to the shop level under the bus.
TipTok
(2,474 posts).... but I suspect there are more with the bad taste than there aren't.
Though I also think that many folks support the concept of unions while at the same time not trusting historical union leadership.
Maybe they just need to rethink their PR.
My $.02....
Johonny
(20,878 posts)grossproffit
(5,591 posts)Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)The downside of Social Media is that most are putting their "ID", their negative inner self out there for the world to see.
Come, the 2040's it will be the downfall of the Millenials.
JI7
(89,261 posts)just look at donald trump
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Reality Media Talent. Does a well paid Shtick Routine. It's America,you got to love it. Most Reality Talents tend to be really Conservative. Got mine,screw you.
mwrguy
(3,245 posts)Chitown Kev
(2,197 posts)a poorly stated point, but a point nevertheless.
a) Some kids don't fit into a traditional 4-year school
b) Some DON'T want to fit in, are equally good with their hands as well as their brains and like the "handy-work"...esp. if it pays good.
And if tradespeople and entrepreneurs want some "book learnin" in their spare time, there are options for that. Hell, I am college educated and I wish that I had studied a trade (cooking would be my preference...and I know some super-smart chefs).
Amishman
(5,559 posts)Occasionally he puts forth some pure drivel but often he has a decent point decorated with teabags.
This is one of them, our education system does direct many people towards college who would be better served going to a trade school instead.
My main beef with him is that he goes way too hard into the whole 'if you aren't a success its just because you didn't work hard enough' shtick.
kcr
(15,318 posts)It's not as easy to find them, so the pressure to go to college is much greater. It's a root of the problem. I agree that not everyone should have to be on the exact same track. Not everyone can or wants to be. But the opportunities should be there for everyone all tracks. I believe college should more attainable and I think that's really what college for everyone is all about. No one getting priced out of the education they want and need, or pushed out out of that job market once they attain their educational goals. I also agree with bringing back the trade schools, but that has to go along with shoring up the trade job market as well. It's a huge problem and no easy fix without the political will in this country.
Ford F-150
(72 posts)Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)So I can't classify him as a fraud or grifter.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)unions.
kcr
(15,318 posts)Like I just said in another comment, the root of the problems is shrinking job opportunity, which is why the pressure for college is higher. Rowe's heart is in the right place, but his political ideology is getting in the way.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)TipTok
(2,474 posts)Example: A welder with the right qualifications, certifications and skills, who is willing to travel, can write his own ticket without relying on a union to raise everyone at the same time.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)But that welder's pay is going to be influenced by union rates, whether s/he knows it or not. There are very few actual instances of people "writing their own tickets."
Paladin
(28,271 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)How influential can he be?
Yavin4
(35,445 posts)Big academia has ripped off more families than the big banks, and they do it every day. They charge a ridiculous amount for an education that you can get at a library or now on the internet.
Sanders' proposal of "free" college is simply not a good idea. I do agree that folks need to continue education after high school whether it's academia or trade, but the government should not be in the business of giving away huge tax dollars to big academia.
SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)pretending to do hard work for big bucks and spouting off like the expert he ISN'T..
just another (non) reality show guy
QVC funnies
HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)At a Romney event. In front of people who voted to send those sorts of jobs to cheaper climates and lose zero sleep/see no disconnect about it.
So, if Mike claims to be "non partisan" and "non-political", then why is he appearing at an event with a personified Nuclear Weapon of Jobs, particularly blue collar jobs?