This Labor Day Weekend, we celebrate labor, saluting the masses who make our nation hum. When we were growing up in the mid-20th century, there was emphasis on the trades – repair people who knew how to fix things. The plumbers. Electricians. Carpenters. Landscapers. Auto Mechanics. Heating and AC professionals. Concrete pavers. Linemen. Upholsterers. Machinists. Auto Body Professionals, and more. Baby boomers remember the trades – knowing how to fix things and being proud of a job well done with your talents and hands.
In the course of the 20th century, society turned its attentions to law, medical, and day trading in a suit and tie to earn a living. It became fashionable to don a suit and tie or a dress and head downtown to the office. Working with your hands, talent, and experience became socially unfashionable. American society began looking down its proverbial nose at those who dressed in coveralls who came home from work dirty, ready to hop in the shower before dinner.
There appears to be a glut of professionals who poured a bunch of money into college in the 1980s and ’90s who are struggling to find work these days. Please understand, I see the value in all honorable white-collar professions. We need them. However, we’ve run out of talent who knows how to fix things. The tradesmen…
It is time for society to get focused the trades. In this disposable throwaway society, we’re forgotten how to keep things and press them back into service. Easier to trot down to Best Buy and cop a new refrigerator or a new car dealer and buy new. Americans generate alarming amounts of waste just throwing things away instead of finding the fix. It is sinful just how much we throw away. The mountain-sized landfill near my home is living proof of how much we throw away.
We were raised by a generation who survived the Great Depression and a world war who taught us – “waste not-want not!” Our moms called the heating and air guy when the house grew cold or hot. The local garage did a ring and bearing job on that old Plymouth and returned it to service. When the television screen went blank, the TV repairman came to the house and replaced tubes – or your ol’ man walked down to the drug store to try out the tube tester. That morning the toilet was overflowing and had to be snaked. The confounded loose electrical outlet that needed to be replaced.
And recycling? Forget it. Just 25-percent of what we recycle is actually recycled.
Did you know that?
We are encouraged to recycle – but recycling is the big lie followed by “I will respect you in the morning…” Government and commerce encourage us to recycle. However, both are not following through despite all those public service announcments.
Don’t recycle – repair. Don’t throw away – call the tradesman. Get it?
Vocational schools are on the rise again because we’re feeling the absence of professionals who know how to fix things. Support local businesses who do know how to repair our belongings that can be returned to service.
Have you hugged a tradesman today?
Boomer Journey... 