A Tribute to the Working Man—Blue Collar Workers Stand Proud
Posted: Saturday, February 13, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
The movie Six Days Seven Nights was about a man and a woman (played by Anne Heche and Harrison Ford) who after an airplane crash find themselves marooned on a deserted island. Ford knew they were in deep trouble but Heche thought macho-man Ford would be able to build a boat and sail them off the island without a problem. She looked at big, strong, and macho Ford and confidently said something like-we'll be okay, you're one of those guys who can build a condominium out of a toothpick, aren't you? Ford looked at her and slowly smirked flashing that famous half smile of his and said...no. Well, that's like me. You could give me all the material, tools and even a blueprint to build a condo and I still couldn't build it! Alternatively, don't we all know someone who could just about build a condo out of a toothpick and some improvised pieces, parts, and tools?
Some of the smartest people I know are those who work with their hands and do not have an extensive formal education. Some of these folks amaze me when they build a home in a matter of weeks. Others impress me when they fix my heating at a time when my teeth are starting to chatter during a winter snowstorm. Or when my car sounds like it is ready to die and the mechanic finds the problem in seconds and fixes it in minutes so I can drive in safety and comfort again-I'm impressed. Or the plumber who comes over and fixes up a plumbing mess I couldn't fix on my own no matter how long I tried-I'm impressed, not happy about the price grant you, but impressed nevertheless.
The people I know who work with their hands think highly of formal education and would recommend it to anyone. However, they understand there are many types of education and different ways to get educated. They know they have much to offer even though some of them have not graduated high school. These workers also know that they are as "good" as the formally educated white-collar worker is.
Blue collaring can be lucrative and stable as well. According to Kate Lorenz the editor of Career Builder.com, in 2006 the US Census Bureau listed the U.S. median income as $43,318. Almost all of the top 10 Blue Collar jobs in the US exceed that yearly income amount and none of them requires more than a high school education (though apprenticeships or vocational training may be needed for some).
While some blue-collar jobs have been hurting lately, (which sectors have not!) they are essential for the smooth and efficient running of our homes, businesses and governments. The men and women who do this kind of work are just as important (if not more important) than the banker, human resource manager, teacher or lawyer.
Arnold Miller, who from his basement started the now world famous hair-care company, Matrix Essentials was fond of saying to his employees, "Teamwork makes the dream work". Well put by a rags-to-riches entrepreneur and appropriate here because teamwork between blue and white-collar makes America...work.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Great article Steve,but here in the UK there is a saying that you are never going to make serious money if you get your hands dirty.But i think that rather refers to the Automotive industry in general.Yes i agree that people that work with there hands are masters,i mean a surgeon works with his hands.Thank you--maybe most don't make tons of money working with their hands but they still are important and as you say some are masters. Thanks for writing.
Very well-stated piece. Blue-collar workers have it all in their name in that they are workers. Sure, they might be looked down upon, yet the old saying holds true today as in the past: "You can always trust someone who gets their hands dirty because you know they've put in an honest days' work."Thanks Mike--I never heard that saying but it sounds like it has merit--the worker is the lifeblood of a vibrant country--they should be held in high esteem.
I'm with you on this one Steve. I've thanked God for our plumber and for our mechanic, numerous times, not to mention the woman who serves you your morning coffee, smiles and says, "have a good day." Everyone has value no matter what their profession.Yes Ma'am, I agree everyone has value------thanks for writing Brianna.
Great piece Steve, my hubby is a construction superintendent (who has also had his contractor's license in about 4 states now). He is making more now than the two of us did both working a couple of years back. Not that the economy isn't slow (he was laid off 4 months last year) AND no one builds a better home! He also got straight A's in the college courses he did take along the way but is gifted in building (for 33 years now).Thats exactly what I mean Marijo--your story tells it well--smart, good living etc--thanks for writing.Steve
I give people who can work with their hands a lot of credit. I think the last time I tried to repair my car by myself it exploded. I didn't do that on purpose but many mechanics in South Florida would. Not to that extreme, but they will fix one part of a car and break another to try and ream a customer for more money. I remember one iincident when the mechanic repaired my alternator then after I drove away from his shop I almost ran into a concrete wall because he broke my steering wheel. That is one of the reasons I drive a scooter instead of a car. Fortunately, outside of South Florida, most people who work with their hands make a relatively honest living, which is very important to the peace of mind of intellectuals who may be book smart but dumb when it comes to mechanics. At least in Cleveland, after I would get my car repaired, it would take a couple of months to break down again instead of a couple minutes.Hi Mike--Try driving that scooter in the snow in Cleveland!!!! Thanks for writing.
Our politicians could learn from working people. As secretary of agriculture we should have someone with dirt under their finger nails, Good article.Great point about the Secretary and I also agree that many politicians could learn from working folks--thanks for stopping by.
Great article Steve as always. Thank you.
Yes working class people should stand tall, but also wise up about how their standard of living has decreased over the last thirty years and now how their health care is being threatened. How their homes are being lost because of the absence of regulation of Wall Street for the last 8 years
How they are losing their basic security in old age after working hard all their lives and contributing to social security, a contract with congress, only to have their social security stolen by politicians beginning about thirty years ago in the early eighties with Greenspan and Reagan. If that money would have been saved for the hard working man, instead of being "borrowed, never to be repayed" to make up for tax cuts for the wealthy, both social security and medicare would be on solid ground.
Best........eThanks E,I'm not up on the reasons for social security's woes but hope it will still be there for everyone who has contributed and deserve its benefits. As you say that's a deal made, which must be upheld. And as far as health care, we need some basic changes now, perhaps not a complete overhaul but some fundamental changes to help people now. Thanks for writing and offering your views.Steve
Nicely done, Steve.Thanks for readin and writin....how's that for some fine english!
The blue collar worker has always been the backbone of this country. Without them there would be no jobs or office buildings for white collar workers to go to. No foundation- house falls down- if it even gets built. Interesting article Steve. You are someone who cares about people- in all walks of life.-- Always- EllaThank you ma'am and you're right I do kinda give a poop!
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