Hank is correct about whom will be the competition for the first generation to graduate from a Common Core program: Asians, here on visa (or overseas, thanks to the wonders of the Internet and globalization), who already have 5-10 years of relevant experience. Not only will our kids be less educated and experienced, but they will also refuse to work for less than what they think they deserve. Add it all up, and you've got a generation of American 20-somethings, living with Mom and Dad, and with not much hope for the future.

I think WDFW and Nick got it right - you don't need a college education to make a good living doing all the work white collar folks don't want to do. As long as we still need to build stuff and maintain our homes, there will be plenty of work in the Trades. I suspect, given that fewer and fewer people are being trained for the trades, the money is only going to get better for those willing to get their hands dirty. Ours may be the first generation of fathers who all want their daughters to grow up and marry a plumber (NOT trashing plumbers - I think most earn more than I do; just making a point).