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‘Dirty Jobs’ star has some recommendations for Romney

Sep. 6, 2012 2:12pm Meredith Jessup

Mike Rowe has an impressive resume, but he’s probably best known for hosting “Dirty Jobs,” a show that profiles the unsung American laborers who make their living in the most unthinkable and disgusting jobs so the rest of us can lead clean, civilized lives. Working with people on the show from all across the country has really opened Rowe’s eyes to the poor state of business opportunity in America today and he’s trying to bring it to Washington’s attention.

Dirty Jobs star has some recommendations for Romney

Image: mikeroweWORKS

In a letter published on his non-profit’s website over the Labor Day weekend, Rowe offered his expertise to help Mitt Romney should he become president. He even added: ” If you read the whole [letter], I’ll vote for you in November.”

It’s a strong letter which highlights an important issue — the skills gap in the American labor force. With everyone stressing the importance of a four-year degree these days, Rowe reminds us that this country was built with skilled labor, not college diplomas. Instead, Mike suggests that the problems our economy faces today are mere “symptoms” of a larger problem — the devaluation of a hard day’s work:

Pig farmers, electricians, plumbers, bridge painters, jam makers, blacksmiths, brewers, coal miners, carpenters, crab fisherman, oil drillers…they all tell me the same thing over and over, again and again – 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.

Today, we can see the consequences of this disconnect in any number of areas, but none is more obvious than the growing skills gap. Even as unemployment remains sky high, a whole category of vital occupations has fallen out of favor, and companies struggle to find workers with the necessary skills. The causes seem clear. We have embraced a ridiculously narrow view of education. 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.) [...]

Certainly, we need more jobs, and you were clear about that in Tampa. But the Skills Gap proves that we need something else too. We need people who see opportunity where opportunity exists. We need enthusiasm for careers that have been overlooked and underappreciated by society at large. We need to have a really big national conversation about what we value in the workforce, and if I can be of help to you in that regard, I am at your service – assuming of course, you find yourself in a new address early next year.

Rowe sent a similar letter to then-Senator Obama in 2008 but says he never received any kind of response. He’s also dabbled into the political arena. Last year, Rowe took his message to the U.S. Senate and testified on the importance of skilled labor. Here’s a look at some of the essential jobs Rowe is referring to:

For more on America’s skills gap, click here.

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Comments (10)

ilevy57
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 4:46pm
Seriously, so many kids come out of college and they want to enter “management”
Management of what, they have no skills.
As usual the left has fostered liberal arts education to indoctrinate.It gives no practical skills.
Kids should go to college if they know what they want to do, not rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars for liberal arts indoctrination

From David Mamet’s Book Secret Knowledge

“Though much has been made of the necessity of a college education,” “the extended study of the Liberal Arts actually trains one for nothing. And the terrified adolescent, abandoned by society, coddled by society, may, if unbalanced, turn to rage and (a) kill; or, if merely clueless, (b) hide in college, as he does not possess the strength to grow up and leave.”

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- jwCub
  Posted on September 6, 2012 at 9:53pm
  I agree! You can get a degree in jobsite management?? It seams to me, from my experience working blue collar jobs in appalachia, it’s the “best workers” who earn roles as jobsite managers. I believe in lifelong learning but if you want to obtain those skills and work in a leadership role its more practical, economical, and quicker to say the least. Not to mention it really wouldnt fly on the jobsite.
  
  Report this comment
whotaughtyouthat
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 4:25pm
Thank you Mike for opening your mouth with an actual idea that could help our country. I’ve always liked you and so does my family. I was afraid you would say something stupid and I’d never be able to view you seriously again, thank you for expressing a real concern with a real answer.

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billrow
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 3:54pm
My first job was unloading trucks, then I moved to sales floor, inventory control, shipping and receiving and then manufacturing coordinator before I started my own business using what I had learned from working from the ground up.

There is nothing wrong with picking up a shovel, then working hard and proving yourself and eventually reaching a position that either you are happy with or is at the upper limit of your abilities.

All we need now is a government that will get out of the way and let this happen.

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GrumpyCat
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 3:53pm
Time to add “Dirty Jobs” to the DVR.

Report this comment
- Sy Kosys
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:33am
  DJ is quite entertaining to watch, hope you enjoy it as I have over the years.
  Rowe and crew went to Australia for the show and they’re now being aired (Dirty Jobs: Down Under), good watch so far :)
  
  As for his political bent, he made some comment on his show early on into O’s term about “not green jobs…*brown* jobs” referencing the hands-on get-your-hands-dirty kind of work that is the backbone of this economy.
  
  Good stuff, hope somebody listens…
  
  Report this comment
OniKaze
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 3:49pm
Love Mike Rowe…

One of my personal heroes.

Funny, Hard-working, and not afraid to “say it like it is”….

As long as he keeps making shows, I’ll keep watching them…

GO MIKE..

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summersmom
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 2:47pm
Amen! Do you remember in High School you could pick shop class or beauty shop class and leave High School with a job! Remember FFA and FHA?!? Those people were taught skills to GET JOBS!

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BenInNY
Posted on September 6, 2012 at 2:36pm
John Ratzenberger has been vocal on this as well – those two + Romney and Ryan would make an interesting meeting. I’d love to overhear that, I bet they’d come up with solutions.

Report this comment
- Eleutheria
  Posted on September 6, 2012 at 2:43pm
  That’s what working men do… come up with solutions.
  
  Report this comment

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