I'll agree that the trades used to get a bad rap. Maybe it's just the company I keep, but I feel like that attitude has shifted in the other direction HARD. I can't tell you how much love given to the plumbers, HVAC, electricians I know (not to mention what they are able to charge!). Contrast that with the hate when things like loan forgiveness or lowering the cost of education are brought up. I have a daughter in Med school and instead of being proud of her, most of my extended family just shake their heads about the length and cost of her education. This country is going to really hate it if all of the doctors, lawyers, IT professionals, engineers, etc. decide to become plumbers or electricians.