I've been thinking about this a lot since I have to make some big decisions about my education and career path pretty soon.
The people who call the shots all seem to know each other. They hung out in college. They pointed each other towards connections and job opportunities. I'm not just talking about the super elite, but even lower level guys who just have some local sway and name recognition. Just about every congressman and GOP official went to college and was either a lawyer or business executive before going into politics.
When you look at it this way, blue collar culture can seem like a sort of handicap. It's true that truckers, farmers, plumbers and people with hands on jobs keep the country moving. They're collectively very powerful. But the people on top are always the organizers and ultimately they're the ones who get to direct everything and call the shots. Since there's such a divorce between "college educated" culture and the "silent majority" things always seem to go in a liberal direction no matter who's in power.
I think that's because the "conservative" elites are more comfortable with affluent liberal standards. People like Kevin McCarthy might hold conservative beliefs personally when it comes to certain things, but he's culturally not much different from Nancy Pelosi. There's a quiet understanding that certain topics are just low class and embarrassing to talk about, so they don't get talked about. That's why there's such a disconnect.
I'm not sure what the solution is, but I think people on our side should put more of an emphasis on education and navigating the world of big time doers. Blue collar folks might be the gas that keeps history moving, but intellectuals and managers are in the driver's seat.
I think this is true to a certain extent - and even moreso as you get into the prestige universities.
But it's not necessarily nefarious and it works in the opposite way too. If I went to school with someone and we kept in touch I probably know the kind of work he's capable of. Likely know others who have worked for them, with them or under them. I can get honest opinions from people I trust. Somebody I don't know may have a great looking resume, but it might all be bullshit. Hiring is a big risk - I'm going to minimize that risk both for myself in my current position and in my future career. But at the same time, I'm going to get that same input on poor performers and bad actors and those people aren't going to get a shot no matter how good they look on paper.
And it doesn't just work for people at the same level. I've had guys that worked for me who I respect and have no other history with, and if I hear someone is looking for their skillset, I'll float their name if they're interested along with a personal recommendation. Networking can be a positive thing although it may not look that way from the outside. I've also recommended past bosses for jobs - it doesn't maybe carry as much weight, but it may be that extra that gets their foot in the door.
My advice is to cultivate relationships with people above you, below you and who work along side you. Don't have to schmooze them, but recognize the quality of work they do and the skills they have and try to keep a good professional rapport with them. You don't know where those people may be 5 or 10 years from now. When companies post jobs, they get absolutely deluged with resumes and most are fabricated. The right relationships can bypass the HR gatekeepers and everyone benefits.