[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

Yeah, I wasn't trying to dispute that point. I was only trying to point out that many of the kids who skip college to directly to work don't have the option of going to college. For many of them, the financial obligations are either completely out of reach or so large as to make it unreasonable to carry so much debt. Others simply can't get in based on their academic merit. There's nothing wrong in them making that decision.

If you changed "many" to "some" you would have a more believable argument. I think today we are lucky enough to live in a country where generally if you want to go to college you can make it happen, full time or part time, even at the high cost. But you have to want to make it happen. (And before we fire this one up again yes, there are some who find it economically impossible to attend college.)

But if a kid who was mechanically gifted were offered a full boat to college and turned it down to join the union, I think you might see some people talk about it.

Well, they might & they might not wonder but not one of these people would complain about how *the system* failed the budding young plumber. And they would certainly be less inclined to wonder if the kid joined the union so he can one day take full ownership of his father's huge plumbing business. Starts to look like a no brainer.

Again, I would say that there's nothing wrong with making that decision, but it might prompt some discussion, just as Lebron's decision has.

And I also agree that it's a no-brainer for Lebron. College and a possible blown knee, or $100 million in the bank tomorrow. . .

Chuck

Even if LJ was given a written guarrantee from the Diety of your choice that he would survive 4 yrs of college ball unhurt it would be a no-brainer. College is just not going to give anything to this kid that he doesn't already have, except an education. And he does not have to be a college basketball player to get an education.