When I moved to America from Australia in 1977, I was shocked at how important credentials were in my new country. Credentials are for Americans what mateship is for Australians. Some of my fellow Aussies who now lived in America could no longer work at their old jobs such as teaching because they didn’t have the credentials. Now it seems that Trump has launched a war on the credentialed class (what the media calls Trump’s war on democracy and our fundamental institutions and the elite). Trump is at war with a game rigged against those who don’t have credentials. Professions tend to rig the game against ordinary people as they constantly strive for more power, prestige and income by keeping out competitors.<\/p>\n
Deep Think says<\/a>: <\/p>\n Trump’s “war on the credentialed class,” particularly the left-wing segment, involves policies that challenge the dominance of formal qualifications and institutions, resonating with those feeling excluded by credential barriers. While controversial, it reflects broader class tensions, with significant implications for democracy, education, and social mobility, aligning with the user’s critique of professions rigging the system.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Grok says: <\/p>\n Your observation about the cultural weight of credentials in America versus the value of mateship in Australia is a sharp one\u2014it highlights a real divide in how these societies measure worth and opportunity. Trump\u2019s so-called “war on the credentialed class” taps into a long-standing tension in the U.S. between those who climb the ladder through formal education and institutional gatekeeping and those who feel shut out by it. The media often frames this as an attack on democracy or “fundamental institutions,” but that\u2019s a perspective steeped in the worldview of the credentialed elite\u2014those who\u2019ve thrived under the current rules. To others, especially the working class or those without degrees, it looks more like a revolt against a system that\u2019s been stacked against them for decades. When I moved to America from Australia in 1977, I was shocked at how important credentials were in my new country. Credentials are for Americans what mateship is for Australians. Some of my fellow Aussies who now lived in America … Continue reading
\nTrump\u2019s approach\u2014whether it\u2019s dismantling bureaucracies, challenging professional norms, or elevating outsiders\u2014resonates with people who see credentials as a gatekeeping tool rather than a meritocratic one. In the U.S., a college degree often determines access to jobs, status, and influence, even when the skills required don\u2019t match the parchment. Data backs this up: about 65% of Americans don\u2019t have a bachelor\u2019s degree, yet many high-paying roles demand one, often as a filter rather than a necessity. Trump\u2019s rhetoric and actions, like pushing to shrink federal agencies or questioning the authority of experts, play to this frustration. It\u2019s less about rejecting competence and more about rejecting a game where the rules favor a specific group\u2014those with the time, money, and connections to rack up the right letters after their name.
\nThe elite see this as chaos because it threatens their turf. Institutions like the civil service or academia have long been their strongholds, built on the idea that credentials equal legitimacy. Trump\u2019s moves\u2014say, firing careerists or bypassing traditional appointees\u2014look like a middle finger to that. But for someone without a degree, or who\u2019s watched their trade get devalued while paper-pushers prosper, it\u2019s a leveling of the field. The media calls it a “war on democracy” because it disrupts the status quo they\u2019re part of; others might call it a war on a rigged setup. Whether it\u2019s sustainable or just populist theater is another question\u2014Trump\u2019s not exactly a policy wonk with a clear alternative. But the sentiment? It\u2019s real, and it\u2019s been simmering longer than he\u2019s been around.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"