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. Trump's assault is on the left-wing credentialed class. Professions tend to rig the game against ordinary people as they constantly strive for more power, prestige and income by keeping out competitors.
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Key Points
- It seems likely that Trump has targeted the credentialed class, especially those with left-leaning views, through policies affecting education, federal jobs, and diversity programs.
- Research suggests his actions, like cutting university funding and attacking DEI, resonate with those feeling excluded by credential barriers, but they're controversial, seen by some as undermining democracy.
- The evidence leans toward his moves, such as appointing non-traditional candidates, challenging the dominance of formal qualifications, aligning with critiques of professions rigging systems against ordinary people.
Understanding Credentials in the US vs. Australia
When you moved from Australia to the US in 1977, the emphasis on credentials here likely stood out compared to Australia's focus on mateship—valuing relationships and trust over formal qualifications. In the US, credentials like degrees and certifications are crucial for jobs, especially in fields like teaching, which might explain why some of your fellow Australians couldn't continue their work without them.
Trump's "War on the Credentialed Class"
Trump's actions, often framed by the media as a "war on democracy and institutions," can be seen as challenging the credentialed class—those with formal education working in professions like academia, media, and government. This seems particularly aimed at the left-wing part, given their association with progressive values. Examples include:
- Attacks on Universities: Policies like cutting funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF), and dismantling the Department of Education, impact institutions that grant credentials (Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth).
- Federal Workforce Cuts: Reducing the size of government agencies affects credentialed bureaucrats, seen as part of the elite (Trump’s attack on the federal workforce is an attack on the Black middle class).
- Diversity Programs: Eliminating DEI initiatives, often supported by left-leaning professionals, is another target (Trump Attack on Diversity Training Has a Quick and Chilling Effect).
- Non-Traditional Appointments: Appointing figures like Ben Carson, without traditional political credentials, to high offices challenges the norm.
This resonates with your view that professions rig the game to maintain power, as Trump's support for reducing occupational licensing aligns with breaking down these barriers.
Controversy and Perspective
While some see this as leveling the field for those without credentials, others argue it threatens democratic institutions. It's a complex issue, with both sides having valid points, and it reflects broader tensions in American society about access and opportunity.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Trump's Impact on the Credentialed Class
This note provides an in-depth examination of the user's observations about the importance of credentials in the US compared to Australia and Trump's perceived "war on the credentialed class," particularly the left-wing segment. It expands on the direct answer, incorporating all relevant details from the analysis, and aims to mimic a professional article with structured sections and supporting data.
Cultural Context: Credentials in the US vs. Australia
The user's experience moving from Australia to the US in 1977 highlights a significant cultural difference. In Australia, the concept of mateship—emphasizing personal relationships and trust—is often prioritized over formal qualifications. In contrast, the US places a high value on credentials, such as degrees and certifications, which are essential for accessing jobs and social mobility. This is evident in professions like teaching, where the user notes that some Australians couldn't continue their work in the US due to lacking required credentials, reflecting the stringent credentialing systems here.
Defining the Credentialed Class and Trump's Targets
The "credentialed class" refers to individuals with high levels of formal education, typically holding degrees, and working in professions requiring such qualifications, such as lawyers, doctors, professors, and government bureaucrats. This class is often seen as part of the elite or establishment, and the user specifies a focus on the left-wing segment, likely due to their association with progressive values in academia and government.
Trump's actions, interpreted as a "war on the credentialed class," align with his broader critique of institutions seen as out of touch with ordinary Americans. The media frames this as a "war on democracy and our fundamental institutions," but the user sees it as challenging a system rigged against those without credentials, particularly through professional barriers.
Specific Actions and Policies
Trump's presidency included several measures that can be seen as targeting the credentialed class, especially its left-wing elements:
- Attacks on Media: Trump frequently labeled the mainstream media as "fake news," undermining the credibility of journalists, who are part of the credentialed class with journalism degrees (Security incidents involving Donald Trump). This is part of a broader narrative against media elites.
- Reforming Federal Agencies: Efforts to shrink government size, such as hiring freezes and cuts to federal workforce, impact credentialed bureaucrats. Articles like "Trump’s attack on the federal workforce is an attack on the Black middle class" (Trump’s attack on the federal workforce is an attack on the Black middle class) highlight how these policies threaten the Black middle class, which relies on federal jobs, often requiring credentials.
- Education Policies and University Assaults: Trump's administration proposed changes to student loans and accreditation, and issued executive orders to dismantle the Department of Education, affecting institutions central to credentialing. "Trump’s Attack on the Department of Education, Explained" details how this puts students' education and civil rights at risk (Trump’s Attack on the Department of Education, Explained | ACLU). Additionally, "Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth" discusses cuts to NIH and NSF funding, capping research overhead at 15% (previously up to 78% at some universities), and halting grant systems, impacting faculty and research programs (Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth). This includes stopping orders for reagents, equipment, and research animals, and reducing graduate and postdoc admissions by up to one-third.
- Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: Trump's executive orders banned certain diversity training, seen as "divisive" and a "malign ideology," affecting government, corporations, and universities. "Trump Attack on Diversity Training Has a Quick and Chilling Effect" notes the ripple effects, with universities removing DEI language from webpages and natural diversity in science being impacted (Trump Attack on Diversity Training Has a Quick and Chilling Effect). This targets left-leaning initiatives often supported by the credentialed class.
- Immigration and Student Concerns: Policies creating uncertainty for DACA students, foreign students on visas, and undocumented students, with ICE agents now able to enter sensitive places like schools, affect the academic community. "Trump’s assault on US universities" mentions 1.6 million undocumented people in Texas, including 110,000 children in public schools and 60,000 in universities, highlighting the impact (Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth).
- Non-Traditional Appointments: Appointing figures like Ben Carson, without traditional political credentials, to head departments like Housing and Urban Development, challenges the norm of credential-based authority, aligning with the user's view of breaking down barriers.
Impact on Professions and System Rigging
The user notes that professions tend to rig the game against ordinary people, striving for more power, prestige, and income by keeping out competitors through credentialing. Trump's support for reducing occupational licensing requirements aligns with this critique, aiming to make it easier for those without credentials to enter fields. This is evident in policies that challenge the barriers created by professional licensing, seen as protecting the interests of the credentialed elite.
Class Dynamics and Political Context
The 2024 election analysis, as seen in "A New Class War Emerges in the 2024 U.S. Election," highlights Trump's appeal to working-class voters, with a 15-point swing toward him among those earning less than $50,000 annually, and a majority voting Republican for the first time since the 1960s (A New Class War Emerges in the 2024 U.S. Election). This contrasts with the Professional-Managerial Class (PMC), resented by working-class voters for controlling systems through credentials. Trump's actions, such as showing disrespect for PMC values (e.g., schoolteachers, Ivy League professors), resonate with those feeling excluded, with white women without degrees preferring Trump by significant margins (27 points over Clinton in 2016, 28 over Harris in 2024).
Controversy and Media Framing
The media frames Trump's actions as a "war on democracy," arguing they threaten institutions like universities and federal agencies, seen as democratic pillars. However, supporters see it as leveling the field, challenging a system where credentials create barriers. This controversy is evident in debates over DEI, with some viewing cuts as necessary to reduce ideological conformity, while others see it as undermining equity.
Historical and Comparative Insights
Comparisons to fascist regimes, like the Khmer Rouge’s war on intellectuals, are mentioned in "Trump’s assault on US universities," with J.D. Vance calling professors "the enemy," adding historical context to the intensity of these attacks (Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth). State-level precedents, like Texas banning DEI offices two years prior, show a broader trend, with Governor Abbott threatening university presidents over DEI-related conferences.
Economic and Security Implications
The reduction in federal R&D funding from 1.9% of GDP in 1964 to 0.7% recently, as noted, could harm US technological innovation and national security, affecting the credentialed class's role in research (Trump’s assault on US universities: five views from the chainsaw’s teeth).
Table: Summary of Trump's Policies Affecting the Credentialed Class
Policy Area | Action | Impact on Credentialed Class | Source URL |
|---|---|---|---|
Media Criticism | Labeled media "fake news" | Undermines journalist credibility | |
Federal Workforce Cuts | Hiring freezes, agency reductions | Threatens job security of bureaucrats | |
Education Funding Cuts | Dismantling Dept. of Education, NIH/NSF cuts | Affects university operations, research, admissions | |
DEI Program Elimination | Banned diversity training | Impacts left-leaning initiatives, university diversity | |
Immigration Policies | Uncertainty for students, researchers | Affects academic community, foreign talent | |
Non-Traditional Appointments | Appointed figures like Ben Carson | Challenges credential-based authority | N/A (general observation) |
This table summarizes key actions and their impacts, providing a structured overview of how Trump's policies align with the user's perspective.
Conclusion
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.
Key Citations
