Obaby:“I'm always amused when I hear people saying that 'Bono should shut up about poverty - what does he know?' or that celebrities can only be figureheads, rather than driving forces behind campaigns. It is the same thing - just because they have chosen to take a different path in life (singing, cricket, carpentry, whatever) doesn't mean that they are incapable of grasping complex issues and even, heaven forbid, offering rational and realistic solutions.”

Yes like; Linda Burney does not have to like kids to run the department of community services, in fact it could well be an advantage to actively dislike them.

The poverty comment may be a little sceewif; Poverty not really being a chosen path in life but rather a major highway with no off ramp.

Mate you have got us wrong, no snobbery in OLO and blue collar? no one is more so than me.
Education? out of school before my teen age years and working.
Never stopped learning, yet.
Look at my first posts.
No its true some subjects do not get the interest I expect.
Politics is often not the subject some want.
We often see true disagreement over it but rarely snobbery,
In truth I have not noticed a thread other than this one but will look for others from you.

Academic qualification and intelligence are two different things.

Some of the most 'qualified' I know, are not that smart. They seem to have an outlook and impression based on a narrow set of the principles required for their formal training. Not all of them, but many. It is quite noticeable. And it occurs not only at executive level.

eg; give me the vocational nurse anyday,over the one with the Uni degree. This is so relevant to my recent hospital stay!

Now intelligent folk are far more interesting! I much prefer their company. And let's be clear on this,-you are intelligent. If you weren't-you would not have even asked your question!

Besides; blue collar workers are far more interesting than their executive counterparts.

Sol Trujillo was about as interesting as cat poo.

Ginx

You are maligning cat poo - it can at least fertilise the garden.

Welcome to OLO PAL01.

As others have stated it is not about how much education you have, it is about you; your interests, sense of humour, opinions. All of which may be expressed in simple terms. In fact, a clear simple post is preferable to the interminable waffle that is churned out by some of OLO's contributors. I don't need to name names, you'll recognise one soon enough.

Jewely is one of the newest contributors here and I always look forward to whatever she writes because she is so often hilarious and has a lateral point of view that I suspect doesn't come from a university degree.

Cheers

Oh poo, beaten to the punch!
Cat and their poo can carry diseases parasites.Their poo is not that good for the gardens but buried cats are or was I'm told by an employee. ;-)

Belly beat me to the punch I was going to offer his comments that blue collar can have insightful views.
Pal 01 I would suggest either therapy or a lot of booze for your addiction to 'Home and away' I don't need to watch TV tragic dramas some of the debates here can be that at times. :-)
Me I left school at 16 but at 30 odd went to uni and down hill ever since so some say.
Life in any job and beyond can be 1 year experience X 40+ years. or
40+ years of experience. The latter is the most interesting if hair depleting or greying. Only you can determine that....I'm still learning.

Good luck

PAL01
Greek church blocked from the greek university because I was atheist and against the miletary junta, I interrupted German universioty because I was deported from the country, and I stoped the Adelaide University because I had to solve family problems.
In an Open University when I finished my speak, a professor from the chair said "I did not know that we have a professor here" and called me on the chair!
4-5 years before I spent some time reading about computers, internet, search engines, etc. I created a website and I published some simple articles HOW TO: Most search engines put them on the top first page, between milion of pages, and I found they used at least in two American universities, one for exersizes, they did not know that I had nothing to do with IT.
Many times I tried to play with professors especial in jurnalist school.
PAL01
Today of cause the internet, all libraries are opened, you can become an expert on any subject withought to go a day to school.
There are many professors, many wrote excelent advanced books withought to go a day to university.
The university gives the very basics and many times I wounder how so low IQ persons, finish the Universities.
In holand there was a man who took money to write doctorates for others althouht he never finished University.
One time I had a product manager whose brain was less developed than from a child.
One time in one country, (I lived in 4 countries for long time and I traveled about 50 countries) in a seminar for party and union officers, I did a "simple" question. The speakers was TOP, TOP party level.
After my question the seminars stoped for ever because they had deep darkness!!
Knowledge is one thing and certficates and bachelors and degrees is an other story.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide