Timeless Principles
Opinion

The Next Millionaire Class? Why America’s Future Depends on Tradespeople

Artificial intelligence can write code, draft articles, even mimic human speech. But can it install a septic tank or unclog a toilet?
The Next Millionaire Class? Why America’s Future Depends on Tradespeople
A mechanic works on a Datsun ahead of a competition in Adelanto, Calif., on May 16, 2025. David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images
Mollie Engelhart
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Commentary

Here on the farm, the repair and maintenance list is endless. Some jobs we can handle ourselves, but many others require a tradesman: a mechanic, plumber, HVAC technician, electrician, or contractor. When I moved to Texas, I was shocked by the cost of hiring them. Gasoline was half the price of gas in California. Groceries were cheaper. But when I needed to install an air conditioner at my home in Texas, the bill was higher than when I installed a massive rooftop unit in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, an installation that required a crane and even shutting down part of Sunset Boulevard. How could that be?

Mollie Engelhart
Mollie Engelhart
Author
Mollie Engelhart, regenerative farmer and rancher at Sovereignty Ranch, is committed to food sovereignty, soil regeneration, and educating on homesteading and self-sufficiency. She is the author of “Debunked by Nature”: Debunk Everything You Thought You Knew About Food, Farming, and Freedom — a raw, riveting account of her journey from vegan chef and LA restaurateur to hands-in-the-dirt farmer, and how nature shattered her cultural programming.