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?
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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?

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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.