In this first episode of our new podcast, VAS News Chat, I join Teresa Manning, Policy Director at the National Association of Scholars and President of its Virginia affiliate, for a deep dive into my recent article, “America’s Obsession with Diplomas Is Killing Opportunity,” in which I argue that credentials have become an illegitimate precondition for employment and social legitimacy.
Manning and I discuss how credentials are not only unnecessary for many professions but often actively harmful. America’s obsession with diplomas has created artificial barriers to entry in the workforce, driven up the cost of education, and saddled young Americans with staggering debt—often for jobs that don’t pay enough to repay those loans or support a comfortable life. This system enriches bloated universities while leaving graduates unprepared for the real world and devaluing genuine expertise.
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We also discuss how the capture of American colleges and universities by “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) ideology is affecting everyday life. From kindergarten classrooms to elite law and medical schools, DEI dogma has displaced academic rigor in favor of identity-based mandates. Rather than promoting unity or excellence, the DEI agenda divides students, restricts speech, and elevates grievance over merit. Manning and I examine how this ideology increasingly dictates hiring practices and curricular decisions, often at the expense of genuine educational outcomes.
We further explore the broader cultural consequences, including the effect of student debt on family formation, the displacement of American workers through mass immigration and outsourcing, and the erosion of civic and patriotic education in schools.
The conversation concludes with a look at ongoing legislation in Congress and the possibilities for meaningful reform in the second Trump administration.
Watch the full conversation below or on YouTube:
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Image: “Unemployed graduate” by Matthew Hurst on Flickr
