My take: the college-educated class (of which I am one) is feeling nervous, and started to spew negativity at the idea of trades or apprenticeship. The college (loan) industry is in for a decline, and is feeling defensive.

I don't recall ever hearing that welders were "wealthy", I heard (and continue to hear) that they can be middle-class. Which is something that some who took out big college loans to get a journalism degree, struggle to do.