Does the US even have a system for vocational training? Over here in germany we have this system where you go to a university if you want an academic education, but if you want vocational training you go to a company and then get an accredited vocational degree after two or three years where you work at your company like 80% of the time and visit a specialized public school for the rest of the time. So if I want to be a computer scientist, I go to the university, but if I want to be a carpenter or network admin, I just get a vocational degree in carpentry or network administration. The system has some problims with things like adapting to change, but still seems better than a college or nothing approach.

The US has different levels of degrees. Most of the colleges and universities that you hear about offer bachelors degrees as the first degree (generally a four year degree). Other colleges, especially so-called community and junior colleges will offer 2 year associates degrees in more vocational subjects such as nursing. And then there are other purely vocational schools that offer training that lasts less than a year (usually for-profit schools).

One of the biggest differences between the US and German system is that almost all American students attend the same type of high school, which theoretically should prepare you to go to a university and the curricula are usually general. Also it's important to know that the US system is mostly controlled on the local level, rather than the federal level for public schools, so a school in one city can be very different than a school in another city or state.

For reference, the other iterations, in other sectors of the business news:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=275258 (Wall Street Journal)

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=115158 (Financial Times)

And for less serious satire with nuggets of truth:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/penn-and-teller-bullshit-c...