[bluetomcat]

Getting educated in what? Corporate law, advertising and marketing, journalism, HR, French literature...

If most of these jobs are replaced by proper blue-collar occupations, we would see far more tangible results – most importantly, cheaper construction and housing.

[hx87]

It's difficult to make construction in the USA cheaper without greater acceptance of prefabrication and panelization in the residential sector and lowering of permitting costs.

[yummyfajitas]

Not to mention breaking public sector unions, eliminating "Buy American" provisions, and just generally removing all the unique things that no one else in the world does.

Delhi built phase 2 of her metro for $2.9B in 3 years (85 stations, 77 miles of track). NYC build Hudson Yards in 9 years for $2.5B (1 station, 1 mile of track).

Various tricks: Delhi didn't wildly overhire and overpay workers, they bought standard train cars/other equipment from Japanese and German corporations that have a proven record in supplying such things, and eliminated a bunch of red tape. It's almost as if Delhi built a metro with the goal of having a metro rather than with the goal of funneling money to MTA workers.