In this episode of "Try to Control Your Shock and Amazement..."

California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom has decided to remove college degree requirements from roughly 30,000 state jobs. Only a fool would believe his claimed reason for doing so.

According to a news release (emphasis, mine):

The state has now removed college degrees or other certain educational requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs. This effort is part of the Newsom administration’s work to modernize state government and improve the hiring process by removing unnecessary barriers to public service jobs.

"Modernize" the state government?" How so? 

Moreover, the release also announced “a new goal to double” the number of jobs that will no longer require college degrees in 2025. How awesome for the people of the no-longer-Golden State.

Translation: The soft bigotry of low expectations.

Here's more:

“The proposal for an additional roughly 32,000 positions statewide is currently being negotiated with employee unions and will be submitted for approval in 2025,” the release said.

The California Human Resources Department (CalHR) is the group that evaluates whether a degree or “other educational requirements” are necessary for a job, the release said.

CalHR is the state’s department responsible for things like state employee salaries, job classifications, training, exams, and so forth, according to its website.

Deputy director of communications at CalHR Camille Travis told The Center Square that “CalHR has committed to the policy and ongoing practice of ensuring there are multiple pathways, including without a degree, to most jobs.”

Travis added:

[CalHR] has removed barriers to employment from the minimum qualifications [totaling] approximately 176 job classifications to date where a degree or other educational requirement is not necessary, expanding opportunity and access to well-paying jobs in public service.

Since 2014, CalHR has worked to simplify the State’s job classification plan via projects that streamline processes and address barriers to state hiring, exam maintenance, bargaining discussions, and pay equity for affected classes.

"Pay equity." Sounds great. Wait— no it doesn't. Unless you're on the "equity" end of it, that is.

It Gets Better (Worse)

In the news release, Newsom was quoted as saying:

California is working to ensure that every person has what they need to get a well-paying, long-lasting job so we can build an economy for the future that supports all families.

Every Californian deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue a fulfilling career – including those that don’t require college degrees.

Raise your hand if you understand how lowering education requirements can increase a person's skill set. 

And not to be harsh, but no, every Californian — along with every "everyone" else — does not deserve a well-paying job. Well-paying jobs, be they with or without various educational requirements, should be secured through merit, not  "pay equity."

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In additional "awesome" news, according to Brookings, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, among others, have stopped requiring college degrees for up to 90 percent of state jobs.

And the left-wing band plays on.