This is a key conceit - trades don't mean one is less intelligent. A great plumber is easily as intelligent as a great software dev. The left behind are the people who could provide value before, but now can't, and no amount of reeducation will solve that.
I feel that it is very easy to get trapped in the mindset that I am owed something based on my prior experience. Reluctance to think beyond past experience, fear of leaving behind what I worked hard to learn, or fear of failure in a new area are all things that have held me back in my own life.
I would disagree that people can not provide value beyond what they did before. Except in cases of physical or mental disability, it's more likely a self-imposed barrier.
