"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
Upton Sinclair
Works similarly. If a person's belief system requires them to believe one thing they will choose to disregard information that doesn't support their beliefs.
Construction is hard backbreaking labor that most people can't do their whole lives. Once you get to your mid to late 40's if you aren't running the crew your body is done for usually. I did some construction work in 100 degree heat when I was young and it sucked. It made me realize the importance of staying in school.