Quote:
Originally Posted by UbbyJuice
The OP is correct, much to the chagrin of the detractors and older people in this thread.
Here is why:
Average babyboomer - usually independent fresh out of high school, no welfare needed, "launches" right away
Walks out of high school STRAIGHT into a living wage or higher career that lasts 10-20 years or more (didn't even need "college degrees" to get good jobs back then), few if any layoffs or worrying about job insecurity due to the strong economy. The stability provided by "being in the right place, at the right time" in 1950-1970 era America and such good wages and steady work allowed the rising boomer to quickly attract a young wife and buy a house while very young. By the way, houses were dirt-cheap as the boomers were coming up, $20k-$60k for a decent house was not unheard of. The ones who got in real early managed to snag $15k houses. As time went by these boomers rode on the "wave" of inflation with ever increasing equity in their houses (sometimes in the 6-figures of free money) and rising wages/regular promotions at work, they were on "the receiving end" of the American economy.
Average millennial circa 2010's - can't afford independence until late 20's/early 30's, needs welfare, uses roommates, lives at home, etc
Walks out of high school and can't find any living wage jobs at all. Has to go to "college", using 5-figure (or more) student loans to do so, to even be considered for entry level jobs. Sometimes 2 or 3 degrees are needed due to the market being oversaturated with college degree holders. When he gets out of college, he struggles to find work and the competition for the few remaining "good" jobs is fierce. He might go a year or two before actually landing a job in his field of study. When he finally does land a decent entry-level job, he is CONSTANTLY worried about the economy and the threat of sudden layoffs. As women are mainly attracted to money and stability in a man, he might go a decade or more before he makes enough to attract a mate. In the meantime, he will be stuck renting and paying off his student debts for years, forget qualifying for a mortgage as his debt-to-income ratio makes him ineligible. And when he finally does get into a position to buy a property? He finds houses are now ASTRONOMICALLY expensive compared to the $20k-$60k his father paid decades ago. As time goes on millennials are drowned by the "wave" of inflation as rents, property values, cost of living, etc are constantly going up, while wages stay flat at work, they are on "the losing end" of the American economy.
Maybe a little over-simplistic, but what I wrote is true in a "general" sense; the boomers had life "on easy mode" compared to millennials, and this is not really up for debate.
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And who's choice was it to attend these colleges blindly without researching, these as you admit, over saturated job/career markets?
Can't blame boomers for that...
I promise you 10,000 in 100 dollar bills, you force an entire generation the ones that are within 5 years of college age, to stay home and work for 2-5 years in skilled trades before going to college... you will see colleges implode on tuition prices!!! Supply and demand.
Don't follow along like blind sheep thinking or being trained to think you need a college degree to make a good living. Alot of what happens to folks of my generation, that hasn't been mentioned yet, going off to school, take courses, find out that career path ain't all its cracked up to be... drop out, wind up slinging drinks or waiting tables. That's OK mommy and daddy think your special, so special you be moved back in and free rent and still have chores LOL.
My generation will only fail if that's what they accept at their own peril. It won't be because they changed the game or tried to and failed, it will be due to accepting defeat and tapping out, taking pee down their backs and told it's rain. Not because they applied themselves and stood up for themselves or realised they were chasing a pipe dream for a career while it's being outsourced...
There are many opportunities out there. If you don't try you won't know. I keep hearing comparisons of Appalachia and Detroit when I do talk about this...
You can't excuse someone from not seeing the writing on the wall and being naive to believe their comfortable career wasn't on the chopping block... If I were working in GM putting chevys together, and watched the news about public announcements of factories closing, I'd have my house on the market or be looking for a relative area to apply my skillswithin a 50 mile radius. Ride it til the wheels fall off, what do you expect to happen?
If I were digging coal and constructing mine shafts, guess where I'd be? Looking in areas relative to constructing under ground or operating heavy equipment. I met a guy from coal country, he worked in NYC with subway maintenance and inspecting tunnels... he was one of the smart ones that got out... not jump on the dole... or cry foul even rightfully so for having their product demonized by environmentalists...
He chose to take the risk. He rides the train from Hudson down to NYC. Settled in the Catskills reminded him of home with all of the mountains. It was either starve and let his kids go without and maintain the close friendships and family ties, or go stone cold throw emotion to the side and do what's in his and his family's best interest.
To lay down and take it and say well that's all folks, I tried, now where's my participation trophy? and to have others excuse it? Come on give me a break.
Everything I've endured has been a challenge and I embrace it. I wouldn't have it any other way. If I did take the easy way out, I'd have inherited my father's businesses and been tied down in NY still, while he retired to florida and I cut the checks for him to do so... Nah. Went my own way. Made it my mission in life never to be confused with someone born with the silver spoon. Go from riches to rags, back to riches. Have nobody to blame, let alone an entire generation at that, for my successes and failures. And it's not from a lack of trying, or simply by showing up...
I won't see things from that perspective that boomers or anyone had it easier.
Simple question which is completely relevant yes or no.
Are there opportunities to succeed in this country both back then and now? Yes or no?
I don't want to hear there were more opportunities back then, because there are markets that exist today that didn't back then, and markets that existed back then that don't exist today.
I don't care if it's 1950 or 2050. Your pipes are going to clog, and in colder climates are going to freeze and burst.
Your mode of transportation, regardless how simple or complex are still going to need maintenance and repairs.
Still going to need human hands to climb bridges and weld.
Still going to need someone to drive big rigs.
Still going to need doctors nurses and pharmacists.
Still going to need someone to get up and fix a leaking or damaged roof.
Still going to need someone to grow and harvest your food even with heavy equipment.
Still going to need someone to patrol your neighborhoods to ensure its safe.
Still going to need someone to come put that fire out.
Still going to need someone to scrape you off the floor and load you into the meat wagon.
Still going to need someone to fly your plane when you travel.
Still going to need someone to fix and maintain the automated machines that assemble goods...
Still going to need to talk to a salesman of some sort to acquire a mode of transportation, or dwelling...
Still going to need someone to file your taxes to ensure you aren't being taken for a ride or make an error on your behalf that winds up with that tax man knocking on the front door.
Elevators that need fixing.
I can go on...
Roll your sleeves up, get your thumb out of your mouth, set your alarm clock for 5am, lace up your boots. There's roads needing fixing, houses crumbling, a wall needing building, and beer to drink after 5.
I can't help you if you refuse to help yourself...