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That's a farce told by people of previous generations. It was true decades ago, but it's a lie today.
My grandpa entered the workforce at 18 as a telephone installer. He supported his wife and kids on a telephone installer salary. By the time he retired, he was an executive with AT&T.
In today's world, this would never happen. Even being able to support a family on an installer's salary is farfetched. You aren't landing that executive job unless you've got two degrees and years of experience in a similar position to back it up. A basic telephone installer might be able to become a supervisor after 5 years, then get one additional promotion after another 5-10 years.
Just look at some job postings for entry level positions. They all want years of experience. Gone are the days of being able to walk into a company wearing a nice suit, talking politely, and landing the job on the spot.
This is exactly why millennial are so skeptical of "the system".
Yeah ... Sorry. No. I know several people in the millennial-ish age group who started off in the customer service phone banks and then graduated to supervisory rolls, acquired industry specific software skills then parlayed that to other companies and are now software reps who travel the world doing training. Nice six figure salaries. Started at the bottom. Hard work and competency paid off and now they're doing well. Others who worked their way up from entry level admins all the way up to executive admins then leveraged that into small growing companies and hit it nicely with stock options. Are you going to dismiss this kind of thing because it didn't happen to you? It kind of sounds like you're justifying your own experience by painting it as the group experience.
That's a farce told by people of previous generations. It was true decades ago, but it's a lie today.
My grandpa entered the workforce at 18 as a telephone installer. He supported his wife and kids on a telephone installer salary. By the time he retired, he was an executive with AT&T.
In today's world, this would never happen. Even being able to support a family on an installer's salary is farfetched. You aren't landing that executive job unless you've got two degrees and years of experience in a similar position to back it up. A basic telephone installer might be able to become a supervisor after 5 years, then get one additional promotion after another 5-10 years.
Just look at some job postings for entry level positions. They all want years of experience. Gone are the days of being able to walk into a company wearing a nice suit, talking politely, and landing the job on the spot.
This is exactly why millennial are so skeptical of "the system".
You are so entirely wrong and must listen to too much TV and Democrat politicians. Both of those will have you believing that. Not to mention clueless college professors.
People of prior generations delayed personal, material gratification. They lived humbly and simply and that is how they supported families on one, average salary. They had good priorities which didn't include buying tons of brand name crap and buying more next year and on and on. And they were SAVERS and most didn't go into DEBT.
I do feel for the fact that I know younger generations have been entirely sold on purchasing things based on "affordable monthly payments". They really buy into that concept and it will hang them. It's a choice, don't ever forget that.
That's a farce told by people of previous generations. It was true decades ago, but it's a lie today.
My grandpa entered the workforce at 18 as a telephone installer. He supported his wife and kids on a telephone installer salary. By the time he retired, he was an executive with AT&T.
In today's world, this would never happen. Even being able to support a family on an installer's salary is farfetched. You aren't landing that executive job unless you've got two degrees and years of experience in a similar position to back it up. A basic telephone installer might be able to become a supervisor after 5 years, then get one additional promotion after another 5-10 years.
Just look at some job postings for entry level positions. They all want years of experience. Gone are the days of being able to walk into a company wearing a nice suit, talking politely, and landing the job on the spot.
This is exactly why millennial are so skeptical of "the system".
As an example shown above ( by Wee-Bey) proves, you can't say "it would never happen," which some die hard capitalists will use right away to contradict your statement.
Of course it still happens. The question remains, WHAT PERCENTAGE of such success ( described above) is true for millenials vs boomer generation.
You are so entirely wrong and must listen to too much TV and Democrat politicians. Both of those will have you believing that. Not to mention clueless college professors.
People of prior generations delayed personal, material gratification. They lived humbly and simply and that is how they supported families on one, average salary. They had good priorities which didn't include buying tons of brand name crap and buying more next year and on and on. And they were SAVERS and most didn't go into DEBT.
I do feel for the fact that I know younger generations have been entirely sold on purchasing things based on "affordable monthly payments". They really buy into that concept and it will hang them. It's a choice, don't ever forget that.
You act as if millennials are out buying everything, but in reality we are buying less than previous generations. Many of us don't own cars, don't pay for cable TV, and don't pay for a home phone.
Also, you're leaving out one major factor, housing costs.
The average cost of a new home in 1960 was around $12,500. Adjusted for inflation, that's $105,000 today. Please find me a decent home for that price.
Someone who works as a telephone installer making $20/hour won't be able to support a family, make a car payment, and own a home.
Quote:
Originally Posted by erasure
As an example shown above ( by Wee-Bey) proves, you can't say "it would never happen," which some die hard capitalists will use right away to contradict your statement.
Of course it still happens. The question remains, WHAT PERCENTAGE of such success ( described above) is true for millenials vs boomer generation.
I should have worded that differently. Sure, it can happen today, but it's more rare than in past decades.
In the 1950s and 1960s, if you worked hard, you were almost guaranteed a raise. People were very loyal to companies because the companies treated them right.
Today, people have to bounce around to different companies because they know there isn't any room for salary increases or promotions at their current place of employment.
Nope, you bought hook-line-and-sinker into the Bernie BS and utterly contradict yourself, numerous times, in this last post because you got called on the blind worship.
Nope, didn't even listen to Bernie - I knew he didn't have a chance.
But I have a millenial kid so I listen to THEM, what THEIR thoughts/observations are.
Quote:
P.S. Go buy lunches for lots of strangers and let us know what kind of guarantee you got that when you need that free lunch, it will be provided for you? (It's an analogy.)
Well it's a bad analogy, because we are not talking about lunches, really. Rather about health care, education and all that stuff.
You act as if millennials are out buying everything, but in reality we are buying less than previous generations. Many of us don't own cars, don't pay for cable TV, and don't pay for a home phone.
Also, you're leaving out one major factor, housing costs.
The average cost of a new home in 1960 was around $12,500. Adjusted for inflation, that's $105,000 today. Please find me a decent home for that price.
Someone who works as a telephone installer making $20/hour won't be able to support a family and own a home.
I should have worded that differently. Sure, it can happen today, but it's more rare than in past decades.
In the 1950s and 1960s, if you worked hard, you were almost guaranteed a raise. People were very loyal to companies because the companies treated them right.
It's not just millenials, it's the last 2 or 3 generations. The baby boomers spoiled the hell out their spawn, who have done the same to theirs, and it was a seriously dumb move because it gave them false expectations.
For everyone, born at any time, life is a road full of work, sacrifice, disappointment, setbacks and also amazing opportunity, interesting challenges, growth, joy, fulfillment, etc. You get to choose which you focus on.
One more thing I'll say, whereas it was often times annoying being raised by Depression-era parents (very frugal and cautious! But, as an adult I now understand why) it prepared me well for life. My expectations are that my life outcome is up to me no matter what circumstances exist and they are always changing, so everyone may as well buck up.
Last edited by Travel Crazy; 07-19-2017 at 10:41 AM..
Nope, didn't even listen to Bernie - I knew he didn't have a chance.
But I have a millenial kid so I listen to THEM, what THEIR thoughts/observations are.
Well it's a bad analogy, because we are not talking about lunches, really. Rather about health care, education and all that stuff.
Ahem...which means you were listening to Bernie channeled through your kid!
Oh geez, somehow I knew you wouldn't follow the analogy (even though you put up the example). That's why I felt the need to say, "it's an analogy". But it still didn't work.
Yes, I'm aware of what you meant. And please define how you will get your guarantee that all the stuff you mention will be there for you after you've paid heaps in taxes? You appear to view it as an automatic.
As an example shown above ( by Wee-Bey) proves, you can't say "it would never happen," which some die hard capitalists will use right away to contradict your statement.
Of course it still happens. The question remains, WHAT PERCENTAGE of such success ( described above) is true for millenials vs boomer generation.
Without a doubt it used to be easier to make it to the middle class without a college degree. I think that's because of income profile down-scaling. The median income should be the metric for the center of the "middle class". It is now $56k household income. It's going to be very difficult to own a home and send your kids to college on $56k. College is too expensive and competitive and home prices have risen faster than income. In the 70s a guy with a HS education could move from A/C repairman to owning his own small HVAC ducting company, be right on the money for middle class income and achieve those goals I just described. Own a small home and send the kids to college. I know this because I grew up with that demographic. They were my people.
This is not just a millennial problem. Older people who used to be middle class no longer are and honestly it's worse for them than younger people because their future earning years ahead are diminishing and retirement is looming. That's a scary thing.
I'm not a "die hard capitalist". I believe it's the world's best system for creating wealth but I also see how the economics of our country have changed to make it more difficult to obtain middle class status for people without good training and professional skill sets. I see the problem and I wish I knew the answer. It's not Darwinian capitalism and it's for sure not socialism. I don't have the answers. It's a super complex dynamic that includes our change from a nation-centric manufacturing economy to a global one with the consequent loss of manufacturing. We are now a service and technology economy where the intellectual capital of the individual is key. Even if I wanted to take the simpleton's out of searching for blame I doubt I could honestly find it. Things have just changed so much in this world, not just our country and most of it is beyond the govts ability to control and maintain our status-quo circa 1970. Let's be honest about this. If somebody has a pat sound bite answer they're a shallow idiot or a liar.
Yup. Pick yourself up cupcake dust yourself off. Fall from grace rise from the ashes or cry foul and subscribe to the victim mentality blaming others for your failure...
Global economy is irrelevant. There are many demanding markets outside of desk jobs... if you can handle a little sweat and blood you can make it. Or dont...
That's what happens when you coddle everyone from birth on up and make them feel special and that they can do no wrong. They become spoiled, with an unrealistic and naive view of the world. They can't fail. Til they do. Then what? Move back in with mom and dad? Life is hard, harder if your dumb or lazy.
Embrace your failures mistakes learn from them and move on. Dwell on it cry foul blame older generations or capitalism your trophy award is showing...
I agree. We should learn from our mistakes.
**** liberal economics. Regulate the goddamn financial sector.
Can't imagine this what you had in mind in your childish, "I hate millennials because trendy" rant. But there you go.
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