I have been wanting to write about a disturbing and false trend that I have noticed for some time ever since the economic collapse a year ago. Time and time again people that I know, usually Right Wingers of various sorts, have said that young people are, "spoiled" and that the expect "too much, too soon." Its been really pissing me off so I decided to write about it.
I am 27 years old with a college degree in political science and history (I double majored) from Indiana University. I can say flat out that the job market has sucked since I graduated four years ago and I eventually decided to go back to school to learn some computer skills (mostly web designing) four months ago. I really feel that my generation has been shafted out of the American Dream and then told that we are "spoiled." Look all the economic data shows that wages have flat-lined and that the economy has not been in that great of a shape since 2001. So it just pissed me off to hear older people (40+) tell me my generation is "spoiled" and that the economic collapse should teach us a lesson.
When I got out of school I worked for a corporation for two years making $12.00, worked hard while my lazy VP got paid $200,000. When I asked to get paid $15.00 an hour she told me, "the company can't afford that." If anything my VP, and the overpaid executive Vampires, are the ones who are spoiled!
Also, my generation has bleed the most in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are a generation of Americans that inherits an America that is worse off than at any other time since 1933. My generation and I are anything, but spoiled! We just want what the idea of America promised to us and that is the right to work and advance ourselves and to have a voice in our own government. These are not things "spoiled" people ask for; these are things Free Americans demand of their government and society.
Honestly, I really feel that the times are changing. That a new movement is rising up that is going to restore some things to where they should be.
Sorry that this diary is a bit of a rant, but I have been really bothered by this and just wanted to get it off my chest.