This was inspired by Kos' tweet pic of the 18 year old claiming that "I don't expect ANYTHING to be handed to me" while his dad is paying for his college education.
Here is my response:
I got my first job 46 years ago, when I was 12 (yes, it was a paper route). I have worked ever since.
I moved out of my parents house at 19, and paid for my own college education.
Until I was hospitalized for a medical emergency in 2007, I had not called in sick to work since graduating from college in 1976.
My house has a "right side up" mortgage, I have savings, college funds for my step children and a 401K.
I support my wife's two children because, like Joe Walsh, her ex hasn't paid child support since 2007.
In 2009, I lost my job, like millions of Americans, when Wall St wrecked the economy.
I made it though 13 months of unemployment OK--thanks to hard budgeting, savings--and President Obama and the Democrats.
Thanks to the ARRA, I was able to keep my house and health insurance--while Judy Biggert and the Republicans laughed and called me a deadbeat.
Like many others my age, I now make less than 50% of what I made before. Essentially, my lifestyle has been sent back 20-25 years.
That's OK -- my wife and I are still in a position to build for the future. We can take anything these F--kers dish out.
However, millions of Americans are not as fortunate as us. As hard as they work, they are falling behind, crushed by declining wages, medical bills, etc. Increasingly, the younger generation sees a bleak future.
They would LOVE to earn enough to PAY MORE TAXES.
America works best when it works for EVERYONE. Not just Wall Street.
I AM ONE OF THE 53%, TOO.