[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Maru

I'll give an example of something more tangible, to try to keep it concise... Our generation, who we were less politically motivated, we felt entitled to cheaper education and unfettered access to college... so in the States, if you graduate from a community college (no bar to entry), we are generally given instant transfer to any public state college of our choosing in many states.

Well, that cost money, so to soothe that pain we were given grants and low-interest student debt by way of federally backed loans which protected the corporations in case those weren't paid back. However, it didn't come with sort of system of checks to be sure that the investment would even pay off for the student (i.e. a good degree choice). Bush then wrote a law that prevented student loans debt from being "expunged" at bankruptcy to avoid that inevitable balloon in unpaid debt... so those loans are now life-long burdens.

Now that education has skyrocketed in costs, largely influenced by the over-expansion of universities and colleges thanks to thirsty school administrations who pushed initiatives that was supposed to make education more "accessible" and catering as much to demand, many young folk now are asking it should all be free anyway... this is without ever having paid in and requiring no checks and balances in place to be sure the investment in them is even worth it... so someone who wants to take Philosophy or Ancient Chinese History for example as their degree of choice, full well knowing there's almost no job market for those individuals (i.e. no means to pay it back into the system)... is that anything but entitlement?

To add to this, they want to have higher wages for entry level jobs... because yes, they are absolutely coming out of school saddled with mountains of debt on their backs and some so bad, their payments for their student loans are in excess of most mortgages. It also limits their ability to settle down, to get loans to start a business, or even pre-qualify for a home loan at a not so predatory interest rate thanks to their debt to income ratio... while at the same time having to pay some form of rent if they're not living at home in order to maintain some meaningful existence or further their personal development out of the parental home.

As I see it, the system has been doing gymnastics to soothe the "whims" of the younger populations (including Gen X, baby boomers, etc), but it's not paid off. In fact it's backfired tremendously... ... I think in helping them to avoid certain pains, we've only caused more of it, like the mental health crisis as you say... and I feel this way about areas of their lives. Not just education. Many have been sold on a pack of lies... my great grandparents were wise enough to steer their children towards the right course for themselves thanks to the Depression, but we've been giving each generation more and more lofty societal burdens (such as create world peace, etc) that are weighing them emotionally rather than just on giving them skills or basic information necessary just to get them through life and do alright for themselves...

.....hmmmm, no...that doesn’t really answer my confusion or the post quoting my post...but no worries, Maru...I’m just going to leave the thread../..topic now...