When you were young, things were different. Colleges cost less, capital was weaker compared to workers, computers haven't yet taken over as many jobs as today. Plus, we have the biggest financial crisis in the past 80 years. Still, I'm sure you can find many people in their 40s, 50s that are much less successful than you, doing rote, unexciting jobs, living paycheck to paycheck. Not everyone can be a manager, business owner, investment banker, lawyer or doctor - you need garbagemen, farmers, nurses, clerks, bartenders, in other words, people in dead-end jobs. It is in no way their fault for not achieving "greateness", that holds especially true for the stupid and for people from poorer backgrounds, who by definition have less opportunities in life.
Furthermore, my generation (20-somethings) grew up in boom years, when everything was improving and there was a very bright light at the end of the tunnel, but when we actually reached adulthood, everything turned to shit and many of my friends can't even get a bad job (I'm lucky, as I'm a programmer). No wonder half of the young population is suicidal, and the other half apathetic, we were raised with high expectations and then reality hit everyone without a warning, it fucked up many people's emotions.
My college cost $16k per year plus living expenses. It's a long story why I was going there as opposed to a cheaper state school. My parents did pay for part of it though I had to take out $20k+ in student loans and pay for the last year or so outright.
> from poorer backgrounds
I'm from a military family, lower middle class.
> It is in no way their fault for not achieving "greateness"
I haven't personally and that really wasn't what I was suggesting.
> Furthermore, my generation (20-somethings) grew up in boom years
I was in college in the 90s, boom years. Things went to shit a year after I was out.
> we have the biggest financial crisis in the past 80 years
While the current economy might be as bad as the Great Depression by some measure, you are not living through the Great Depression.
> I was in college in the 90s, boom years. Things went to shit a year after I was out.
Also, things started improving a few years after that, and the next 4 years were awesome. This crisis has been going on for 7 years.
Unemployed young people really have very little to hope for. When the economy improves, noone is going to hire a 32-year old who's hardly been employed in the past 6 years. They are going to hire the fresh 24-year-old who's just finished college. The first paycheck/job you get greatly influences the overall wealth you're going to earn over your life.
> The first paycheck/job you get greatly influences the overall wealth you're going to earn over your life.
Bullshit. My first post-college job paid $550 per month. Deciding that this wasn't the best way to live my life I networked until I found a lead and then chased a CEO for two months by calling him 2-3 times a week until I got a job. And that was just the beginning, not some magical doorway into success.
Furthermore, my generation (20-somethings) grew up in boom years, when everything was improving and there was a very bright light at the end of the tunnel, but when we actually reached adulthood, everything turned to shit and many of my friends can't even get a bad job (I'm lucky, as I'm a programmer). No wonder half of the young population is suicidal, and the other half apathetic, we were raised with high expectations and then reality hit everyone without a warning, it fucked up many people's emotions.