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Under Obama, Youth Misery Index Hits All-Time High A Youth Misery Index that measures young Americans’ woes has skyrocketed under President Barack Obama and hit an all-time high. The index, released Wednesday, was calculated by adding youth unemployment and average college loan debt figures with each person’s share of the national debt. While it has steadily grown over the decades, under Obama the figure has shot up dramatically, from 83.5 in 2009 to 98.6 in 2013. The index has increased by 18.1 percent since Obama took office, the highest increase under any president, making Obama the worst president for youth...

Somewhat lost in news about how bad the economy has been is the plight of America's young people. They are threatened with becoming a "lost generation" whose promise was cut short by policies of the Obama administration. The Young America's Foundation has been publishing its "Youth Misery Index" since 1993. It is calculated by adding youth unemployment and average college loan debt figures with each person's share of the national debt.  Under President Obama, the index has skyrocketed. A Youth Misery Index that measures young Americans' woes has skyrocketed under President Barack Obama and hit an all-time high.The index,...

I saw one at the airport on Monday and then another in the elevator on Wednesday. I see them on the street, at coffee shops around town, often at the grocery. Now Obamacare supporters have adopted one as the face of their new public relations campaign. I'm speaking of adults of both sexes and all ages -- though the style seems to be most popular among those under 30 -- who can't be bothered to change out of their pajamas when they go out in public. The latest entry into the fashion craze is Pajama Boy, the now infamous, plaid-clad...

".....Still, some Chicago communities — such as West Garfield Park on the West Side — continue to suffer from extremely high rates of violence, [Professor Andrew] Papachristos noted. “There is a lot of work to be done,” he said in an interview. “The work to be done is how to deal with the inequality in the crime rates.” The violent crime rate for West Garfield Park in 2011 was more than 3,000 crimes per 100,000 people, more than any community in Chicago other than Fuller Park on the South Side. Papachristos’ research showed West Garfield Park was more murderous in...

Polls indicating that Obamacare may be costing Democrats the youth vote sparked outrage from several sources. Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (Fla), Chair of the Democratic National Committee, characterized concerns over the price as “selfish and misguided.” “Those reacting negatively to insurance plans that double or triple their out-of-pocket costs for medical care are placing their own welfare ahead of society's,” she declared. “Maybe they think they're strong and healthy and don't need medication or therapy, but what about those who do?” The Congresswoman urged young people to “not try to substitute their thinking for that of the government's experts. These experts...

Seduced and then disappointed by a hipster who turned out just to be another solipsistic boomer, now chastened yet still hopeful for change (if no longer swept away by the promise of Hope and Change), young Americans are ready to ditch Barack Obama. Things had been getting rocky for a while, but seeing the dawning of the Age of Obamacare in its full glory seems to have been the final indignity. The young will of course never acknowledge that maybe their old-fogey parents were right all along, but they do understand that what they thought was going to be a...

These are bad numbers. Really, really bad.What is interesting about the Harvard University’s Institute of Politics millennial poll is that it subdivides older millennials (25-29) from younger millenials (18-24). And it’s the latter group that is more predictive and its verdict is wholly negative.There’s more support among 18-24 year olds for recalling Obama from office, than for recalling their member of Congress or even all members of Congress– at a time when Congressional approval ratings have hit record lows. Obama’s approval rating among young Americans is just 41 percent, down 11 points from a year ago, and now tracking...

If there’s one thing that feeds the ObamaCare beast, it’s young, healthy consumers — the same people who voted and worked to put Barack Obama in the White House twice. In order for the system to work, insurers need to get them into the system, paying exorbitant premiums for services they will likely never use, in order to keep prices down for older, less healthy Americans who not coincidentally tend to be more politically engaged. Gallup inadvertently tested that hypothesis and proved it its latest survey: Americans younger than 30, a key group targeted by the Affordable Care Act, continue...

The Obama administration announced Monday that it would hold a special “youth summit social” on Dec. 4 for the “people who engage” the White House on social media. The White House also requested that participants “spread the word” by using the Twitter hashtag “#WHYouth,” prompting intense mockery and snickering from certain corners of the Internet. Apparently, some social media users felt that the White House’s “youth” tag was just a tad – creepy: --snip-- The summit aims to educate young voters on the supposed benefits of enrolling in the Affordable Care Act.

When I saw "The Hunger Games," I was sure there was a strong anti-government message that seemed closely related to our current situation in the USA. The newest episode in the trilogy, "Catching Fire," sharpens that message even further. Jennifer Lawrence is headed for a position as one of those generation-defining actresses, much the way Katherine Hepburn, Raquel Welch, and Meryl Streep were. I'm not talking acting talent, although it's pretty clear Jenny can act. I'm talking about the actress who most quickly comes to mind when you talk of the early 21st century. She delivers another excellent performance as...

According to OECD, teen unemployment rates (under 25) in Europe continue to escalate, particularly in Greece and Spain. eurounemploy That is scary looking! It reminds me of The Who’s song “Teenage Wasteland.” But, the US is no slouch when it comes to teen unemployment. The 16-19 cohort is seeing an unemployment rate of 22.60% while to 20-24 cohort is experiencing 12.80% unemployment. For the sake of comparison, I also included Germany teenage (under 25) unemployment which is 7.70%. unemployteenusgerm For the entire population, here is a chart of labor force participation in Germany, Spain, USA and Mexico. lfp103113 Even beleaguered...

At what age and how did you decide to leave the safety and comfort of your parents home? I've heard so many interesting takes locally, it got me to wondering on a larger scale.

WASHINGTON, DC— Millions of Americans have received notifications from their insurance providers that their policies are being cancelled or altered due to the Affordable Care Act over the past four weeks. Reports on the number of cancellations nationwide vary and are still rolling in. Some project as many as 20 million will lose their current coverage under Obamacare. Young Americans for Liberty decided to look within its network of activists and supporters to see if they had been impacted. Sure enough, many had. YAL is currently collecting and posting images of insurance cancellation and alteration notices from within its network...

A youth magazine associated with the Palestinian Authority has published a list of "words of wisdom" - courtesy of none other than Adolf Hitler. Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), an NGO which monitors incitement and hate-speach in Palestinian Authority media, said that Zayzafuna - which previously lost UNESCO funding after publishing an essay glorifying the Nazi dictator - attributed a list of short quotes to Hitler in order to present him "as a sharp-witted and wise person." The one-liners attributed to Hitler include: "If you were stabbed in the back, know that you are in front"; "Don't challenge a man who...

<p>Japan's under-40s appear to be losing interest in conventional relationships. Millions aren't even dating, and increasing numbers can't be bothered with sex. For their government, "celibacy syndrome" is part of a looming national catastrophe. Japan already has one of the world's lowest birth rates. Its population of 126 million, which has been shrinking for the past decade, is projected to plunge a further one-third by 2060. Aoyama believes the country is experiencing "a flight from human intimacy" – and it's partly the government's fault.</p>

Last March, North Dakota gave us a heart-warming demonstration of traditional voluntary service -- in minus 20 degree weather. As the rising Red River threatened to flood Fargo, willing volunteers gathered by the thousands. Before long, they had filled and stacked over 2 million sandbags to barricade the city against the raging waters. Christians prayed for victory over the forces of nature, and by God's grace, the make-shift dikes held. About 6,000 volunteers of all ages had simply followed their conscience, worked together and met the need. Unlike President Obama's plan for government-directed "service," neither prayer nor God's comforting Truths...

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) - Trayvon Martin's father was in Chattanooga Saturday, speaking to young boys for the 4th Annual Boys Leadership Summit. It's to raise awareness on the importance of the future. Tracy Martin says after his son was killed last year, he wants to be an encouragement to young people to help make sure no other parents have to go through what he went through. "It always takes a tragic event to awaken the communities around the country, it just so happened the tragic event happened in my life," said Tracy Martin, Trayvon Martin's Father. That tragic event was...

As Obamacare began its roll out last week, it is an opportune time to discuss the reality of Obamacare. In order to pay for the elderly, illegal immigrants and other low-income households, Obamacare raises taxes on wealthier Americans (wealth redistribution). In addition, Obamacare set a goal to get as many healthy young Americans enrolled as possible. In other words, enroll healthy young people who don’t want to pay for healthcare insurance. Even worse, Obamacare will charge hefty premiums to the healthy and lower premiums to others. According to a study by the American Action Forum, healthcare premiums for young people...

Local Mosque in the Hyde Park area of Leeds, England. The UK’s official religion is dwindling at a record speed, with the decline of the Church “approaching rock bottom,” experts warn. While Christian congregations age, most British mosques are bringing more and more young people on board. Public mosque services attract thousands of British Muslims, but when you check out a church, there are hardly a dozen participants at Sunday morning worship, RT’s Polly Boiko reports from London. “The decline of churches in the UK is long term, now it just happens to be approaching rock bottom. So 95...

Like the car salesman in National Lampoon’s Vacation (played by Eugene Levy) said: “You think you hate it now, but wait ’til you drive it!” The same applies to the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka, Obamacare). levycar The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka, Obamacare) may be the worst piece of legislation ever passed by Congress and signed by a President .. and that covers a lot of ground. Why is it so bad? For one, do you REALLY want government in charge of your healthcare? Other than that, Obamacare distorts the healthcare market enormously. See the American Action Forum...