>>their income potential straight out of college is barely able to afford a starter house and a stay at home mom raising a kid.
My wife and I lived in a mobile home for 10+ years, ate lots of chicken and hot dogs... while we saved and planned how to make a home for the family we wanted in the context of reality.
It takes commitment and hard work - something we learned from our parents, who also had marriages that lasted >50 years until death.
Generation XBox thinks they’re entitled to a McMansion and an Audi because the TeeVee says so.
Boohoo for them - and STAY OFF MY LAWN!
I think you are confusing two separate things. On one hand there is a selfish mentality in our society. On the other hand real wages are down for men who only have a high school diploma. More college is not the answer is there simply are not enough jobs that require a college degree. More people going to college just makes the value of a degree less valuable