>Lots of motivated, skilled Indians, Chinese and Koreans who can and will work for a lot less than Americans can afford to work are creating great downward pressure on salaries.<
I've worked with dozens of Indians. A lot less money in India buys a princely standard of living there. The Indians who came here to stay have NO expectation of getting paid less than home-grown Americans.
I'm a boomer, and I have NEVER expected SS to take care of me. Back in the 1970s it was obviously not to be relied upon. I do weary of whiney Gen Xers bleating...I've paid and paid into the system with no expectation of getting anything back, and some of these Gen Xers are ready to tell us all to die for their convenience, or even to round us up to kill us. Some of the comments here make me wonder about the stability of the people making them--perhaps they are simply selfish beyond anything I have known before.
I've worked with dozens of Indians. A lot less money in India buys a princely standard of living there. The Indians who came here to stay have NO expectation of getting paid less than home-grown Americans.
As have I. Yet the "offshoring" to India, China, and Korea is what is driving down opportunity here. Note that Microsoft set up a world-class research lab in China. Such strategies reduce opportunity for scientists and engineers of all nationalities who who would live and work here and pay the taxes to finance the current obligations. Similar price pressures face other professions. You and I have paid and paid out of salaries that are higher than we can expect in the future. Add that to the demographic shift and our children face real pressures. Don't underestimate that. Trite answers don't cut it for them.
Some of the comments here make me wonder about the stability of the people making them--perhaps they are simply selfish beyond anything I have known before
I think you are seeing frustration. Out of curiosity, what was your debt level for your education? Mine was low. Look at the college debt many of these young people incur. They get out and have such debt to repay and see estimates of 70% tax rates to pay for our generation's largesse. What do you expect them to say?