Posted on 08/14/2011 9:13:05 AM PDT by KeyLargo
chicagotribune.com
Generation Vexed: Young Americans rein in their dreams Amid so much economic uncertainty, many are rethinking career plans, putting off marriage and avoiding the stock market like the plague.
By Tiffany Hsu and Shan Li
August 14, 2011
Alicia Thomas, 20, had it all planned out: career at a nonprofit, married by 24, mortgage by 26.
Then financial markets went on a wild roller-coaster ride, portending that high unemployment and the stalled economy won't be rebounding any time soon.
"I don't want to invest in something I can't afford, given the economy breaking down," said Thomas, who is majoring in political science at UC San Diego. "I'll be taking smaller steps."
Call it Generation Vexed young Americans who are downsizing expectations in the face of an economic future that is anything but certain. Career plans are being altered, marriages put off and dreams shelved.
"You can't reach for the stars at this point," Thomas said.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Indeed. They reached for the “star” named Obama several years ago. Now they are reaping the results. My parents grew up during the Great Depression and WWII. They made it and never complained. I cannot feel sorry for these present day whiners.
Not one of those “plans” is impossible in this country at any adult age, nor have they been “made” impossible by exterior circumstance. They aren’t plans in any case, they’re aspirations. What they aren’t is gifts.
Gen-X to Boomers: We get it now.
I seriously doubt it. Most Gen-Xers I converse with don’t have a clue.
But if you genuinely DO get it, ‘bout damned time.
What's all the talk on this thread about Gen-X for? Gen-X'ers are currently in their 40s. They finished college and got jobs a long time ago. This article is about their children.
It means, “Would you like fries with that?”
GenX thought they had someone of their own...internet savvy, smooth talking, no gray hair, not someone that looked like their grandfather, someone they could relate to.
Unfortunately they didn’t take the time to investigate they were just following each other over the cliff.
You just can’t fix stupid.
I set my sights on being Miss America.......*sigh*
You hit the nail on the head. Liberal arts humanities majors has always been at the back of the economic bus when it comes to grads salaries. Even more so now in the age of technology.If the criteria for granting subsidized student loans is the likelihood of pay back,student loans would not be subsidized for humanities majors. Math, science,accounting,health science,engineering, and technology majors present the best economic future for grads. I do not believe in Pell grants but if the taxpayer is forced to pay for them they should only be extended to the aforementioned majors.
Thanks, I've been reading all the Gen-X hate and thinking WTF, They're talking about Gen-Y or Z.
I don’t believe that the graphic was meant as the GenXrs actually understand the world, but in fact it is meant to say that “It is our turn now.” Boomers get the back of the bus.
Gen-X to Boomers: We get it now.
“I seriously doubt it. Most Gen-Xers I converse with dont have a clue.”
“But if you genuinely DO get it, bout damned time.”
Gen Z, Zippies Under 13
Gen Y, Millenials, Echo Boomers 14-29 70 Mill
Gen X 30-45 43 Mill
Baby Boomers 46-61 70 Mill
Traditionalists 62 +
I believe that the article is actually referring to late Gen "Y" and early Gen "X" generations.
The article refers to I think those between ages 21 now and 35: Gen-X & Gen Y.
I use to set my sites on dating Miss America. Alas....she never called.
maybe not
I troll undercover on a forum with a lot of 20-somethings
two years ago Obama was God
last year it was still Bush's fault
now some common sense is seeping in
another disastrous year (which looks quite probable) and they'll be R votes I believe.
Well it could be the Fedgov, the Post Office, or a huge number of private companies operating in the Baraqqi Depression.
Gen-X: born 1965-1984. The youngest of Gen-X is 27. Those reference in the article aren’t over 26. That’s called Gen-Y.
As if the Boomers have ever known anything like this. School was cheap, they actually taught you something, and jobs were plentiful. You could get a liberal arts degree for bumpkis and get hired about anywhere. Now, you have to have a masters degree with what used to practically be trained on the job.
Granted, they may have it good now, but they know they really don’t have a future. They are the first generation to ever really experience that.
What does this mean? And how can it be a "career"?
"non-profits" can be extraordinarily profitable, for those who run them.
Excerpt:
Confidence among U.S. consumers plunged in August to the lowest level since May 1980, adding to concern that weak employment gains and volatility in the stock market will prompt households to retrench. * * *No big mystery here. About $ 4 Trillion has been lost in stock values during the past two weeks !The mood is very depressed, said Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. Consumers are very fatigued and very uncertain. In the short term, people are going to pull back on spending. * * *
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.