Half of the graduates have degrees in useless( save to give professors jobs ) degrees. Furthermore, many have been, more or less, hanging out at the equivilent of high schools avoiding the real world. Alot stay with these attitudes their entire life.
" ...There are retirees living on a fixed income..."
And why and who is responsible for this? If you are not working, or don't have your money out on the street taking risks, why should your income be anything but fixed?
".. who see their CD interest rates down at least 50% when renewal comes up (from 6% to 4%, if they're lucky)..."
Non to low or no risk investments are almost always returned at or near the inflation rate. No risk, no profit.
".. There are decent family people with young kids and mortgages who are seeing jobs dry up."
Move to the jobs. Even the origional Indians were moving. Our whole nation was founded upon movement. The WW II " Job for life " economy has been dead for over twenty years, save standing around in a town, county or government offices.
You: And why and who is responsible for this? If you are not working, or don't have your money out on the street taking risks, why should your income be anything but fixed
RETIREES.