I think the fact that we (you and I) have raised children who go out and work and don't expect the govt to look after them is a big plus, and its own kind of legacy. Both my boys are self-sufficient, in the work force. One is married with a family, one income which is JUST enough for his wife to stay home with the children. This sacrifice is a good investment. They are doing without every frill, budgeting every penny every week but paying their own way, reliant on nobody, not asking us even to help, though they could use it. They know they will not have Soc Sec and they don't count on it. Both my kids have had IRAs since they were in high school. Both contribute through work, foregoing the clubs and nights out so they have already, in their 20s, started saving to be self sufficient unto death. They will follow their parents' lead, your kids and mine, and that is all that we can do to keep the next generation from going down the drain of the New Deal, the Great Society, and the crap that is going on in this Congress, despite its supposedly being conservative (what a joke).
I point to the boomers as holders of majority of responsibility because the majority of them have the Clintons mindset. There are more of them than any other age group and they are the majority of voters now.
The 70's was their decade of altering this American family landscape and the majority of children born during the end of the 70's are children of 'day care' cause raising ones own child meant that both parents needed to have income.
And so the trend continues because after taxes one person is rarely able to earn enough to support a family.
I also consider the government regulating wages had a negative effect in two directions. These kids that have no skills can't find jobs as many seniors and retiree's are taking the hamburger flipper jobs to supplement their income and business decided to go around that wage system and opened their doors to green card holders legal or not.
Congress is where laws are pieced together and funded and if Congress is not willing to fund their legislation it is dead and then there comes in the selective enforcement as a political tool to punish selectively those in their own little corner of this nation.
Government is the fastest growing employer and they sure do look out for their employees just as Congress instructs.