"The Social Contract Is Broken": Why Millennials Who Lack Rich Parents Feel Increasingly Hopeless

[SW15]

X gens got pretty f'ucked too and a raw deal by the boomers. Only difference is that they didn't learn how to be snowflakes as the millennials did.

Generation X did have somewhat of a raw deal. Most Gen X'ers did not have Boomer parents. Gen X is a comparatively smaller generation for 2 reasons. This is also when Gen X gets overlooked in a lot of generational discussions.

1. The women of prime fertile age during a good portion of X's birth years were the women born between 1935-1945, a smaller generation due to The Great Depression and World War II.

2. During a good portion of Gen X birth years, there were economic problems, such as the oil shocks of the early 1970s, and the stagflation/recession of the Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter years. This reduced birth rates.

Millennials started being born in the early 1980s, as the U.S. economy was in an upswing during the Reagan presidency and the Baby Boomer generation were the major generation of women of prime fertility. Millennials are a larger generation. Millennials got a worse deal than Gen X as I'll illustrate below.

Generation X had two timing advantages. A good portion of Gen X graduated into an economy in an expansionary phase during the mid to late 1990s. Also, college costs in the 1980s/1990s were lower than the college costs for Millennials in the 2000s/2010s.

ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

As the FT sees it, millennials' fate will depend largely upon whether they're the progeny of wealthy families, or not. Those who can depend on "the bank of mom and dad" for an interest-free loan (or a generous inheritance) will always have an advantage in procuring the best homes, jobs and school placement as entry to the upper echelon of society still largely depends on having access to the best schools and alumni networks. Millennials who don't enjoy these advantages will be forced to compete in a market set up to cater to those who do.

In my opinion boomers fvcked up the economy and society for those after them, while gen X managed to get a decent deal, millennials did not.

Millennials are a lost generation, especially the first half of the generation born during the 1980s. Most of the first half of the Millennials graduated into the 2008-2012 time period when the economy was in bad shape or they were last in, first out layoffs in 2008.

Millennials Don’t Stand a Chance

They’re facing a second once-in-a-lifetime downturn at a crucial moment.

www.theatlantic.com

Millennials have been walloped by 2008 and COVID recessions.

Right now, there are many 30 somethings languishing due to those two recessionary periods.

The success of most Millennials will depend upon the inheritances they get from Boomer parents.

 

[Who Dares Win]

At sixteen in 1976 I signed up for the Army. On my 17th birthday I was on an airplane to Ft Leanardwood, then Lewis.. Four years Demo-specialist. Lived on base, ate army chow to save money. Eligibility certificate, first house 5000.00 walk in. Sold at 27 got 2nd house. NO Eligibility. After 18-years foreclosed when Zero work came in around 2008 Life stinks.
I lost everything when (all) my accounts went out of business. Dusted myself off, bought a house where you can hear banjos. Raised two kids, played hard > still do. Payed taxes, still working by myself. Caan't find young help (lazy skinnyjean-manbun-types). BUT OF COURSE IT'S MY FAULT!

I find it offensive when people believe they are owed some kind of deal and complain on a 1000.00 smartphone.

If I say that choccolate makes people fat and you tell me that you eat plenty while staying lean, it doesnt disprove what I said.

Not true. Most pilots are former air force or air national guard. Thus, their education was paid by the federal or state gov'ts.

Nope, if you can then provide data.

X gens got pretty f'ucked too and a raw deal by the boomers. Only difference is that they didn't learn how to be snowflakes as the millennials did.

Millennials are what they are cause they got educated in the school system created from boombers and Gen X ers, they didnt build themselves like that...it was their parents that wanted to stay relaxed so demanded anything remotely harsh to be removed.

Millennials didnt make the laws regulating the school system or the work environment while they were in their early 10s.

 

[metalwater]

Can you imagine someone who was given it to be more hungry than someone who fought for and had to earn each step along the way?

no; but.. it is possible to have a jump start from the father and not be an idiot and to take it forward. You're right it will not be from hunger, and hunger is very strong.

 

[mrgoodstuff]

no; but.. it is possible to have a jump start from the father and not be an idiot and to take it forward. You're right it will not be from hunger, and hunger is very strong.

It is. Dad can teach you how to take care of it and the things that could go wrong.

 

[RickTheToad]

If I say that choccolate makes people fat and you tell me that you eat plenty while staying lean, it doesnt disprove what I said.


Nope, if you can then provide data.




Millennials are what they are cause they got educated in the school system created from boombers and Gen X ers, they didnt build themselves like that...it was their parents that wanted to stay relaxed so demanded anything remotely harsh to be removed.

Millennials didnt make the laws regulating the school system or the work environment while they were in their early 10s.

Former air force dude. I think I know a little bit more about this than you..

 

[Who Dares Win]

Former air force dude. I think I know a little bit more about this than you..

Still no data.

"I know more than you" kinda like having an argument about computers with my father that still runs XP on his 2002 laptop and assures me that early 00s zone alarm protects his system from modern malwares.

 

[RickTheToad]

Still no data.

"I know more than you" kinda like having an argument about computers with my father that still runs XP on his 2002 laptop and assures me that early 00s zone alarm protects his system from modern malwares.

Okay, you're right, not really though.

My data is from most of my AF buddies are or have been pilots for the airlines.

 

[Who Dares Win]

Okay, you're right, not really though.

My data is from most of my AF buddies are or have been pilots for the airlines.

You data is from personal science, thats basically the opposite of data...what are you gonna tell me next that your auntie said that there is no inflation so according to data we're fine?

May I ask you why flight schools can afford to ask up to 45k for a course if as you said majority of pilots are former air force?

Who are the smart ones that join in such number to make it convenient for them while expecting to find a job in that field?

 

[RickTheToad]

You data is from personal science, thats basically the opposite of data...what are you gonna tell me next that your auntie said that there is no inflation so according to data we're fine?

May I ask you why flight schools can afford to ask up to 45k for a course if as you said majority of pilots are former air force?

Who are the smart ones that join in such number to make it convenient for them while expecting to find a job in that field?

Simple. Some people cannot get into the Air Force, it's the most picky out of all of the branches of the DOD. Most of those instructors, ironically, are Air Force or Air Force Reserve. The US Air Force has the most elite program and is one of the reasons why the US always has air superiority.

 

[Who Dares Win]

Simple. Some people cannot get into the Air Force, it's the most picky out of all of the branches of the DOD. Most of those instructors, ironically, are Air Force or Air Force Reserve. The US Air Force has the most elite program and is one of the reasons why the US always has air superiority.

Agree on that, still doesnt prove your point quite the opposite...if pilots seats were all taken from former military then there would be no room for civilians therefore none of them would pay 45k to be a pilot...not trying to be an ass dont get me wrong.
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/trave...ost-airline-pilots-from-the-military/1994161/

The people quoted in the OP article have problems that money can't solve. Read their quotes. It has nothing to do with the future or the past, neither of which are real. Also not real are "generations" as some kind of monolith. Just because I watched the same TV shows as millions of others doesn't mean we were or are anything alike.

As far as rich scions having a leg up, wow, stop the presses.

Agree on that, millennials as a block dont really work for this purpose...In my opinion guys born in the early 80s are culturally similar to those born in the 70s rather than those born in the 90s.

I believe the difference comes from being used to play physically and deal with people personally rather than being digitally native and socialize by proxy.

 

[Who Dares Win]

Well that's a good point. The pandemic will really have compounded that. Anyone who's socially developing (13-22 ish) now will have some real challenges ahead in terms of going beyond digital interactions.

Wanna talk about someone even more challenged than them? think of mid 30s millennial women who lost 2 years to trap some simp while hitting the wall.

 

[zekko]

The baby boomers and their counterculture made a lot of mistakes, it's true. But it appears their children are taking their parents' worst mistakes and running with them.

 

[RickTheToad]

Agree on that, still doesnt prove your point quite the opposite...if pilots seats were all taken from former military then there would be no room for civilians therefore none of them would pay 45k to be a pilot...not trying to be an ass dont get me wrong.
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/trave...ost-airline-pilots-from-the-military/1994161/


Agree on that, millennials as a block dont really work for this purpose...In my opinion guys born in the early 80s are culturally similar to those born in the 70s rather than those born in the 90s.

I believe the difference comes from being used to play physically and deal with people personally rather than being digitally native and socialize by proxy.

I'm sure this pandemic didn't help things either.

 

[MatureDJ]

ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

As the FT sees it, millennials' fate will depend largely upon whether they're the progeny of wealthy families, or not. Those who can depend on "the bank of mom and dad" for an interest-free loan (or a generous inheritance) will always have an advantage in procuring the best homes, jobs and school placement as entry to the upper echelon of society still largely depends on having access to the best schools and alumni networks. Millennials who don't enjoy these advantages will be forced to compete in a market set up to cater to those who do.

In my opinion boomers fvcked up the economy and society for those after them, while gen X managed to get a decent deal, millennials did not.

The thing that REALLY irks me about Boomers is that they simultaneously want the government to give them stuff (because they "deserve" it) while not wanting others to get stuff. THE MOST SPOILED GENERATION EVER.

 

[MatureDJ]

Most people your age managed to get a decent job position and benefits despite being low skilled in terms of technical skills and degrees.

An example are pilots who got their flight school paid from the airlines cause there was a huge demand and as long as you were able to keep it steady you were good to go.

Nowadays guys pay their own flight school step by step and even then have to pay type ratingso or if they are lucky they fly for free so they can build hours.

Needless to talk about how cheap you bought houses and cars, right now we have people in their 60s and 70s owning more than a house while 30 something people struggle to even rent a decent one while paying taxes to support the elders while working crappy jobs.

This is the quintessential political message of Baby Boomers, seen at anti-ACA rallies:

 

[CAPSLOCK BANDIT]

Been saying this forever made threads about this a long time ago, withdraw your social contract

 

[BillyPilgrim]

The baby boomers and their counterculture made a lot of mistakes, it's true. But it appears their children are taking their parents' worst mistakes and running with them.

Keep Gen-X out of this please. We are by far the best of the bad lot. The Millennials are the ones running with the mistakes.

 

[CAPSLOCK BANDIT]

Keep Gen-X out of this please. We are by far the best of the bad lot. The Millennials are the ones running with the mistakes.

I have to disagree with you just on the basis that the dismissal of father figures has become common place and even encouraged

 

[BillyPilgrim]

I have to disagree with you just on the basis that the dismissal of father figures has become common place and even encouraged

Myself and much of my peer group was kinda dismissive of our fathers (to varying degrees) because they gave us bad Boomerish advice. (We're talking fathers born between '39 and '46, the worst of the lot who had no memory of WWII angst or the depression but got to enjoy all of the post-war prosperity, and then expected us to be as successful when we were dealing with newly-imposed affirmative action, HR ****s and outsourcing.)

But us Gen-Xers were by no means socialists, even as young adults.

 

[Zontyy]

Millennials to me is often to broad to define there were some of us that grew up before the internet and there are other that grew up after it and cellphones were common. If your like me you went to university and right about when you were grad and entering the job market the recession hit and everything messed up. Then once things started to get back to normal your finally looking to settle down own a home and start a family and boom pandemic hits and everything messes up.

You can work hard and hustle and get that nice home and sacrifice. The problem is to many people are either lazy or entitled and the media has taught them to expect things. I make good money for the area I live in yet even still I'm thrifty as hell. I drive a car that gets good gas mileage, first thing I check in the grocery stores in the clearance rack for food and clothes. If I am ever getting fast food I am using 3 coupons. I'm looking to invest in a laundromat or some apartments and even still I'm thrifty as hell. To many people drink starbucks or buy fastfood without a coupon etc etc. Even when I buy gifts for my new born son it's not toys but something like a lifetime hunting and fishing license for him.