A reader writes:
I've been reading your "
almost all of them (except the one that said we tend to lean more libertarian … but that's a long discussion for another time). It got me thinking about a story from The Atlantic called "The Cheapest Generation", which inspired a LOT of blowback in the comments section. The thing is, we ARE a cheap generation, not necessarily because we want to be, but because we see the giant fucking mess that the Boomers got into thinking they could have anything and everything.
I graduated from grad school last year, and am currently unemployed after my latest "contract" job was terminated. I live in a house with five other people, two of whom are in their 30s. Even if I could afford a house and a car and all those things, I don't want them. Owning a house just doesn't have the same significance to Millennials (in my opinion). It's a symbol of being tied down, of having to pay for something for the rest of your life, which we all have to do already with student loans. Unlike previous generations that either never had debt (our grandparents) or didn't discover it until they were well on their way to being settled (our parents), we've learned from an early age that we're screwed for the rest of our lives, and there's nothing much we can do about it.
Another:
Am I the only Millennial Dishhead who can't get a decent fucking job?
I was also born in 1984, I lived abroad for three years, started a nonprofit (which failed), graduated from a fairly good university with a liberal arts degree, volunteered for the Gore, Kerry, Obama campaigns, and various local campaigns (a very liberal and political family) and well … I was going to write you from my personal email, but since I'm at work, I thought- why not. Notice it's receptionist@ – not even my name. I have tried for two years to get into anything, anything fulfilling that could possibly turn into a career.
But I have the problem that so many people in my generation have. We want to help people. We want to do something that is worthwhile and that contributes to the greater good. Perhaps we feel this because of our parents, the Internet, whatever. And the motivation to do good is good. But Jesus, it's discouraging. So discouraging. There are people of my generation who are thriving, and then there are people of my generation that are not, who are living with parents. That are going back for a second masters, a third, a career shift into "the medical field" because that’s where jobs are.
I don't know, man, but I feel too discouraged with putting out over 800 applications, constant networking events, informational interviews and rejection to be concerned with how great my generation is. I don't really care that we all support gay marriage or that a stupid majority of us support torture. They'll figure it out, or not. But, I am figuring out that the things I cared so much about (Darfur anyone?) in high school and college don't do it for me anymore. We need healthcare. We need to get out of debt. And I can't just believe that it will all work out.
Thanks for the space to rant. That felt good. Now I'm going to go make excel spreadsheets mauve.
(Graphic from Generation Opportunity)
The Dish 