Middle class American kids are raised to have certain expectations about quality of life - that if they pursue a decent education then they can work 40 hours a

Middle class American kids are raised to have certain expectations about quality of life - that if they pursue a decent education then they can work 40 hours a week and afford a comfortable house in a safe neighborhood, resources to attract a spouse and build a family, good schools for their kids, and so on. Most wake up in their mid 20s and realize that they have a pile of student loan debt and housing in desirable areas is beyond reach. It's the fundamental disconnect between what society (parents, media, culture) led them to expect and the reality they are confronted with that causes confusion, despair, and anger. Reactions are varied. Some give up, some dig in. The American dream is still alive and well it's just accessed differently than it used to be and we don't talk about that enough with young people. Personally I'm surprised the youngest generations aren't even greedier, more ruthless, and more focused on economic value than they seem to be, based on the structure and incentives of the world into which they were born.