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I feel this article is flawed with the author only acknowledging one set of possible goals/ values for a person to strive for in life. To myself and many others

I feel this article is flawed with the author only acknowledging one set of possible goals/ values for a person to strive for in life. To myself and many others, having a (government reported) job and a car are not the pot at the end of the rainbow. Instead, we have been raised in a world decrying the systematic consumption of the environment which, when coupled with highly volatile gas prices, makes using car alternatives an attractive option. Further, many of us have complex outlooks that assigns value to friends, family, and free time that we may have to surrender if we accepted a cushy North Dakota job (and let's face it, you are reaching when North Dakota is your poster child for opportunity). Not everything is about money. Sadly, each year I get older, the more I internalize that somebody will always feel the need to write articles bashing the younger generation. All I hope is that I never reach the point where I am the one doing the writing.

betageek 15y ago
Strongly agree, "The Well Adjusted Generation That Realised There Was Alot More To Life Than Money" isn't such a good op-ed title. We may get a generation of happy, socially aware people who make fantastic parents, oh noes!
dos1 15y ago
Based on your comment I assume that you have the means of supporting your "More to life than work" lifestyle? That you're not on the government dole or living in your parent's basement? If my assumptions are correct, then I commend you and I'm envious of your ability to strike a balance. I don't believe for one second though that the reason Gen Y suffers from a high jobless rate is because they share the same values you do. I believe they're lazy, spoiled and entitled. I have several cousins who are between 16 and 18 and have no jobs, nor have they ever. And it's not because there's no jobs to be had, it's because they don't want to work as a grocery story stock person or a cashier. Those jobs are below their upper middle class upbringing. And because of Facebook, they don't need jobs. They can hang out with their friends all day online for free. Their parents provide them with food, shelter and clothing - so what more could they ask for? I don't believe this is sustainable though. Our society works because people produce things. We've seen what happens when we trend towards a service based economy rather than a manufacturing based economy. What happens when we transition to a sit on our ass and surf the internet economy?

betageek 15y ago

Strongly agree, "The Well Adjusted Generation That Realised There Was Alot More To Life Than Money" isn't such a good op-ed title. We may get a generation of happy, socially aware people who make fantastic parents, oh noes!

dos1 15y ago

Based on your comment I assume that you have the means of supporting your "More to life than work" lifestyle? That you're not on the government dole or living in your parent's basement? If my assumptions are correct, then I commend you and I'm envious of your ability to strike a balance. I don't believe for one second though that the reason Gen Y suffers from a high jobless rate is because they share the same values you do. I believe they're lazy, spoiled and entitled. I have several cousins who are between 16 and 18 and have no jobs, nor have they ever. And it's not because there's no jobs to be had, it's because they don't want to work as a grocery story stock person or a cashier. Those jobs are below their upper middle class upbringing. And because of Facebook, they don't need jobs. They can hang out with their friends all day online for free. Their parents provide them with food, shelter and clothing - so what more could they ask for? I don't believe this is sustainable though. Our society works because people produce things. We've seen what happens when we trend towards a service based economy rather than a manufacturing based economy. What happens when we transition to a sit on our ass and surf the internet economy?