How bad is the Economy in the U.S.? Look to the struggling youth.

Originally posted by SubTruth
reply to post by darkbake

 

What happens when you let the progressive mindset into the government and your family.........

What you get is 30 year old children who have little to no real life experience. You also get a government who will control more and more of your so called free economy...........

It will always fail and sadly both political parties are controlled by these fascist scum.



I wonder how long it will take for the glee loving everybody wins a trophy generation to finally wake up. It usually happens when people start to have a family and figure out being liberal is for the young and stupid. But it seems this generation is never going to reach that point.

i totally agree, this generation has a lot of growing up to do, and i should know because im at the upper end of it, or just above it depending on how you look at it, at 29 years old. Ive got a career and i had a family untill me and my wife split, we are still a family but a broken one. But i have a brother who just turned 25 and im sick of hearing sob stories about how hard their life is, and how they're all on anti depressants and its all so hard and whinge whinge etc.

LIfe is tough, and unless you do something for yourself chances are they arent't going to get done, you cant rely on handouts and charity from others unless you really need it, which many people do and thats fine, but some of todays youth treat the help they're given as a god given right, not as a privelidge as it is. I had nothing at 23, no assets, no higher education, a crappy job. I decided to do something about it, i wnet to university, got a degree (a PRACTICAL one) that i knew id have a good chance of getting a job in, i bought a house (a modest but comfortable place) got married and had a kid, started to be a real grown up. Nothing snaps you out your own bullshat like the reality check of a baby and a mortgage and proper responsibility.

I struggle financially still but im moving forward, things should only get easier if you set yourself up right, but it takes a lot of hard work and patience, and your fortitude will be tested without a doubt.

I cant say i feel like the blame goes completely to the generation of kids themselves, i feel like its a combination of technological advancement and the birth of social media, lacklustre or weak parenting and then some of the blame has to go to society itself for allowing the situation to blossom (or fester) into what its become now.

Bottom line is things need to change, we are heading towards and imminent collapse, its just a question of how long, and how bad will it be when it finally happens

reply to post by teachtaire


It takes things like money to rent an apartment, rent a vehicle to move, and a job lined up ahead of time in order to relocate. I live in Southeast Ohio, it's one of the poorest areas of the country. Saving up money to relocate isn't an easy task, in order to do it in the first place it requires a job that pays enough, which eliminates the need to relocate in the first place.

reply to post by TDawgRex


I live in Marietta, Ohio. We had a librarian job come up recently that I applied for. I got turned down because they wanted someone with a masters. I would be perfectly happy with a entry level job if it had room for advancement in the future. The jobs available though, and the one I have now (which is the very definition of under employment) are completely dead end though. College degrees shouldn't put you in a dead end job.

As for your conspiracy idea, I don't think that's it. I think people just like seeing that someone put the effort in to get a degree. People being debt slaves and unable to quit is certainly a benefit but I don't think that's the primary cause.

On the subject of dropping out of high school, I'm in the high school here every now and then either to tutor or give presentations. I'm also friends with a couple of the teachers, plus frequently work with recent hs grads. All I'm going to say is things are an absolute mess. I won't go into all of it here because it's off topic but lets just put it this way, I can point out college students that are illiterate, completely unable to read a text book or test. If someone were to drop out of high school and educate themselves, I would look on it pretty favorably.

Originally posted by DYepes
WTF is wrong with Australia??? I make between 1300-1400 a month and my girl just shy of 1800 and we both support a family of four comfortably. A house is in our future within five years. FROM MOTHER#ING WALMART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cost of living is phenomenal, housing accounts for 50% of peoples budgets here, im an environmental scientist, i dont think i earn much for what i do, i only take home about $800 a week, it sounds like heaps but it cost me $400 a week to pay for my mortgage ( property prices are rediculous, paid $237,000 for a run down but solid 2 bedroom house in a bit a of a crappy suburb in 2007), fuel is about $100 a week, $300 doesnt go far for food, utilities and any additional bills. You cant buy a even half decent place here anymore for under about $300,000, and rent is now more expensive or about on par with mortgage repayments, but you need 20% deposit to get a place, and i can tell you not many people have a spare $50,000 lying around. We have it great here in Aus but it doesnt mean its that easy, but hey, im not really complaining, im doing ok.

If you drive a truck or are a trade assistant in the coal mines or metal ore mines your looking at more like 2000-3000 a week depending on where you are or what your doing, its about the only way your average high school educated non tradesman can get ahead here without being dishonest.

Originally posted by Stealthwatch
reply to post by darkbake

 

This is to blame on the education system. Kids are spoon-fed, praised for failure, and forced to do nothing. The system do not allowed for kids to think for themselves and learn to do things for themselves. The schools should have taught youth how to start small business work with their hands. You can not teach a whole generation to do office work and not how to do anything constructive

I applaud this post!!

Instead of the education system giving birth to skilled laborers and workers that can bring America back to where it needs to be, it produced a bunch of liberal arts majors that cannot get jobs!

The system has betrayed the youth, and it WAS BY DESIGN. Believe it!!!

Originally posted by supremecommander

Originally posted by Stealthwatch
reply to post by darkbake

 

This is to blame on the education system. Kids are spoon-fed, praised for failure, and forced to do nothing. The system do not allowed for kids to think for themselves and learn to do things for themselves. The schools should have taught youth how to start small business work with their hands. You can not teach a whole generation to do office work and not how to do anything constructive

I applaud this post!!

Instead of the education system giving birth to skilled laborers and workers that can bring America back to where it needs to be, it produced a bunch of liberal arts majors that cannot get jobs!

The system has betrayed the youth, and it WAS BY DESIGN. Believe it!!!

edit on 23-7-2013 by supremecommander because: (no reason given)

For the sake of argument, lets say you're right. How do you fix it? The jobs don't exist, so they have to be created. Then people have to be retrained for those jobs, and they need funding to support themselves during that retraining. Also, they need to make enough money to pay for already existing student loans (or those debts have to be forgiven). It's quite a big mess.

Originally posted by Night Star

Originally posted by subfab
reply to post by darkbake

 

it is during difficult economic times when people turn to illegal means to make a living. sometimes the only employer offering jobs that pay enough so a person can provide a roof over their head and food on their table is a drug dealer.

If you go down that road, you risk your life. When you're dead, who then will feed your family? If anyone is that poor, better to get on welfare for a while than to ruin your life and the lives of those you're selling to.

your so far removed from the reality of the situation thats its actually terrifying. This is typical dribble i hear from people who have no experience or idea of what it means to operate in a black market, and the circumstances that lead you there in the first place.

All you should know, is that i will do almost anything, anything for the survival and comfort of my family and so will many others, regardless of the moral implications, and the deeper you go in the less morally objectional it becomes. The scale of these black economies is huge, bigger than you could ever imagine, sure they have their inherant risks but so does everything. Life is a calculated risk

reply to post by teachtaire


Thanks for your post. Just so you know I do have a job, at a Jamba Juice. My wife also works. We are putting ourselves through college. We don't receive financial assistance from our parents.

In some cases it is unfortunate for individuals' circumstances as they do not appear to be able to improve their situation. But I don't enjoy hearing people who are in college complain about how they will never get a decent job because of the evil leaders.
Yes unemployment is terrible right now (my father, an electrician, has had issues keeping work because there is little construction going on), but do what you can and stop pointing fingers. It isn't going to make your outlook any better

i feel the same way... i'm still waiting on dvr to give me the go aheaf to finally go in this special needs place and start work.

my other half, Ginger Snap, works second shift making bathroom fans, and apparently it's good money.

it's much harder unless you have a noticable disability, like a wheelchair, while people like me get lumped with the welfare queens and lazy ones

forgot to add i have student loans and bills to pay

I don't know man. This is my take at it. I was kicked out of high school for being a juvenile delinquent. I was working at 16 though. I got my GED at 18. I also had the unfortunate poor judgment to be a law breaker and almost send myself to prison for 15 years (vigilante justice can be highly misunderstood by law enforcement until all the details come out in court) , thank God justice prevailed or I would still be behind bars. It still set me back financially about 3 years. But I turned my life away from that. Met a wonderful woman while I was working at Wal-Mart, had a family. Then once again in 2011 I had the poor judgment of party rocking too hard during the mourning of one of my friends having been murdered by coward cops while running away unarmed. and almost got myself killed in a car accident, and got in trouble for that again with the law. I survived, but lost the car.

I am such a hard worker though, and thanks to the leave of absence, sick hours and vacation hours Wal-Mart affords me I still had my job. The wonderful people there helped us out a bit as well. that was the last straw for me I had to man up and get over the blame game, because the ONLY person at fault was me. Rather than tap into my savings, I used up my credit cards (my father burned into my brain that good credit in America is basically your life blood of survival in this country) but responsibly. paid my minimums and since I also leverage 0%apr promos I do not have to worry about interest for long.

I took a $2000 cash advance from my $5000 limit BOA card, and a couple of weeks of searching on craigslist I finally found a 1996 sentra in awesome shape with ac, power locks, windows, sunroof, and the alarm still working under 100,000 miles for only $1400!! I immediately called everyone I knew to find someone available right that minute to scoop me up and take me there. I pulled my ass off the couch onto my crutches, hobbled into the driveway where my buddy and his girl was waiting and we went out there. He test drove the car for me while I was in it. Of course I still had the nerve to try and talk this guy down even further from a great deal to $1000 (I mean come on, you have to try right ) but he was firm. having seen there were other people in line to test drive the car that had arrived while we were, I could not take any gambles. I pulled 14 bills out of my pocket and my buddy drove it back home for me.

Once that was done I just played the waiting game, had to answer for my DUI, healed up and got back to work. Did a little jail time whatever. Builds character if you ask me. That incident has set me back financially until the beginning of this year, and am just now finishing up paying off the cards. I never once tapped into the savings though because that would have just broke my heart. I could not add to it though, but now I can.

Just had a third boy on june 24, and I could not feel more blessed. This years tax season should give us a little more to continue saving for the house. In five years we should be at about close to 30k or more. this will give us enough to have a nice down payment and a 15 year mortgage. Once we have that house I can cut my hours at Wal-Mart and begin phase one of my recycling business.

That is pretty much the story of my adult life up until now, and I am 28 years old. I feel proud with the effort I have put into my life for my family and the transformation I have made in my mind and spirit to get here.

If I can do it on a GED working @ Wal-Mart with three kids, I believe many Americans can as well.

Number one is stop buying garbage. Don't buy cigarettes, don't buy beer, don't buy soda, don't buy frozen dinners None of these items are necessary to your living, and are not even economically sound to consume. I can make the equivalent of 5 tv dinners or more for half the cost or less from dry and fresh food. cooking your food from scratch and making enough to heat up as leftovers later is probably one of the single BIGGEST cost savings you can make.

Come on guys start now. You can do it guys I know you can. I am not going to call you lazy, entitled, or self absorbed or pretend you are trying to deflect blame onto others. Just start right now and take the steps you need to take. if you have an engineering degree of any kind you have absolutely ZERO excuse. You have to relocate and you need to start researching a plan to make it happen. On my road trip back from new mexico this march, I was just amazed at how much work was available for people in this skill from Texas through Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama. if you can weld, fabricate, or know how to engineer anything you need to go to the gulf energy states NOW! Do not come up with excuses search for solutions! Grab your friends, make some calls to companies in those states, and create a plan. 2-4 single guys with the right skills can take off for 6-18 months and rack up enough dough to get yourself back on your feet.

Barter and slave yourself to a personal conveyance if you have to. Hell I am not too full of pride to go offer older folks to pick grapefruit from their trees here in tampa, florida with my oldest boy for a little extra money (but mostly because we actually do enjoy climbing trees in the heat ) Cut grass and collect cans until you can get a bicycle. Market yourself as the cheapest delivery service for food and courier until you have enough for something with a motor.

Just get your head out of depression mode and into creativity mode. This is America, and the right person will pay you for the most trivial service or even hand crafted anything! Get with local churches and see what kind of events they have where you can sell stuff you find and repair or make yourself. Church people are very wonderful people and are practically ALWAYS willing to help anyone making an effort to get on their feet . You just have to make an effort and eat that pride. Pride is considered a sin by some after all so dump it if its costing you time and money.

And absolutely stop playing CALL OF DUTY!!! the biggest distraction of this generation for the male youth by far.

Originally posted by yourmaker
This is completely rich people's fault and nobody but.
Freakin' hoarding all of the money while the rest are fighting the pittance left over.

Then they collaborate endlessly with other rich people to continue their crap.

Seriously it has nothing to do with this generation or the last but the global oligarchies that maintain their monopoly and abilities to generate wealth over most people in the lower income bracket who simply can't compete.

And generalizing all millenials as people who have cellphones and watch glee is just utterly repulsive.

edit on 23-7-2013 by yourmaker because: (no reason given)

but based on your sig you got plenty of time to beat all the challenges for Hard Point in Black ops 2 Alright sorry man that's a low blow. I did not mean it, I was kind of just trying to drive home my point.

Sometimes it takes - getting licensed, trained, certified, or whatever else in another trade/occupation to get a job.

I know it sucks to go back to studying, training or whatever else after having already struggled through school for so many years.

It may have to be an occupation with more opportunities and not so glorious as your original goal.

With this mindset, there are opportunities.


Also it may even take moving to another region (where there is more opportunity).

It does not have to be permanent.

Alternatively, you can join or start a self sufficient commune.

Originally posted by DYepes

Originally posted by yourmaker
This is completely rich people's fault and nobody but.
Freakin' hoarding all of the money while the rest are fighting the pittance left over.

Then they collaborate endlessly with other rich people to continue their crap.

Seriously it has nothing to do with this generation or the last but the global oligarchies that maintain their monopoly and abilities to generate wealth over most people in the lower income bracket who simply can't compete.

And generalizing all millenials as people who have cellphones and watch glee is just utterly repulsive.

edit on 23-7-2013 by yourmaker because: (no reason given)

but based on your sig you got plenty of time to beat all the challenges for Hard Point in Black ops 2

Hah, no in reality I gave up on it, I just liked the artwork, it felt very nostalgic for me

reply to post by DYepes


That is all good advice dude. Thanks for sharing it. It's an example of overcoming hardships! And the creative mode is a good one to be in, and fun. Also, all those expenses, like soda and costly food especially are huge!

Originally posted by Krazysh0t

Originally posted by kdyam

Originally posted by unb3k44n7

Too bad that a lot of younger people have no idea of how to budget or live somewhat frugally, since a lot of them seem to believe that the internet and a cell phone is a need rather than a want.

Where do you live where that is the case? Where I live rent for a single apartment is $900. I also happen to have a $300 car payment. Without even paying for any additional services, I've already spent $1200 of this $1500 a month that I'm supposed to be able to live on. So this leaves me with $300 for car insurance, utilities, groceries, gas, and other stuff before getting to spending money.

Now you could argue, "get a roommate." Ok I see this point and rent for a two bedroom here is about $1000 a month so divide that in two and you get $500 a month. You can also divide all living expenses by 2 as well (except maybe groceries unless you two share them). I still have a $300 car payment and say $40 a week for gas (10 gallon tank), I've used up 2/3rds of that $1500.

It is interesting that you bring this up, I think the internet is fairly necessary actually - I use Skype to stay in contact with people around the world and who I work with, I use various programs online and offline to stay informed and productive. Same with my cell phone.

But really, that doesn't matter at some point - some people might have to ditch them.

The main costs are really, in my opinion, what the second poster mentions - rent, utilities, car insurance, groceries and gas - and add in mandatory medical insurance from Obama Care.

----------

At any rate, is it really too much to ask for for there to be a middle-class that is able to afford rent, payments on a used car, utilities, internet, food, gas and a bit left over for something like some soda? Jesus man, if that is what we are asking for the middle class, we are screwed as a country.

And blaming someone for not budgeting effectively is not going to solve anything! Except that realistically, budgeting might be necessary

So the majority of the people here should be sacrificing their cell phones, internet, food, I mean... that's what I'm hearing... but the sad part is, it's good advice... of which I have partaken in a bit...

But... wow. If the economy gets worse, and the cell phones, internet, extra food expenses, have already been sacrificed... I dunno, it sounds like a pretty fine line to disaster - plus, mandatory health insurance.

reply to post by Aazadan


Just a note, I'm not having the problems a lot of people my age are having in this thread. I don't have student loans thanks to the post 9/11 G.I. Bill. I just got this job 2 months ago. I wasn't expecting to make much out of the gate, but its in IT and a small company. They give raises every 6 months (except the first 6 months). I expect that after a few years I'll be just fine. I was just pointing out the error in your math.

About your follow up post, that was back in 2000. Things are a little different since then. As in more expensive. Granted I live in Baltimore, Maryland (very high costs of living thanks to its proximity to D.C.).

I may not be struggling as bad as some millennials, but I certainly understand that there is definitely a problem and many people my age and younger are having a tough time. Also to anyone who says that the answer to your problems is to move. Moving costs money, if you don't have any money how are you supposed to move?

Gas prices is what caused the spiral downwards, IMO. Also, if you think the youth has it bad, look at Appalachia now that Obama and his EPA buddies killed thousands of coal jobs. It's hard to live nowadays, no doubt. Do you think people like them care? It's obvious, they want everything the way it is. REVOLUTION

Originally posted by darkbake

So the majority of the people here should be sacrificing their cell phones, internet, food, I mean... that's what I'm hearing... but the sad part is, it's good advice... of which I have partaken in a bit...

This is not offered as a permanent plan darkbake. This is simply what you have to do to get back on your feet. Someone who is unemployed and broke, has absolutely no business subscribing to anything or buying garbage consumables like beer, cigarettes, frozen prepared meals and soda/bottled water. Anyone who continues to do these unsound decisions has the wrong priorities and has no one to blame but themselves for the poor financial decisions they are making.

I will use one of my co-workers as an example, but it is not going to be pretty. this person and their spouse had to move back in with their parents with their first child. They routinely have to cut back on water usage and don't use the AC, which unfortunately means this person skips showers apparently. This person smells so horribly on a regular basis management has had to approach them and explain that basic hygiene is kind of a requirement for any customer service work place.

This family still has a world of warcraft account that they always talking about, still has an xbox live account, and still has cable, and buys soda and chips everyday for snack and the home. That is probably the ultimate example of wrongly placed priorities and poor management of their money.

If you are dead broke, the only refreshments you should be purchasing is milk. The water comes cheapest from the tap, so buy a water filter for yourself. Cut every subscription you have and you definetly should not have a contract with your cell phone. It needs to be the most basic pre-paid service that gives you enough minutes.

reply to post by Fylgje


Actually, I rather believe the prices of commodities like Gold, Silver, REMs, Rice, Genetic Information, etc.

Is what really did us in. Think of it, the oil was the main focus, but all of these "hard", fluctuations started showing symptoms long before this.

Oil impacted everything, yes.

But for some countries more than others.

So use other commodities to average out what ACTUALLY happened, rather than looking at through an "Oh, OIL!" mentality.

The fact that LIBOR and all of the American banking structures went to crap so shortly there after indicates a lot.

The only thing IS, is that many of them have used civilian analysis to buy up key niches in the economy.

Tough # for small business owners and anyone who wants to "make it big".

That is to say, the demesne of the corporate structure has taken over. They are a self-contained method of social control, with all of that systems benefits and flaws.

Originally posted by SubTruth
reply to post by thoughtfuldeliquent

 

Don't like having bosses and being under pressure.

The everybody wins generation seems a little lacking when it comes to the real world. And you are complaining about making 1000 a week.


The cold hard truth is everyone making under 12 bucks a hour is going to be put out in the cold because of inflation in the next few years. You will not be able to afford food and rent. The government will not have enough money to bail them out and anarchy will take over when people finally wake up.

Whoa man. Firstly, I'm not making $1000 a week - I'm making $400 a week, double government assistance but yeah.

Why would I like working for other people? That's retarded. I'd of course rather be my own boss and decide how I want to do things then be yelled at for not following their procedures - just to follow them and have the other boss get up you because they do it differently. Working for other people is bull#. Ask anyone that has ever worked for themselves and then also worked for other people which is preferable.

I perform better without someone breathing over my shoulder. Secondly, I wasn't complaining, I'm thankful to have a livable income. Doesn't mean I'm not going to state the obvious and delude myself into believing that having someone as your personal authority is the tits.

Lastly, thank you for trying to stereotype and categorize me into your little world view. But at least in Australia - I'm not part of the everybody wins generation - any trophy I have I earned. I played golf for years when I was a teenager, with adults, and they're not just going to give some kid valuable prizes to boost their self esteem. I even had adults accuse me of being a shark and cheating and stuff like that. Sad that I even have to explain myself to you. You must be a part of the "i'm so much better than everyone else, I have to tell them about it" generation.