Do We Love Our Children

I would say that we probably don't. We have left them an environment destined for disaster.

Looking at the past several generations, I am seeing some alarming trends. Looking back several generations at age 25 and adjusted for inflation, we see 

There is a widening gap from one generation to the next in these and other dimensions. 

Basically the younger the person, the more they lack opportunity and prosperity. Today's 30-year-old is no longer doing as well as his or her parents did when they were 30. This is a fundamental breakdown in a society that should be making things better for the next generation.

People over the age of 55 feel pretty good about America. But 

less than one in five people under the age of 34 

feel good about America. Young people are pissed off and angry because they aren't receiving the same opportunity and prosperity that was available to their parents.. Many feel despondent and hopeless because they know they aren't getting anything near what their parents got. Some give up and become complacent while others turn to resistence, outbreak and even violence.

How much do we value youth labor when we've kept the minimum wage very low? If adjusted by inflation, it should be almost $25 per hour. 

Housing costs have skyrocketed when compared with the avertage personal income. Mortgages have risen from aroung $1000 to over $2500 due to rising interest rates and the inflated costs of the dwellings themselves. An average $250,000 home has risen to well over $500,000.

In only a few short years wealth has been transfered from young to old. In 1989 people under the age of 40 controlled over 12% of the household wealth. In 2023 that share was nearly cut in half to a mere 7% while those over the age of 70 nearly doubled their wealth. 

Every year botaining higher education becomes more difficult. Generally it has become more difficult to gain admission and , once admitted, the costs have increased dramatically. In 1987 The Ivy league schools on average admitted between 16 and 20 percent of the applicatants. Today the average is less thn 10%. According to the College Board the costs have skyrocketed for both Sate and Ivy League institutions.

Todays students are at a definiate disadvantage both in gaining admittance and payimg significantly higher costs.

More to come...