The Young Labeled 'Entitlement Generation'

AP ^ | 6/26/05 | MARTHA IRVINE

[Nowhere Man]

Or maybe some of the so-called "entitlement generation" are just not going to take the same crap that our parents took. My mom has been a dedicated employee for 32 years at the same company. Has a perfect record. Never takes her full allotment of vacation or sick time. Her bosses treat her like crap. They have no respect for her. They treat her like a dog. Maybe we're just sick of being taken for granted. Maybe we want a boss that will give us respect (after we've earned it). But we don't want to wait 30 or 40 years - and still not have it.

I understand where some of these younger people (I'll be 39 next week) come from on one level, you just said it. I know you have to prove yourself to employers and beyond that but I think there is some loyalty expected in return to the employee if they do their best and get the jobs done. Like you, growing up in a single parent home, I've seen my mother put up with a lot of crap only to get stepped on. Yes, there are time we all have to buck up, but there are times I think the pendulum has swung too far in the employer's camp. I'm old enough to remember the stable post-war economy, well at least as it continued onward into the 1960's and 1970's until what we knew started to crumble in the late 1980's and 1990's (although it started earlier than that in some industries). Maybe what my parents and the slightly younger baby boomers experienced was an abberation but I really don't think this bodes well for our economy and security. I don't know, I guess I'm becoming more cynical myself, but believe me, I hear ya. I think we need some middle ground and common sense here.

Pinging the usual crowd I discuss economics with.

[Mr. Nobody]

If the young feel entitled, who taught that to them? I think the parents of the WWII generation started it with Social Security, TVA, and other government programs of FDR, then continued on with that socialist idea with the LBJ "Great Society".

[Mr. Nobody]

Your #6 - Dead on. I preach those exact concepts all the time.

[dfwgator]

In fact, if anything I think as the youngest generation grows into its 30's and 40's it's learning that it will have to adapt and change to stay in the work force.

It's going to learn that by the age of 40, you had better have your own company.

[horse_doc]

Count me as another post-Boomer who doesn't want to hear ANY Baby Boomer lecture me on ANYTHING to do with personal responsibility, career choices, or any other topic that grownups talk about.

I've been cleaning up after Boomers my entire life, and frankly, I'm sick of them. Yes, there are some decent Boomers, but for the most part, their generation has been an absolute pox on the Republic.

[soundandvision]

It's going to learn that by the age of 40, you had better have your own company.

Well, that's largely impractical for most of us that don't have the capital to do so. Those that do I applaud their vision and bravery -- I don't have that.

[maxter]

Okay you young people out there. What are your thoughts on investment accounts for younger workers as a part of saving Social Security. Like it, hate it, no use for it?

[vikk]

Many are not, such as myself.

I love that Baby Boomers, the most spoiled and entitled generation in the history of Western Civ, could possibly try to pass judgement on other generations with a collective straight face.

[theDentist]

my apologies Vikk. I should have noted that many GenX'ers are waking up and taking their lives into their own hands. I bet most of those are FReepers.

mea culpa

[dljordan]

"The real "Entitlement Generation" is the baby boomers, who clearly have no problem with feeling entitled to spend both their parents' and childrens' wealth, while assuming no responsibility whatsoever to pull the apple cart off the train tracks."

Right, Power to the People dude, don't trust anyone over 25.

[thoughtomator]

You tell me, mate. Baby boomers feel entitled to Social Security as-is, despite the certain knowledge that following generations not only won't get the same deal, but also that those same younger folks are being taxed for it on a blatantly fraudulent basis.

[edeal]

Why would anyone want to save that socialist Ponzy scheme?

I have had enough of the nanny police state that our country has become. I would say Jefferson is spinning in his grave, but at this point, if he was connected to a generator, he could personally supply half of Virginias electrical demand.

Let stop working to "preserve" the very socialist programs which have eroded this country in the first place.

End it, don't mend it.

[CORedneck]

I worked for a couple of boomers especially the liberal/ex-hippie and they are the biggest jerks. When it comes down to taking time off such as vacation, they don't like it even though they take time off themselves.

One boomer I worked for insisted that I show loyalty, etc. ad nauseam but when it was time for layoffs, my name was at the top of the list. This is one of my reasons of my jaundiced view towards "corporate life". That manager also insisted we put in 10 hour days including Friday and we were expected to come in some on weekends. Of course, he put in short hours. I see him walk in about 9:30 am and be out the door at 2:30pm just about everyday with his gym bag. He basically worked 20 hours every week. He also implemented late afternoon mandatory meetings everyday starting at 4:00 pm with his leads just to keep us at work until 6:00 pm. The meetings were worthless and of course, he wasn't there.

Count me as another post-Boomer who doesn't want to hear ANY Baby Boomer lecture me on ANYTHING to do with personal responsibility, career choices, or any other topic that grownups talk about.

I've been cleaning up after Boomers my entire life, and frankly, I'm sick of them. Yes, there are some decent Boomers, but for the most part, their generation has been an absolute pox on the Republic.

[whd23]

Or maybe some of the so-called "entitlement generation" are just not going to take the same crap that our parents took.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

I saw my Dad get laid-off one year shy of being eligible for a (reduced) company pension. I've worked for companies that make incredible demands on their employee's personal time and try to sell it as a "Team Effort." Yet when the department manager is told from on high to reduce his department head count by 10%, they let people go with nary a thought.

The company isn't your friend, your family, or your life. Do a honest day's work, then go home to your loved ones.

[JerseyHighlander]

We won't see a dime of SS. The majority of the gen X gen Y population won't see a better standard of living than their parents. As stated, we are free agents increasingly competing against the global gen x gen y population, with a continuously lowering pay scale due to labor supply and demand scales moving closer to perfectly fluid.

We've got fewer options, extended studies until we have a post Masters degree while working, or moving into a field where distance to customers negates offshoring. Either climb the (ever smaller percentage wise of total workforce) corporate ladder, get a government job, or learn a trade and field and start a business by 40.

What really pisses off Gen X people are the trade deficits, and the fact that baby boomers and our grandparents generation are racking up trillion dollar debts that we will have to pay off, plus interest, from our paychecks, every paycheck, for the rest of our lives, AND OUR CHILDRENS' LIVES.

The boomers and their parents have entitled themselves to the highest level of economic prosperity the world have ever seen by bankrupting their nation and enslaving their descendants to debt obligations.

Entitled, my ass, the tax burden on our generation is going to be staggering, and the beneficiaries of the government largess will be boomers and foreign creditors.

There have been several studies that predict the US taxpayer will soon be paying well over 66% of income to taxes. To pay off the debts of previous generations.

[JerseyHighlander]

Gen X ping.

[maxter]

"End it, don't mend it.

Realistically though, you have to mend it to end it. Just can't take it away cold turkey. Nothing in govt happens that way. I agree with your basic point however.

[maxter]

Then you guys need to get into the political process, make your voices heard and demand what you want. Only those who are loud get heard. So speak up. Tell the powerful what you want and back it up with your collective votes. There is still hope and there are older people working for the same thing you want. Debt paydown, etc. It is not one generation against another although there are a lot of jerks all around.

[edeal]

End it by doing whatever one has to so that it is gone at some point in the future. Our politicians do not want it to ever go away. They think they have a right to direct our retirement.

[maxter]

That is why investment accounts are a good first step. You see then the money that goes into that account is yours, not the govt to take away. You can leave it to your kids. Help spread the word. It is a small start but the President is trying to help you guys. Get behind him and push for something better. The elderly vote in record numbers. Younger people do not vote. Change that and you will see results. I have great hope from your passion and I urge you to contact your Congressman and have your friends do the same. Let them hear from you. You can change things.