>>I’ve never understood the push to get somebody into a home purchase when they cannot afford it. It’s more of an anchor if you’re not in a good stable work environment. Makes it hard to just pull up stakes and move on.
That’s exactly why it’s pushed on people. A homeowner can’t change jobs as easily as a renter. He can’t decide that the politics in his city or state are too heinous to be tolerated anymore. Owning a house in the ‘burbs with the HOAs, covenants, restrictions, and rules almost mandates keeping up with the Joneses and teaches conformity.
That’s exactly why it’s pushed on people. A homeowner can’t change jobs as easily as a renter. He can’t decide that the politics in his city or state are too heinous to be tolerated anymore. Owning a house in the ‘burbs with the HOAs, covenants, restrictions, and rules almost mandates keeping up with the Joneses and teaches conformity.
This "rootlessness" of the Millenium generation corresponds pretty closely with the "rootlessness" of the Hero (G.I.)generation, born 1901-1924. The oldest of those came of age in 1921 (and watched their economic prospects disappear eight years later); the youngest came of age in 1944. They mostly grew up and came of age during a major economic crisis and a major war. Rootlessness was epidemic during the depression; and WW-II had people moving around like never before.
On December 8, 1941, that Hero generation (ages 17-40) showed up for duty.
This Hero generation (born 1982-2004 by the Wiki page; slightly expanded from S&H range), have been in combat, back-to-back tours, since 09/11/2001, reserves and active duty. The Iraq and Afghani wars do not rate as "great wars", yet. Their non-military cohorts have had the worst economic conditions for young adults since the Great Depression. This young Hero generation has experienced their own government being at war with them economically all the way through Bush's two terms and now through Obama's five years (much like with Hoover and FDR).
Whatever event calls them to "show up", it hasn't happened yet. I suspect this crisis era will be a war against Big Government, and a "Great War" against a commie/muslim alliance that seeks nothing but power and destruction.
Yes, there are many "rootless" Millenium people wondering what the heck they are going to do with their life. There are also some promising future leaders among them. I agree with Strauss and Howe that, when the time is right, they will work together and fight together for the national survival.