Without some pleasure, and small indulgences, life can be grim. One has to look at the big picture in every individual situation.
Young person A, a college grad working in an entry level accounting job, spends $766 a year at Starbucks, while driving a beater used car. She is paying off her student loans, and is sharing an apartment in order to save money to fund her 401K and eventually buy a house or condo.
Young person B is a recent medical school grad, working as a cardiologist for a large hospital system. B has $300,000 in student loans and has not resumed payments since the Covid repayment moratorium. B drives a new Porsche, on a lease. B is paying 20% interest on $30,000 in credit card debt and complains the bank won’t lend him money at 7% for a $500,000 one bedroom condo in the “in” new building downtown.
Who is irresponsible — A or B?
How many out of the Starbucks crowd could’ve paid their rent during the COVID spell but took advantage of the moratorium on evictions anyway? I’ll bet they were still having their “iconic” coffees and leaving quarters in the penny dishes.
Sounds like they are following the Chinese example of the ‘lying down’ movement.
What is the ‘lying down’ movement?
According to the Wiki:
It is a Chinese slang neologism that describes a personal rejection of societal pressures to overwork and over-achieve, such as in the 996 working hour system, which is often regarded as a rat race with ever diminishing returns. Tang ping means choosing to “lie down flat and get over the beatings” via a low-desire, more indifferent attitude towards life.
Novelist Liao Zenghu described “lying flat” as a passive-aggressive resistance movement..
It has also been compared to the Great Resignation, a surge of resignations that began in the West at roughly the same time.
Unlike the hikikomori in Japan who are socially withdrawn, these young Chinese people who subscribe to “lying flat” are not necessarily socially isolated, but merely choose to lower their professional commitment and economic ambitions, simplify their goals, while still being fiscally productive for their own essential needs, and prioritize psychological health over economic materialism.
The phrase “quiet quitting”, meaning doing only what one’s job demands and nothing more, which became popular in the United States in 2022, was thought to be inspired by the tang ping movement. Another newer related phrase is bai lan (lit. ‘let it rot’), which means “to actively embrace a deteriorating situation, rather than trying to turn it around”. Basically, it refers to a voluntary retreat from pursuing certain goals because individuals realize they are simply too difficult to achieve.
Business magazine ABC Money claimed it resonated with a growing silent majority of youth disillusioned by the officially endorsed “Chinese Dream” that encourages a life of hard work and sacrifice with no actual life satisfaction to show for it, spawning the catchphrase “a chive lying flat is difficult to reap”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping
They aren’t going to get married and have children or buy real estate. They just do the minimum to keep themselves going.
A suggestion is to split the difference. Go to Starbucks maybe 2 times per week.
I can see why some of the young are opting out of an American dream being destroyed by the Left.
They know us responsible people will wind up bailing them out, as long as they keep voting Democrat.
I await with glee the opportunity presented by a lib when they proclaim in my presence about their ‘release’ from their student debt.
Note: This is not an admission of guilt.
If you can’t find free coffee, you’re an idiot.
Walk into any hotel lobby, fill your cup, walk out the door. They have no idea who is and isn’t a guest. It’s everywhere.
China has ruined 2 generations now.
On purpose. Buying Blood Money today.
And I darn sure don't need that fru-fru whippy-doodle faggity barista artwork on top of my coffee...
Although, I do admit to occasionally, when out of town and in need of a jolt...to buying a cup of the Starbucks house brand with two shots of expresso (bLACK of course). A VERY rare occasion, though.
I buy four bags of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe whole beans (medium roast) for $52.00 every 30 days from "Moon Does Artisan Coffee" out of Texas. I get 3 cups of the best tasting coffee a day. They are very conservative and support veterans. It's a win-win for everyone!
They’re in for a whole world of hurt - now that Biden is paying off their student debt - they think he’s going to pay off their credit card bills as well (and he will if not stopped).
LOL, I see this coffee habit with the young in my own family - daily trips to Starbucks or another equally expensive coffee joints- including on the weekends.
I was given a Nespresso as a gift a few years ago - the pods are around $1/each if you subscribe, which is what I do - and the quality IMO, is far superior to Starbucks.
I get all my financial advice from “talk show hosts” /s
Dave Ramsey, a waste of air and space.
They are evil. Not stupid.
I don’t blame them. There is zero guarantee that the government isn’t going to swoop in and raid everyone’s savings accounts and/or retirement accounts. In fact every day that passes this becomes more and more likely. Best bet is real estate. They actually have to have real people come out to seize that and not just press a button.
Inability to delay gratification for long-term gain has a high correspondence to both poverty and criminality.