Very true. (Reply #189) - Democratic Underground

In the discussion thread: This, my friends, is far too typical for my generation. [View all]

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 12:20 PM

meaculpa2011 (918 posts)

189. Very true.

My daughter dropped out of high school at 17. Broke my heart.

She is fiercely independent. Now at 20, she's working for a growing plumbing/HVAC company and learning the business. Her ambition is to go out on her own before long. I won't be surprised at all if she's running her own company by age 30.

I've been a free-lance speechwriter for more than 30 years. I left a job that I loved with a Fortune 50 Company to work for myself.
Even the best job doesn't compare.

Part of the problem is that federal law has severely restricted the use of aptitude tests since the 60s. To get around the regulations companies simply require college degrees from all applicants. Every job I ever had required college even though the actual work did not.

Law of unintended consequences.

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422 replies	Author	Time	Post
This, my friends, is far too typical for my generation. [View all]	Laelth	Dec 2013	OP
As a boomer, I can appreciate what you're writing. Too many of us don't get it ....	Scuba	Dec 2013	#1
Thanks, Scuba. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#5
used to be, you could have a single breadwinner in a family with just a high school eucation, and be	dionysus	Dec 2013	#6
I remember a US Savings Bond commercial from the early '70s	Art_from_Ark	Dec 2013	#10
What happened to the American dream?	WHEN CRABS ROAR	Dec 2013	#234
There ya go.	truebluegreen	Dec 2013	#250
It started with deregulation under Nixon.	merrily	Dec 2013	#260
I don't recall much deregulation under Nixon	truebluegreen	Dec 2013	#303
+1...nt	Jesus Malverde	Dec 2013	#307
it was a rhetorical question...	dionysus	Dec 2013	#252
Reagan! Need I say more? n/t	aggiesal	Dec 2013	#253
What happened to the American Dream? They destroyed the union movement!	B Calm	Dec 2013	#289
some define me as a Boomer too	hfojvt	Dec 2013	#151
There are plenty of we boomers who DO get it	2naSalit	Dec 2013	#220
I'm in this category, too.	Silver Gaia	Dec 2013	#258
Yup.	2naSalit	Dec 2013	#277
You have to remember Boomers are a generation split down the middle	brush	Dec 2013	#238
Not to worry. I'm clearly not uncaring nor a fat cat.	Scuba	Dec 2013	#246
That's how I remember it, too	Lydia Leftcoast	Dec 2013	#278
Not just the Boomer generation ...	JustABozoOnThisBus	Dec 2013	#311
Good point about the anti-draft motivation	brush	Dec 2013	#364
You're preaching to the wrong folk, cuz most of us here despised Reagan	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#2
I appreciate that you read the post.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#4
you said what I THINK you said, young lady :wags finger:	Schema Thing	Dec 2013	#34
Thank you. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#49
OK. Where I come from, "I don't blame you for ..." means "I know you did that but I understand why"	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#36
I certainly appreciate the fact that you fought against Reagan and supply-side economics.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#63
My experience of politics is that often one must choose between doing the work and	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#75
That's really interesting.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#92
See,	RobinA	Dec 2013	#133
Better?	Laelth	Dec 2013	#137
You have a lot of	2naSalit	Dec 2013	#254
Ah, I see.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#292
Really?	2naSalit	Dec 2013	#333
Sorry you feel that way.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#336
It's just advice about a certain style of political work, that "choose between doing the work	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#194
I think I see what you mean.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#294
Are you sure you're a boomer?	beerandjesus	Dec 2013	#105
I earned my PhD in math years ago, then taught for years, so I guess I've met lots of 13ers.	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#132
Did you also spend the Carter years and the Clinton years fighting supply side economics?	merrily	Dec 2013	#255
IIRC I spent some of the Carter years blaming everybody older than me for fucking everything up	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#256
This has been going on since Nixon. Some dismantling of the New Deal	merrily	Dec 2013	#261
I agree. Reagan was just a harder turn right. I remember during the 80's discussing how long it	adirondacker	Dec 2013	#312
Thinking back, I remember giving Reagan the benefit of the doubt	Ace Acme	Dec 2013	#418
Correct. I would never vote for Reagan, and btw, my greatest generation parents HATED him!	whathehell	Dec 2013	#83
Boomers were about 30% "Hippie", 40% "Nixon Youth", 30% "Centrist" in the late 60s.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#174
Yep, but even then, what was considered "centrist" was a lot more liberal than what it is now..	whathehell	Dec 2013	#200
In 1984, I was teaching at a college that had an ROTC program,	Lydia Leftcoast	Dec 2013	#279
Yep, I believe it...As I recall, a number of universities would not	whathehell	Dec 2013	#295
ROTC saw a resurgence after most other sources of Federal financial aid	Lydia Leftcoast	Dec 2013	#327
Oh wow..	whathehell	Dec 2013	#329
He threw so many Viet Nam vets out on the street!	NCarolinawoman	Dec 2013	#257
so true nt	Tumbulu	Dec 2013	#269
PhD in engineering and no job?	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#3
you should be ashamed of yourself.	moxybug	Dec 2013	#7
Because I spoke truth from experience	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#9
Anecdotally	RobinA	Dec 2013	#21
Telling a story about your husband isn't "first hand experience". It's second hand.	JBoy	Dec 2013	#67
Doubtful	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#71
LOL. Oh, OK.	JBoy	Dec 2013	#77
Your whole story is what is doubtful. There is a SURPLUS of computer scientists	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#267
Sorry But I Can't Agree	ProfessorGAC	Dec 2013	#97
I think the real question is, what kind of salary is he offering?	beerandjesus	Dec 2013	#117
I'll give you some first hand experience	philosslayer	Dec 2013	#209
Why don't you come back and brag when he actually has a job?	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#270
I'm a civil engineer...	Blanks	Dec 2013	#233
I have six engineers in my extended family in different sub-areas	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#265
depends on the area. a college friend of mine had a degree in mechanical engineering but ended up	dionysus	Dec 2013	#8
where are you and how is he recruiting	elehhhhna	Dec 2013	#16
Your compassion and sensitivity are a beacon to those of us lost in the wilderness.	Orrex	Dec 2013	#18
LOL, quite literally. Well said. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#24
You read that poster's sig, didn't you?	cyberswede	Dec 2013	#219
I think you're honing in on a detail and missing the point	Ian_rd	Dec 2013	#23
Gee, I wonder why that is.	Aerows	Dec 2013	#28
That's not true	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#30
"Entry level"	Aerows	Dec 2013	#33
What do you want with a bachelor's degree?	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#40
I have a job	Aerows	Dec 2013	#46
Just out of curiousity, what do you do for a living?	Marr	Dec 2013	#127
Maybe for clarity you could post the specifics of the job your husband is offering?	Maedhros	Dec 2013	#237
Entry level is fine.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#299
I think you may have hit on a	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#42
Not really	Aerows	Dec 2013	#53
Disagree	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#61
Ask anyone in the IT field	Aerows	Dec 2013	#121
He's in the business school at UT	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#125
Those ridiculous expectations usually come from their parents	Mariana	Dec 2013	#147
You've stated it very well	Orrex	Dec 2013	#120
Bingo	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#73
That doesn't apply to GenXers as they aren't "right out of school"	gollygee	Dec 2013	#84
But they once were	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#89
20 years later?	gollygee	Dec 2013	#91
bored now	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#104
The problem is that you're thinking you're talking about basement dwellers	gollygee	Dec 2013	#106
My advise to you is to stop trying to reason with under the bridge dwellers. It'll	Guy Whitey Corngood	Dec 2013	#114
Ah yes....get called on bull, it's time to run away.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#182
Maybe you should go give your husband some libertarian boot-strappy advice about	AtheistCrusader	Dec 2013	#286
early 90s	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#76
You must be speaking of MBAs/Wall Streeters.	tosh	Dec 2013	#119
I do live in NY	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#123
My ex-wife and I both graduated with IT degrees in 1984.	ieoeja	Dec 2013	#144
They were indeed getting	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#178
Are you speaking from personal experience?	lumberjack_jeff	Dec 2013	#215
Yes - very personal experience	leftynyc	Dec 2013	#217
Then he should put the job description here.	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#271
Why hasn't he spoken with a college campus?	xmas74	Dec 2013	#420
So work as a nanny instead?	lumberjack_jeff	Dec 2013	#139
IT job availability is pretty localized.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#183
Really?	gollygee	Dec 2013	#39
Then you guess wrong	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#45
So it's the first part	gollygee	Dec 2013	#48
HAHA I noticed that dodge too.	laundry_queen	Dec 2013	#80
So many personal anecdotes, so little analysis	erronis	Dec 2013	#158
So your world is a reflection of the entire nation?	Rex	Dec 2013	#47
The cartoon is no more a reflection of the entire nation	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#62
you gave YOUR anecdote… now others are giving theirs. and they do not jibe.	nashville_brook	Dec 2013	#81
Wow, now my strawman quota for the day is met <EOM>	Colorado Liberal	Dec 2013	#118
I don't know what fantasy world you are describing in your reply	Rex	Dec 2013	#201
Look to the signature line.	Hissyspit	Dec 2013	#284
Seriously, pokemon trading cards?	Blanks	Dec 2013	#235
Pokemon?	kcr	Dec 2013	#248
I 'm thinking your husband's experience is very much the exception	fishwax	Dec 2013	#79
Cool story bro! nt	Guy Whitey Corngood	Dec 2013	#85
There was a time...	freebrew	Dec 2013	#100
Buy that, it common	uponit7771	Dec 2013	#109
Where are you located?	DFW	Dec 2013	#129
Zero applications - Something is seriously wrong with	hedgehog	Dec 2013	#161
Then he's doing it utterly wrong.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#180
I would LOVE to see the job ad for that. I really would.	Brickbat	Dec 2013	#210
You want to know why? Post the details, we have a cadre of engineers that	Egalitarian Thug	Dec 2013	#214
Best answer yet!	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#263
I think it's quite telling	a2liberal	Dec 2013	#264
They never do. I went around with this nonsense in the late '90s	Egalitarian Thug	Dec 2013	#334
My husband works for a large engineering firm that is about to	pnwmom	Dec 2013	#262
I live in a college town.	xmas74	Dec 2013	#421
Maybe he's not paying enough and is looking for an excuse to	Lydia Leftcoast	Dec 2013	#280
What salary is he offering?	JoeyT	Dec 2013	#287
Maybe if the pay was above minimum wage	Blecht	Dec 2013	#371
Engineering jobs tend to be centered in specific city areas. And engineering degrees are expensive.	haele	Dec 2013	#422
Yes, relocation may be necessary	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#11
Why should relocation be necessary?	Laelth	Dec 2013	#29
Yes -- harder, especially in some areas -- but	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#32
Oh so really this is about an emotional response.	Rex	Dec 2013	#51
+1. This is it.	JBoy	Dec 2013	#93
Pissed her hubby isn't allowed to have indentured servants instead of employees.	Ikonoklast	Dec 2013	#157
Boomer parent here who couldn't agree more!	hedgehog	Dec 2013	#164
Exactly. And I'll never understand why some people seem to think relocation is just no big deal	kcr	Dec 2013	#35
No, I won't concede that	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#50
Yeah, and it's not like anything has changed since the 60's	kcr	Dec 2013	#58
EVERYTHING has changed since the Sixties..Even the minimum wage was worth Three Dollars more in	whathehell	Dec 2013	#103
Three dollars more?	Laelth	Dec 2013	#128
Yes, three dollars more in SPENDING Power..	whathehell	Dec 2013	#196
Admittedly, our VISA law is abused, and it hurts American labor. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#229
It certainly does, and this has been going on since the mid-nineties, at least.	whathehell	Dec 2013	#296
Another gift from Bill Clinton?	Laelth	Dec 2013	#297
You betcha...He didn't start it, but he continued it with no problems...As Michael Moore has said,	whathehell	Dec 2013	#330
What percentage of a person's income went to housing in the 60s?	gollygee	Dec 2013	#59
And then add to that you're likely moving to an area with a higher cost of living	kcr	Dec 2013	#65
And you are likely moving from an area where you had at least a bit of family	Nay	Dec 2013	#152
Additionally, assuming that you can sell your existing house in an economically depressed area...	Blanks	Dec 2013	#236
Wow. That's too bad.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#66
Twice?	jeff47	Dec 2013	#184
My field assumes up front anyone entering it will move several times a year. It's a bit annoying. nt	Posteritatis	Dec 2013	#239
Relocation costs money	gollygee	Dec 2013	#41
Doesn't matter to someone that got pissed off over a cartoon.	Rex	Dec 2013	#54
They forget that GenXers	gollygee	Dec 2013	#57
I agree, we cannot just magically pick up and move for free!	Rex	Dec 2013	#116
It might not be such a good choice even for someone very young	Art_from_Ark	Dec 2013	#251
One need only look at her signature...	Oilwellian	Dec 2013	#155
Yep. Middle finger to everyone, right out front.	Ikonoklast	Dec 2013	#187
I'll bet	GladRagDahl	Dec 2013	#68
We're talking about GenXers, not 20-somethings	gollygee	Dec 2013	#74
Or they could just borrow $20,000 from mom and dad to start a business, right?	last1standing	Dec 2013	#99
We GenXers have elderly parents	gollygee	Dec 2013	#111
I'll go further to say that her language is right out of the "Entitled Republican" playbook.	last1standing	Dec 2013	#124
So, everything's just like the 60's	kcr	Dec 2013	#130
WOW	tazkcmo	Dec 2013	#363
It wasn't for my parents, thats HUGE for people. Family infrastructure makes SO Much of a difference	uponit7771	Dec 2013	#112
I've been claiming that our kids won't be leaving our home...	Pholus	Dec 2013	#12
Been hearing alot about multi-generational housing this year ...	SomeGuyInEagan	Dec 2013	#177
I like the concept, but hate that it is implemented....	Pholus	Dec 2013	#249
Definitely agree.	SomeGuyInEagan	Dec 2013	#331
I agree. The 1% is having a good laugh at our expense.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#300
While I acknowledge there are some Boomers	chervilant	Dec 2013	#13
I'd guess over half of the boomers have had their own careers decimated while	elehhhhna	Dec 2013	#26
I'll have to reserve judgment	chervilant	Dec 2013	#78
You are right Chervilant.	dotymed	Dec 2013	#82
I am with you 100%!!!	blue14u	Dec 2013	#272
Thanks blue14u.	dotymed	Dec 2013	#291
Thanks for reading the post.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#301
Actually,	chervilant	Dec 2013	#361
I Get Your Point	RobinA	Dec 2013	#14
amen. read my post just above yours?	elehhhhna	Dec 2013	#27
Talking in terms of generations is useful.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#304
There must be some kind of sympathy & awareness.	Eleanors38	Dec 2013	#15
There are far too many of those, I agree.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#305
Have you read this article?	Ian_rd	Dec 2013	#17
No. I had not read that article.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#306
Not just us Boomers, but our parents too,,,,	KarenS	Dec 2013	#19
Many Boomers are parents and Aunts and Uncles so We know whats going on	kmlisle	Dec 2013	#171
Thank you. That was a lovely post. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#308
Thank You!	Springslips	Dec 2013	#20
Cheers, my friend. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#31
Hopefully this OP	blue14u	Dec 2013	#274
I hope so too, and thanks for the kind words. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#290
Not all of us Boomers are ignorant of the situation, we love our kids!	Dustlawyer	Dec 2013	#22
Thank you.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#298
"Many of us now need some real love"	Hubert Flottz	Dec 2013	#25
Thanks for callling attention to this quote from my OP.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#313
Most of we 98% are in that same boat!	Hubert Flottz	Dec 2013	#321
In my own time and on a few occasions, I have chosen love over money in my life.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#328
Well stated, Laelth.	brer cat	Dec 2013	#37
Thank you for the kind words.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#309
GenXer, born 1972, checking in .......	marmar	Dec 2013	#38
Thanks.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#314
thank you	G_j	Dec 2013	#43
We are all, definitely, in the same boat.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#316
Part of the problem is how the educational system operates	n2doc	Dec 2013	#44
For many years, I was one of those graduate students.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#318
You should blame the Boomers	ramapo	Dec 2013	#52
Gen X wasn't old enough to vote for Reagan	kcr	Dec 2013	#60
Not true.	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#160
No.	kcr	Dec 2013	#165
People born in '64 were able to vote for Reagan.	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#176
For one thing, not that many of them did	kcr	Dec 2013	#192
Fine. I didn't state this: "Gen X wasn't old enough to vote for Reagan"	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#205
You didn't state it. I did, because it's correct.	kcr	Dec 2013	#216
well those are the dates I like	hfojvt	Dec 2013	#168
Thanks for the info.	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#181
but it was NOT Boomers	hfojvt	Dec 2013	#188
It was a combination of things that included Boomers.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#191
but if only people under 30 got to vote	hfojvt	Dec 2013	#203
Because of that 44.	jeff47	Dec 2013	#213
the end of the baby boom does not factor at all	hfojvt	Dec 2013	#273
Thank you for pointing this out	kcr	Dec 2013	#197
Understoood. eom.	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#206
There were also Gen X'ers who may not have been old enough to	RFKHumphreyObama	Dec 2013	#242
Still a small portion of Gen X, and a very small portion of the voters over all	kcr	Dec 2013	#245
That is a pretty ridiculous claim	eilen	Dec 2013	#293
plenty of us did not fall for the Reagan con job	Skittles	Dec 2013	#223
Yup, and plenty of us are facing the same crap job-wise.	GoCubsGo	Dec 2013	#243
That makes a lot of sense.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#319
I am a Boomer who joined DU today (after lurking here daily for years) to reply to you....	zed nada	Dec 2013	#55
Welcome to DU ~ zed nada	In_The_Wind	Dec 2013	#98
The good news	jeff47	Dec 2013	#190
Welcome. Very thoughtful post. nt	cry baby	Dec 2013	#259
Welcome to DU zed nada	blue14u	Dec 2013	#275
I am honored. Thank you for the post.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#320
College mills and corporate America made a college degree worthless	Rex	Dec 2013	#56
My pleasure.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#322
Please stop with the boomer bashing	Dyedinthewoolliberal	Dec 2013	#64
No doubt, Wall Street is the real culprit, here.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#70
I understand the general point you're making	thucythucy	Dec 2013	#138
Excellent post. Thanks. I appreciate the thoughtful response.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#143
Interesting about George Will	flamingdem	Dec 2013	#347
Bingo! nt	Demo_Chris	Dec 2013	#69
I don't know if this is what you are talking about, but...	CoffeeCat	Dec 2013	#72
Relocation is essential if the jobs are elsewhere.	randome	Dec 2013	#90
On the college front	jeff47	Dec 2013	#195
I can see you have thought about this a great deal.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#372
You are so very sweet...	CoffeeCat	Dec 2013	#397
I took my son to the doctor last week...	meaculpa2011	Dec 2013	#86
Probably	PasadenaTrudy	Dec 2013	#101
I'm sure you're right.	meaculpa2011	Dec 2013	#166
My brother	PasadenaTrudy	Dec 2013	#212
+1	KurtNYC	Dec 2013	#179
Very true.	meaculpa2011	Dec 2013	#189
Good post. Sounds about right to me. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#332
As an early boomer	randr	Dec 2013	#87
Excellent post.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#335
Oh, believe me I understand	randr	Dec 2013	#382
I am happy for your kids and your grands.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#383
Back at ya	randr	Dec 2013	#384
In the 80's I worked with guys that are now retired or were and have since passed away that	brewens	Dec 2013	#88
Very insightful post. Thanks. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#337
This late Boomer gets it	PasadenaTrudy	Dec 2013	#94
You're definitely on the border, generation-wise.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#338
Sorry but as a boomer	LittleGirl	Dec 2013	#95
Sorry you took the post as a personal attack.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#339
The exact opposite of what you posted is true.	former9thward	Dec 2013	#96
Good points but I think it can get better if government played a better role than that of bystander.	randome	Dec 2013	#149
You and former9thward make good points.	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#186
I hear you about the infrastructure. Ours used to be the best. Now, not so much.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#342
Well, Laelth, I did my part.	malthaussen	Dec 2013	#102
That means I have fewer people to compete against for reasonably well-paying jobs.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#145
It would be inconsistent for a person with my nick to add to population.	malthaussen	Dec 2013	#153
Well said	Tumbulu	Dec 2013	#310
I'm SORRY !	penndragon69	Dec 2013	#107
I really don't blame you (or any other Boomer) for Reagan.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#175
AMEN!!! My wife and I talked about this very thing this week. That OUR generation has to do things..	uponit7771	Dec 2013	#108
Quite true.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#134
+1	Raine1967	Dec 2013	#172
My pleasure. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#230
too true	justabob	Dec 2013	#110
It's a colossal waste of human capital.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#343
Boomer checking in to say "I get it"	Lifelong Protester	Dec 2013	#113
Thank you.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#131
I would like to ask something of you, too, Laelth.....	llmart	Dec 2013	#244
I need to take some time to consider this post before I respond.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#345
i've had about as much "tough love" as i can stand.	Sheri	Dec 2013	#115
My pleasure, and thanks for the kind words. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#370
you're welcome, sweetie. nt	Sheri	Dec 2013	#419
It is quite true . . .	Brigid	Dec 2013	#122
Thanks for the response.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#348
People with disabilities have always faced this problem.	thucythucy	Dec 2013	#126
I appreciate your adding this perspective.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#353
The problem is the idea that simply creating a whole bunch more exotic degrees	lumberjack_jeff	Dec 2013	#135
my brother and his wife are on food stamps	southmost	Dec 2013	#136
The OP illustrates one of the many reasons why it DOES NOT MAKE SENSE to ...	Martin Eden	Dec 2013	#140
Hear, hear! n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#365
having been in the academic job market 20 yrs ago...	mike_c	Dec 2013	#141
I really can't accept "same as it ever was."	Laelth	Dec 2013	#368
I hear you....	mike_c	Dec 2013	#379
My expectations are quite low.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#381
Boomer tomato dude weighs in.....	NRaleighLiberal	Dec 2013	#142
+1	CountAllVotes	Dec 2013	#198
Lovely post, NRaleighLiberal.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#377
I can understand your feeling	riverbendviewgal	Dec 2013	#146
There's a reason GenX votes in record low numbers	jeff47	Dec 2013	#211
I greatly admired OWS	riverbendviewgal	Dec 2013	#218
Excellent analysis, jeff47. Thanks. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#378
Real love	CountAllVotes	Dec 2013	#148
Lovely post and a great story. Thanks. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#352
You think all us hippies voted for Reagan?	HomerRamone	Dec 2013	#150
This message was self-deleted by its author	CountAllVotes	Dec 2013	#154
If the welcome was for me, thanks but	HomerRamone	Dec 2013	#159
This message was self-deleted by its author	CountAllVotes	Dec 2013	#162
Divide et impera: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose	struggle4progress	Dec 2013	#156
I thought I said the exact opposite.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#356
I saw that cartoon this morning.	leftyladyfrommo	Dec 2013	#163
I appreciate what you wrote.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#358
I saw this Doonsbury this morning, so was drawn to this OP	mountain grammy	Dec 2013	#167
What a beautiful post!	Laelth	Dec 2013	#366
Hang in there, kids! Times like this have happened before, just not as bad.	raging moderate	Dec 2013	#169
This time, it's lasting a lot longer.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#367
Strange.	Larabee9898	Dec 2013	#170
You have been very fortunate, perhaps? n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#373
A tale of two cities (and two countries and two cultures)	DFW	Dec 2013	#173
You have done well by your children. Kudos to you.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#374
I'd be very foolish if I didn't acknlowledge that n/t	DFW	Dec 2013	#399
I also want to say, I think you are better than we were.	raging moderate	Dec 2013	#185
Interesting analysis.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#375
I always think back to when I was in college.	Springslips	Dec 2013	#193
+1. Well said. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#376
The US was in an abnormal position 1945-1975	happyfunball	Dec 2013	#199
America begin declining in the 1980's during Reagan's terms in office.	Rex	Dec 2013	#202
No, the 1970's weren't all that	happyfunball	Dec 2013	#204
The problem I'm having with this is that there is an assumption	Skidmore	Dec 2013	#207
Thank you.....	llmart	Dec 2013	#349
This post deserves a response.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#385
An Engineering PhD has to wait tables??	philosslayer	Dec 2013	#208
Heard you the first time..	SomethingFishy	Dec 2013	#221
stop demonizing boomers	Skittles	Dec 2013	#222
Don't worry, Skittles.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#344
I'm Gen X (also with PhD) and almost everyone I know with a PhD has a decent job	aikoaiko	Dec 2013	#224
Well that was my first thought too, somewhat extreme.	Rex	Dec 2013	#225
Agreed.	aikoaiko	Dec 2013	#226
Are there lots of opportunities for people like you to hang out with waiters?	Laelth	Dec 2013	#380
My Ph.D. program tracks every graduate.	aikoaiko	Dec 2013	#391
Cool. Thanks for the response. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#392
What changed after Reagan?	JDPriestly	Dec 2013	#227
I am certainly no fan of "free" trade.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#387
As a boomer I do get it.	Pakid	Dec 2013	#228
I voted against Reagan twice. I hate Reagan's guts.	Enthusiast	Dec 2013	#231
My stepdaughter is just finishing up her degree in microbiology and immediately after is	1monster	Dec 2013	#232
20 years ago was better than this, 30 years ago was just as bad (early boomer)	diane in sf	Dec 2013	#240
Alas, it was the Boomer's PARENTS that gave us Reagan.	Demeter	Dec 2013	#241
How dare you say that!	CountAllVotes	Dec 2013	#362
My father sent him money	Demeter	Dec 2013	#369
For someone who didn't want generational warfare,	Curmudgeoness	Dec 2013	#247
I am sorry you dislike the thread.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#393
I was intrigued by this discussion,	Curmudgeoness	Dec 2013	#395
Fair enough.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#396
Well, it seems a Boomer like Garry Trudeau understands. But then, I'm not sure most understand....	Moonwalk	Dec 2013	#266
Good points.	llmart	Dec 2013	#351
Many of us late boomers went through this exactly in the early 80's	Tumbulu	Dec 2013	#268
Thanks for the response.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#402
Well, you raise a great question	Tumbulu	Dec 2013	#406
Thanks for the response.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#407
Yes, very true	Tumbulu	Dec 2013	#411
I just thought it was an interesting observation.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#412
I totally understand it	Lydia Leftcoast	Dec 2013	#276
The Millennials may save us all.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#390
As a late boomer, and a long time activist, I've been exhorting	Luminous Animal	Dec 2013	#281
k&r	avaistheone1	Dec 2013	#285
when they killed our heroes, JFK, MLK, RFK....what happened?	Chrom	Dec 2013	#315
You really think the money people who run things care about demonstrations?	djean111	Dec 2013	#326
Really? You need older people to fight? Do honestly believe that the majority of boomers have	Luminous Animal	Dec 2013	#389
I know some of these grads.	TxDemChem	Dec 2013	#282
I'd rather be lucky than good.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#394
"Boomers lack a frame of reference to understand how much harder it is to live in this world now."	Spitfire of ATJ	Dec 2013	#283
Most?	Kaleva	Dec 2013	#288
Boomer here - that not having a frame of reference? Bullshit. Born in 46, got one pair of shoes	djean111	Dec 2013	#302
Jobs were scarce when we got out of school, too.	leftyladyfrommo	Dec 2013	#317
Meanwhile we have overpaid assholes on TV telling us we don't deserve what we have.	Spitfire of ATJ	Dec 2013	#341
Broad brush? divisive? Look at the post which I had responded to.	Kaleva	Dec 2013	#324
I am so sorry - I didn't mean to reply to your post - my life as a Boomer likely was	djean111	Dec 2013	#325
A LOT of us boomers were the product of the flood of divorces in the 60s and 70s...	Spitfire of ATJ	Dec 2013	#340
No need to apologize!	Kaleva	Dec 2013	#346
I am pretty resourceful, can stretch a dollar a loooong way,	djean111	Dec 2013	#354
You ought to check out the Frugal Living group here at DU	Kaleva	Dec 2013	#357
Thanks! I will check that out right now.	djean111	Dec 2013	#360
"Money isn't everything."	Spitfire of ATJ	Dec 2013	#323
Precisely.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#350
In California apartments that used to go for $350 a month shoot up to $1,100 in 15 years....	Spitfire of ATJ	Dec 2013	#359
The joblessness of those who have very good educations is very rarely discussed	truedelphi	Dec 2013	#355
This boomer graduated at in 1982. Multiple degrees.	Yo_Mama	Dec 2013	#386
.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#388
I don't rmember life ever being very easy.	leftyladyfrommo	Dec 2013	#400
You are not a boomer to this boomer....	Bennyboy	Dec 2013	#403
The reason that shift happened was because the economy sucked so bad	Yo_Mama	Dec 2013	#404
My trade, Tilesetter/mason pays less, much less today	Bennyboy	Dec 2013	#405
All corrections go too far	Yo_Mama	Dec 2013	#410
Very informative post. Thanks. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#408
Uh huh... a whole generation of doctorate holders... That must be it...	Decaffeinated	Dec 2013	#398
Your scorn and derision are noted.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#401
For many people I know relocation is...	meaculpa2011	Dec 2013	#409
LOT OF TIME BEING WASTED ON THIS.....	Blus4u	Dec 2013	#413
Welcome to DU. n/t	Laelth	Dec 2013	#414
You might as well be yelling this into a wishing well. If the Boomers were capable of	jtuck004	Dec 2013	#415
Sadly, it feels that way sometimes.	Laelth	Dec 2013	#416
Just look around. We can't get enough debt, yet it is the very thing that is killing us.	jtuck004	Dec 2013	#417

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