system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Younger generations have it harder than their parents

 

At least when it comes to making their way in the world. A few decades ago, it was possible to live a fairly comfortable lifestyle on a single income. My Dad had classmates who started working at the mill out of high school, and while they worked darned hard, they made a decent income.

Today, it's all but impossible to live on a single income, with more being considered necessary and less job opportunity. Took me 2 years of constant searching to find my current job, and too many bosses will just suck you dry and discard you, with no real prospects for improvement.

Even college has become unaffordable for many. 50 years ago, you could get a degree, leading to a good job without being crushed in debt. In the 1990s, it would get you a decent job, but you'd be heavily in debt. Today, all your degree might get you is a job at McDonalds.

Yes, a lot of people in their 20s and even 30s are still living at home, often attributed to "They don't want to work hard." Well, there are fewer jobs available, it takes longer to find one, and job security has become a distant memory. Both parents working is now an absolute requirement, with women unable to stay home even if they'd like to. (And yes, this applies to the father as well)

What I often notice is they assume the world works the same way as it did when they were younger, not understanding how much things have changed over the past few decades. Usually, it's: "Just work hard, dedicate yourself, and you'll go far!" All too often, that's not what ends up happening.

I'd even say kids growing up now are going to have it harder than us. After 2007-2008, the economy rebounded only slowly, and now we've got Covid to deal with. Who knows how long that's going to last? They've lost a year of education, sometimes two, forced to deal with isolation, and having to enter a still-smaller workforce.
gpt
A lot of what you are saying is correct in terms of finding jobs and education and paying for it. 

However, your parents and grandparents had no support system to cope with bullying and mental health issues. They were far less healthy and had to breathe cigarette smoke constantly. They could do little if they experienced abuse from their parents or romantic partners. 

Life for racial and sexual minorities and women gets progressively worse as you go back in time (unless you go way back). 

It’s definitely not all gumdrops and rainbows today but it’s better than the past in many ways too.