Yeah, it's the American Dream that has a problem.

baconsmom

Oh dear. The New York Timespromised in a headline to show us how elusive the American Dream is for this generation of college graduates. Instead, we see a portrait — a cautionary tale, really — of how kids who are never exposed to risk, are never expected to do for themselves, and have never acted outside the confines of a structured program (pre-paid registration required!) will turn out.Summary: not good.The Times visits with Scott Nicholson, a Grafton, Mass., 24-year-old who graduated from Colgate and can’t find a job. Well, he can’t find one that he wants. He’s turning down an insurance company, which offered him $40,000 for a very entry-level position. His brother’s making $75,000 per year. That’s more like what Scott has in mind.Scott’s living at home with his parents, who don’t charge him rent. They’re paying for his cellphone. He does odd jobs for a little spending money.Scott’s father and grandfather, who, incidentally, paid for all of Scott’s college — Scott’s not one of many, many new graduates already saddled with unimaginable student loan debt — didn’t have this kind of struggle when starting out their careers. And I suppose this is where we’re supposed to see an enormous shift in the history of work in the U.S. and how The American Dream is no longer possible for Scott and his peers. The grandfather got a job from an old army buddy. The father, likewise, was hired by a friend. The two took a chance on jobs, worked hard and turned them into careers. Son Scott? Nah. That’s not really his style.See, he’s entitled to more because he:“worked hard through high school to get myself into the college I did,” Scott said, “and then I worked hard through college to graduate with the grades and degree that I did to position myself for a solid job.” (He majored in political science and minored in history.)What’s interesting is that Scott knows he’s being coddled, ahem, supported.“As frustrated as I get now, and I never intended to live at home, I’m in a good situation in a lot of ways,” Scott said. “I have very little overhead and no debt, and it is because I have no debt that I have any sort of flexibility to look for work. Otherwise, I would have to have a job, some kind of full-time job.”He knows he’s privileged. Which is why you want to take Scott by the shoulders and shake him a little. Live it up, Scott! Go try something new! Take a chance. Follow a dream. For you, baby, everything’s going to work out!And that’s what makes this piece so scary. And why it has nothing to do with the American Dream.I’m not a baby-boomer (too young) and I wasn’t raised by baby-boomers (smidgen too old) but my and my kids’ lives are certainly impacted by the structures and expectations and habits of the baby-boomer parenting generation. While some of what we’ve inherited is pretty cool — kids’ menus and car seats, for instance — the part where we micro-manage the kids from cradle to law school, fear for their lives on a daily/hourly basis, and believe that our healthy and smart 24-year-olds with job offers still need our shelter and cellphone money, that’s what I can see has no pay-off for the child, the parent or society.To even call the American Dream elusive for Scott is to miss the point of the American Dream, which doesn’t say you’re entitled to do better than your parents from the comfort of their living room. It’s that the possibility is there for those willing to walk out Mom’s front door, get in a crappy car and go to work.------------------------------Via Strollerderby. I don't know if I can even stand to read the NYT article if these excerpts are any indication of its tone. "Elusive American Dream"? Really, NYT? Because some rich ass won't take a 40K job, the American Dream is out of his reach?  (Fun fact: The Knot censors ass - wipe. Seriously, Knot, are we adults or what?!) 

**O-Face**

Yes.  I'd be pissed if I were the parents.

Beggars can't be choosers.

loveshine1

I find it 100% the parent's fault.

It's called an eviction notice. This child needs to be served one.

katorigasuki

$40k to start is an amazing opportunity for a kid with a BA. 

but i see it every day.  a lot of students that i work with have a sense of entitlement that worries me.  they seem to forget that before you can make that 6 figure salary, you have to pay your dues, make copies, get coffee, and have a couple of shitty assed jobs. 

you can bet your sweet bippy miles will not be living on my couch at 24 years old. 

baconsmom

I got kicked out at 21, without a college degree. My parents expected that I could take care of myself, and guess what? I could. 

And hell, we got married, had a house and a kid and me at home, on 42K. It wasn't in Boston, but come on. H worked hard to get there, and worked hard to get where he is now, and continues to work hard. The work doesn't stop when you land the job - or the degree. 

~~Busy.~~

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_yeah-its-american-dream-problem?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:3d7900c8-b5c9-43ea-9c33-85b96a320a86Post:bd490224-19a5-441b-a96b-27fef4743227">Re: Yeah, it's the American Dream that has a problem.</a>:
[QUOTE] The work doesn't stop when you land the job - or the degree. 
Posted by baconsmom[/QUOTE]

*points up*  I totally agree

6fsn

$40k for a BA in poli sci is pretty good.  I bet his brother has some sort of science/math/advanced degree.  My parents gave us 6 months free rent.  After that they didn't care if we went to McD's or the gas station we were paying rent.

I'd be embarrased if this article was about me.

zsazsa-stl

I really don't understand this living at home trend.  Kids have it way too easy at home if they are wanting to stay there.  I love my parents and get along with them, but no way was I staying there.

I have a good friend who has three siblings - aged about 35, 29 and 27.  My friend is the only one that pays her own bills even though none of the kids are unemployed.  The 30 and 27 yo still live at home rent free.  Her parents just bought a new house because the house they downsized to after retiring wasn't big enough for their two adult children.  The 35 yo doesn't live at home, but she blows her salary on concerts and tattoos so her parents pay her $$$ car payment quite frequently. My friend even paid her own way through college because her parents used to have a backbone.  It is absolute insanity.

BeeBee22

I read that article too.  Seems odd for the NYT - more Wall Street Journal readers' idea of what would be an 'acceptable' first job.  40K? yeah that sucks. My first job after college (not including high school and during college jobs) was three jobs to pay rent on a tiny NYC apt. Maybe he'll just have to buckle down and get the 'rents to send him to grad school.  yrch.

notamrs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_yeah-its-american-dream-problem?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:3d7900c8-b5c9-43ea-9c33-85b96a320a86Post:37ba0151-5796-4609-be98-b19e28b93594">Re: Yeah, it's the American Dream that has a problem.</a>:
[QUOTE]things like this make me quite bitter. i wish i was able to turn down a 40k job when i was fresh out of college.
Posted by Wifezzilla[/QUOTE]

^^ Exactly.  Hell, I wish I had been able to turn down a 40k job when I was fresh out of grad school.

RhymeReason

I've been out of school for 5 yrs, working at the same company for 4 yrs. I'm still not making 40k a year. I'm from MA, a 40k per year job starting out is pretty damn good as far as I am concerned.

qwerty777

This sounds like my SIL. She'll be 25 next month (two days before me, actually) and still lives at home. She graduated last year, and has never worked a day in her life. Her parents paid for her college. She went to one job interview, and was pissed when they didn't hire her (because she HAS NO EXPERIENCE!) and decided it wasn't worth looking anymore. So she went back to school for a paralegal degree. To the most expensive school in the state. And is now complaining about student loans because her parents wouldn't pay for it. She's on summer break, and says its "pointless" to look for a job even for the summer. Her parents pay for everything, and aren't making her move out soon.

When H lived at home, he had to pay rent and all his own bills. He didn't have too many, and they still paid his tuiting, but he still had to work to pay for everything. They called him lazy every chance they got, but yet their daughter isn't? Yeah, I'm bitter.

angel_lins

$40K a year right out of college in this economy is pretty darn good, particularly if you have no SL debt and no CC debt.  my first job out of law school  - 7 years ago - only paid $50K, and I had SL debt equivalent to a mortgage!  whiny brat, that one is...