Please forgive my rant, but...

[Solus]

At the age of 25 I was an officer in the Navy, married, and had a kid. Even "back then" for us Gen X'ers that wasn't exactly mainstream. I couldn't wait to be responsible adult and not have to rely on my parents.  I for one just can not understand the concept of wanting to extend the horribleness of adolescences.  

In the book I've just finished that has been mentioned here before, The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture by David Mamet, a major topic is the unending adolescence of Liberals...how the education system, with it's Liberal Arts emphasis is geared to producing non-producing citizens.  

The author is a man who was a Liberal until he was near 60, claiming to have never spoken to a Conservative until shortly before his "conversion".  From his past, it is seen that he has always been a worker but has never had anything to drink but the kool-aid.  He doesn't seem to like politicians of either flavor very much, but believes the Conservative, Free Market approach is the only way to achieve and maintain the freedom and liberty of America.  

 
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Knowledge-Dismantling-American-Culture/dp/1595230971/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367280022&sr=1-1&keywords=the+secret+knowledge+on+the+dismantling+of+american+culture

[Magoo541]

Its funny from where I sit because I have 5 kids, a 20 year old son, a 17 year old daughter, a 16 year old daughter, a 15 year old daughter and a 12 year old daughter.  Out of the 5 my son is out on his own at college (with some help from grandma & grandpa), my oldest daughter has yet to have a job and continues to "try" to find work (she recently has begun blaming us for her substandard academic performance  ) doesn't want to drive and hasn't even passed her permit test, the 16 year-old is playing on the school Golf team and Spring Club Soccer team and we won't let her get a job until this summer (she has money in the bank she uses to pay for her own gas-the old one of the 3 girls that can drive) the 15 year old daughter has a great work ethic (made $50 last weekend doing yard work) but "feels" too much IMHO, and the youngest-well I don't know much about her since I've never met her but I can venture a guess since her mom is on public assistance and is crying "I'm poor" while taking family trips to Puerto Rico.

Over the last 3 years I've averaged 8 hours of OT a week and went back to school and finished my BA in Management and Organizational Leadership (Business Management with an emphasis on Leadership).  Lately I've been a little upset, at time fuming mad, because our kids have this sense of entitlement/laziness.  My wife has MS and our daughter has asked her to bring her something up to her room numerous times instead of coming downstairs to get it.  What kills me is my wife DOES IT!

[billt]

"Is Twenty-Five the new Fifteen".. Yup.

Tom, it's worse than that. This is absolutely true, and I'm not exaggerating any of it in the least. I got my haircut last Thursday. The girl who cuts my hair is in her mid 30's, and owns the salon. She has a son who is currently serving in Afghanistan. Her father is my age and served in Vietnam. We were discussing the military, Afghanistan, Vietnam, etc.

The receptionist who was listening to all of this was a hispanic in her mid 20's. Typical hottie. Pink mini skirt, high heels, $75.00 finger nails, the whole bit. When the discussion was finished she asked me, "Which one came first, the Second World War, or Vietnam??"

That is the level of dumb we currently reside at in this country with the "20 something" age group. Scary and pathetic.

[Ksail101]

I have to blame this idea of having to go to college. It's like middle school is now high school. These kids live off their parents till they are 25 or the bank and start life a 100 grand in debt.

Also work places not training people. You have to have "experience." Or forced to go to school. There is no good job with city or in the trades any more when you are 18. If you want to become a man (or woman) the military is the only thing to force that now days.

You don't learn to manage a check book anymore in school or anything it's sex education and crap like that. High school does not prepare you to be an adult anymore.

Plus parenting and the idea of family has gone out the window. Some are forced so I apologize if someone is offended by what I say next but the acceptability of single mothers (or fathers but its very lopsided the other way) raising children has really set us back. Grandma and grandpa raise more kids today than before and even worse child care services. I am young and all my friends that were raised by single parents or had divorces in the middle of their lives were the ones who drank and did the most bad stuff. Maybe it's only true with the guys I grew up with and I have only a small sample size but that was my experience growing up in the late 90's and 2000's. There are no more real faith based child care like through a church so there are no morals being taught. I give my sister and bro in law a lot of respect for choosing a faith based preschool where the kids learned the normal stuff plus some morals. Even tho they are not crazy Christian in their everyday life you have to set some sort of baseline. Just my 2cents.

[billt]

I have to blame this idea of having to go to college. It's like middle school is now high school. These kids live off their parents till they are 25 or the bank and start life a 100 grand in debt. Also work places not training people. You have to have "experience." Or forced to go to school.

Yes and no. A lot of kids are in the position you suggest. College degree, large debt, and no job because of too many applicants and a lousy economy. But where I work the average age of skilled machinists we employ is the late 40's to early 50's. Our owner has tried to hire several younger kids and train them. Most quit because they whine about working 10 hour days, and going to school at night. Or else they complain about how the pay isn't enough. They all talk about how starting UPS drivers make $23.00 an hour, etc. I tell them then go work for UPS, running around in 115 degree heat delivering packages all day if you think it's such a cake walk for the money.

All of them come in with a ton of attitude. When I started my apprenticeship in the early 70's the plant manager told me on my first day that it was crucial I get along with all of the senior mold makers and toolmakers. He said if I had just 2 complaints logged against me by any of them, it was reason for termination. You had to display a good attitude and a strong work ethic if you wanted to survive in that type of working environment.

I worked 11 hour days 6 days a week, and went to school 3 hours a night twice a week. My ass dragged for 5 straight years. It's what you had to do, so you did it. Besides there were almost 10 of us, and no one wanted to be the cry baby, so again we just did it and kept our mouths shut. Today there is no dicipline. These kids come out of college with some type of degree, and have the attitude to match. At our place it's a revolving door because the owner doesn't want to put money into training someone who he knows won't last. As a result of all of this, there is a tremendous shortage of skilled machinists, toolmakers, and mold makers in this country. Some owners have even gone as far as hiring from overseas because the Asians are smart, and have a better attitude than the kids here do. That is truly sad.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

I forgot to mention the best, (worst), part. One kid was opening his paycheck a couple of weeks ago, and was shaking his head. I asked him if they made a mistake. He said, "Every week". I asked how so? Referring to health care, his reply was, "Why should I have to pay for something out of my own pocket every week, that should be a "right"? I just walked away. Again, this is where we're at with younger people in this country. And people wonder how this asshole got reelected? The handwriting is everywhere.

[Ksail101]

I forgot to mention the best, (worst), part. One kid was opening his paycheck a couple of weeks ago, and was shaking his head. I asked him if they made a mistake. He said, "Every week". I asked how so? Referring to health care, his reply was, "Why should I have to pay for something out of my own pocket every week, that should be a "right"? I just walked away. Again, this is where we're at with younger people in this country. And people wonder how this asshole got reelected? The handwriting is everywhere.

I'm sorry. I have to shake my head and apologize for some of my age group. I'd give my left nut to work and learn how to be a machinist. But I also wanted to comment on the above. I didnt learn the truth about Ronald Reagan or conservativism till I joined the military. I grew up in a matropolitain city in the northwest. (Seattle). The teachers I had preached that mindset of socialized medicine and other very liberal views. I honestly lived in a world where smoking pot and getting anything I can from the government (my parents didnt have that mindset) for free and comparing the US to Europe at every turn. That was how my high school teachers taught us. I learned everything I believe now on my own and through failure of the other way. I remember, but little blips at a time about wars, that my US history class my senior year was a retrospective on how rich white men have ruined this country and enslaved us all. I'm not lying. Besides our savior Abraham Lincoln (who was beyond great don't get me wrong though we were not taught that he was a republican and many of his conservative views) every rich white guy in power are greedy tyrants who should give us their money. That isn't an exaggeration.

I look back now and I can honestly saw every teacher I had in public schools was very liberal. I had a couple in my private middle school that I can remember being conservative. But it was a catholic private school so that is kinda expected and what do you know that school was very good. Compared to the public middle school down the road I could say things those kids were doing in the bathroom on breaks I hadn't even learned about yet.

[tombogan03884]

Tom, it's worse than that. This is absolutely true, and I'm not exaggerating any of it in the least. I got my haircut last Thursday. The girl who cuts my hair is in her mid 30's, and owns the salon. She has a son who is currently serving in Afghanistan. Her father is my age and served in Vietnam. We were discussing the military, Afghanistan, Vietnam, etc.

The receptionist who was listening to all of this was a hispanic in her mid 20's. Typical hottie. Pink mini skirt, high heels, $75.00 finger nails, the whole bit. When the discussion was finished she asked me, "Which one came first, the Second World War, or Vietnam??"

That is the level of dumb we currently reside at in this country with the "20 something" age group. Scary and pathetic.

If we look we see this level of stupidity everywhere .
I saw a guy the other day walk into and across the street with out ever looking up from his texting.
The azzholes drive the same way.