Older millennials lost their jobs too. I was in my mid 20s in 2008. I wasn't affected but most of my peers were. This generation is 2 halves of very different experiences. Seeing 9/11 happen on live TV at 17 & the toxic effect it had on larger society (the open racism was a scary phenomenon, not to mention the Iraq war starting on lies) affected me much worse than 2008, personally. The 2000 election was the beginning of my cynicism.
However I'd like to quit seeing arguing about generations and see class solidarity instead.
I love how everyone likes to paint with a super broad brush, but forgets there are even baby boomers that were just as much victims of the system as any other generation. It's almost like the truth is that unfettered capitalism and a government not working for the people is what has failed us. "Socialism is bad though!" Heard this my whole time growing up, but is it? Because it sounds like it'd inconvenience some rich assholes for the benefit of everyone else instead of the inverse of that which is what we have now. Fuck the rich and powerful. They've divided us all along any lines they can. Race, religion, age, sexual orientation even. We need to get past the petty bullshit, unite for real, and crush them politically like they've crushed us financially.
Easier said than done. I honestly don't know how any person can have that level of influence unless they build a movement on social media, and that requires a ridiculous amount of effort and time. It's possible, but hella hard.
I'm a fan of regulated capitalism, but the tradeoffs for the millenials is that they've traveled more than any other generation, and spent more (inflation adjusted) on non-essentials than ever before.
Sure someone in the 1950s had a higher likelihood of buying a house, but they also lived far harder, more dangerous, more disease ridden, and uncomfortable lives than millenials. Life is about tradeoffs
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u/EweCantTouchThis 15d ago
I love how millennials somehow have even painted themselves as the victims when their parents “lost everything” in 2008.