Liss sees through the cloud of entitled bullshit on this one:
Stein is citing these stats as evidence of entitlement, but it fundamentally ignores the vast changes in corporate work practices that took place over that time period.
In order to maximize profits, corporations ubiquitously adopted the practice of not filling jobs when people leave and simply redistributing their work among remaining staff, who aren’t compensated for the additional duties. The extra cash goes in the coffers while skeleton crews juggle the same workload once balanced among a larger staff.
It’s a despicable practice, largely ignored in discussions of workers’ rights—and casually elided by haughty sniffs at the alleged laziness of young workers. The fact is, many people don’t want jobs with greater responsibility because they’ve already got too much on their plates at work as it is.
Mother Jones’ Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery wrote a great piece [TW for ableist language] about what’s known as the “speedup.” The speedup is a huge part of the underlying reason for our protracted unemployment rate and wage stagnation, as well as the explanation for why productivity and profits keep rising despite high unemployment. And it almost certainly speaks, at least in part, to why younger workers aren’t looking for more responsibility on the job.
Stein, born 7/23/1971, is a Gen Xer, per these names for generations:
QUOTE
“Names of Generations” Photodisc/Getty Images
This is a listing of recent generations for individuals born in the United States. Dates are approximate, as recognized by demographers.
2000/2001-Present – New Silent Generation or Generation Z
1980-2000 – Millennials or Generation Y
1965-1979 – Generation X
1946-1964 – Baby Boom
1925-1945 – Silent Generation
1900-1924 – G.I. Generation
The Population Reference Bureau provides an alternate listing and chronology of generational names in the United States.
1983-2001 – New Boomers
1965-1982 – Generation X
1946-1964 – Baby Boomers
1929-1945 – Lucky Few
1909-1928 – Good Warriors
1890-1908 – Hard Timers
1871-1889 – New Worlders
UNQUOTE
The Baby Boomer generation is one of few groupings which has such a clearly delineated time line.
I have been in shock over the cost of college and post-grad work for my nephew and his wife — for all in the Gen X group who were walloped with the higher and higher tuitions, fees, book costs, etc. They were sold on the idea that a degree was absolutely the accreditation needed for a good job, then the game changed and a post-grad degree became that needed certification. All at high cost.
I hope Sen. Warren’s proposal to change the interest on Fed student loans to the same that the Big Banks get becomes law. And made retroactive, if at all possible. But, with cuts in place and more coming, fewer students qualify for such loans and are at the mercy of private lenders. I hope Sen. Warren can do something on that front as well.