A Generation of Veruca Salts
My friend and Ricochet Member Maura Pennington has more keen insights on the Millennial generation in her latest for Forbes.com. Having been spoiled by the booming '90s and refusing to lower our high expectations of what we deserve, we're pretty much a generation of Veruca Salts:
Our generation grew up with the Clinton era surplus. We have expectations of certain creature comforts whether they seem incongruous or not. So we shop around for the right yoga instructor because we deserve the best. We are still in the mode of resume-packing extracurriculars.
The excessive accessories, however, are an indication of a larger trend. A huge segment of this generation not only expects an unreasonable standard of living, but they also expect the government to provide such a standard for every last citizen. They believe that health care coverage is a right, even though a right should not come at the expense of other people’s liberty, including the liberty not to participate in economic activity.
They believe that the wealthy must pay more than their fair share because it is just, as if all successful people are swimming in their money like Scrooge McDuck. They believe that education mandates are a productive use of resources, despite all evidence to the contrary and years of failing schools. They want everyone to go to college even as the bubble of tuition inflates with every federal loan. They like to listen to publicly funded radio because quality entertainment should be subsidized (doesn’t look like Michael Bay will be getting his handout any time soon).
The list of demands goes on. And, just as some of my peers hardly bat an eye at paying for someone else to clean their messes, most of them rarely understand the cost of all these government services. The idea of cutting funding ignites a burning anger within them. It doesn’t matter what might be cut, it’s just the very idea that we might have to live with less. We’ve never had to live with less in our entire lives. Why start now?
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Rarely does a title encapsulate the entire post, but this time you have achieved perfection.
Aug '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
"She was a bad egg."
Apr '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Is it really a whole generation or just a vocal, obnoxious sliver of society favored by the left wing media used as political crash test dummies to bludgeon the rest of us with their leftism?
I know some twenty-somethings, including my children, and while some might be sympathetic to their arguments not a one would spend a minute waving signs and protesting for others to give them something for nothing.
This same generation has been far more dependable defending this country at war than either the Boomers or Xers.
May '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Wow, the title is perfect.
Dec '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Yep, and they vote. And that's why we're doomed.
Jul '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
"They believe that health care coverage is a right, even though a right should not come at the expense of other people’s liberty, including the liberty not to participate in economic activity."
Combined with:
"They believe that the wealthy must pay more than their fair share because it is just.."
Is Yer entire generation so stupid? Making "the wealthy" to pay more in taxes in order to cover others' "healthcare" expenses is forcing them to participate in economic activity. Taxes is slavery in degrees.
And if "health care coverage" is a "right," then have them cite the section of The Constitution proving so.
Jun '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Diane,
I have to admit, something resonates with me about these saps.
In a sense they're right, there are no jobs for them. 30 years ago, their degree from Oberlin would be worth at least an entry level job. Not today. There's no factory in town, no family farm to toil on, no Uncle Bob who knows someone at the railroad who is hiring. There's only so many green barista aprons to go around, after all, and suddenly people don't have the 3.58 for their latte.
Of course, they voted with enthusiasm for the man who exemplifies the system that took away those jobs, so, it's really hard to feel bad for them.
Trust me, it's hard out there. And we're a generation of losers. Time to accept it and do some hard manual labor. If you can find it.
Edited on November 22, 2011 at 6:21amOct '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
As a member of this generation, I would protest Ms. Pennington's painting with a quite broad brush. I know many individuals who work very hard, in highly demanding jobs such as attorneys, doctors, programmers, scientists, and soldiers. I also know a lot of people who miraculously subsisted for years on little more than Ramen noodles and microwavable mac and cheese. Duck confit? Who are these people?
Furthermore, I think such a picture of generation Y helps those in older generations looking for a scape goat to the mess they created. Did we cause trillion dollar deficits? Did we buy subprimes from Fannie and Freddie?
I don't condone class warfare, nor do I condone generational warfare. We're all in this together.
Aug '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Rosemary chicken? Pomegranate confit? Having a maid in your 20's?
I suspect she's talking about a very, very small segment of her age group - those who went to elite universities. Kids who went to state schools are far less likely to have such illusions.
Edited on November 22, 2011 at 4:09amOct '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Facts, the sky is blue and water is wet. Rights simply extend to breathing the air, drinking the waters and self determination. If success is earned others will envy the thing and want of it.
Those that claim altruism is a compassionate thing for all to do will object when the call falls upon them. As far as Liberals support this and denounce others is just to shift blame to other groups so as not to suffer personal loss.
Common ground means nothing, just run Animal Farm over and over until it sinks in.
Aug '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Every generation has its moniker - Baby Boomers, generation X, generation Y, etc.
What do we call this current generation? Generation Whine? Generation Whimp? Generation Privilege?
As an employer with friends who are employers, I can tell you from what I've seen and heard the work ethic of this generation is non-existent. These folks need some hard times to reset their expectations; but of course with our expansive welfare state those times will never come...
Edited on November 22, 2011 at 4:45amJul '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
I agree with Jolly Roger's and Elena's comments. What struck me about this article is that it only describes the members of the generation living in New York City. That's always the story, the few ruin it for the whole. Apply that to Congress any way you see fit.
Similar accusations used to be thrown at Xers. I often pointed out to the older generation that while they grew up in the era of free love, we grew up in an era where free love could kill. That puts a bit more responsibility on one's shoulders...well, on most shoulders. Probably more important, we grew up in an era where hope really was restored, by a Republican president. We're a little less prone to the fatalism that creeps even into these pages from time-to-time.
Now I'm painting with a broad brush. Sigh.
Aug '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Elena: Rosemary chicken? Pomegranate confit? Having a maid in your 20's?
I suspect she's talking about a very, very small segment of her age group - those who went to elite universities. Kids who went to state schools are far less likely to have such illusions.
Not so sure. I've seen more luxury at state schools than I have at the one elite institution I'm familiar with. It has actually surprised me, since it was contrary to my expectations, too.
Jun '10
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
The Great Outdoors is a great cure for snobbery. The Alaskan wilderness doesn't care if your new company is expanding and you were just promoted to run the Boston office. To an Alaskan grizzly bear, be you rich or poor, you taste the same.
Feb '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Our view gets skewed because the Veruca Salts are so obnoxious and claim a disproportionate amount of attention. I know, for example, that most of my friends are hard workers who have it together. I've nearly stopped going on FaceBook, however, simply because of the cacophony of those who have made bad decisions in their lives and think that it's someone else's fault.
May '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
I think Diane just nailed the name of this Generation -- Gen V.
Frozen Chosen: Every generation has its moniker - Baby Boomers, generation X, generation Y, etc.
What do we call this current generation? Generation Whine? Generation Whimp? Generation Privilege?
As an employer with friends who are employers, I can tell you from what I've seen and heard the work ethic of this generation is non-existent. These folks need some hard times to reset their expectations; but of course with our expansive welfare state those times will never come... · Nov 21 at 7:45pm
Edited on Nov 21 at 07:45 pm
Oct '11
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Oh man, if I had a nickel for every time I've done that, I'd be bailing out Wall Street myself! Except it was generic store brand mac and cheese, and I was bragging about how I found it for $0.59 a box and reminiscing about the days when a five pack of Kraft was $2.50. But I did add a can of tuna (store brand, FTW), which comes from the same place as lobster. The whole thing ends up costing a bit less than, say, a broad paint brush, an item which no-one buys. I mean, what's the use of painting with a broad brush?
Edited on November 22, 2011 at 5:16amRe: A Generation of Veruca Salts
And Washington, D.C I presume (that's where Ms. Pennington lives). But same goes for out here in San Francisco, and down in Los Angeles based on what I've seen. In other words, urban centers, which is where a large portion of college graduates congregate.
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Elena: Rosemary chicken? Pomegranate confit? Having a maid in your 20's?
I suspect she's talking about a very, very small segment of her age group - those who went to elite universities. Kids who went to state schools are far less likely to have such illusions.
Not so sure. I've seen more luxury at state schools than I have at the one elite institution I'm familiar with. It has actually surprised me, since it was contrary to my expectations, too. · Nov 21 at 7:53pm
Hm, good point. I hear that the fraternities and sororities at state schools often have personal chefs and maids.
Re: A Generation of Veruca Salts
Heh. Outdoorsmanship was perhaps the biggest extracurricular among Dartmouth students. Everyone had a $300 Patagonia or North Face jacket and high tech hiking boots. Trust me–you can retain your snobbery even in the Great Outdoors if you really try.