This Narcissistic Generation Better Buckle Up — There’s a Bumpy Ride Ahead
Many make complainants about today’s youth. It is a problem that has found no solution since the dawn of time. Each generation finds the previous one “old fashioned,” and the new generation is all scandal and shame according to those who are deemed old fashioned.
Listening to some of the songs on the radio, the lyrics, (which aren’t poetry by any stretch) show a blatant narcissism, lack of courtesy, compassion and a disregard for the rules of society.
In the song “Just Me, Myself and I, Solo Ride Until I Die”, the lyrics speak of being all alone, needing no one else except privacy and excessive material things.
Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too” touts her good looks, her gold and free (i.e. not paying for drinks) lifestyle and fame. She breaks her arm patting herself on the back, demands respect and claims she needs no one. The song’s chorus tells how everyone would want to be her.
This is fine for entertainers who do work and live a difficult, often precarious lifestyle to attain the things about which they sing.
For the average young person, what are these lyrics instilling as far as values about the things that really matter?
For those who follow the Kardashian show and play Kim’s video game with their free flowing, million-dollar lifestyle, how are they to emulate this type of life?
Young people today expect things free and easy.
As voters, many felt the Bern, believing his talk of free education and other socialistic programs featuring all things at no charge.
Neil Cavuto spoke to student leader Keeley Mullen, in the Million Student March for student debt forgiveness, free public college education and a $15 an hour minimum wage.
When Cavuto asked her how these things were to be paid, she put the bill on the rich. Cavuto pointed out that the rich paid about 45% tax on income already. He explained that heavier taxes would just drive the rich to move to other countries and take their money with them. Ms. Mullen replied that the tax rate should be raised until it could accommodate their demands, although she wasn’t sure upon whom the increase should be applied. When further pressed about details by her host, Ms. Mullen didn’t have a real answer to where the funds would come to give away such privileges.
Of course, the story of the special snowflake interns who thought they could change a company dress code policy to suit themselves has gone viral.
Instead of being grateful for a learning opportunity and employment, the interns thought the company would have to change its policy because they found it contrary to their demands and wants.
They were all hurt and dismayed that they were immediately let go because they demanded change. They felt their argument had been written up in the petition nicely as they outlined their arguments, and called unfair on the company for such strident rules.
Welcome to the real world, boys and girls, buckle up, it is going to be a bumpy ride.
Which brings us to a common problem that many human resource departments are experiencing. It is very hard to obtain employees for service industry jobs, and many other fields as well.
The current administration has endowed the youth with food stamps, rent assistance, Medicaid, WIC and utility assistance. It seems foolish to work hard thirty to forty hours a week for that which is freely given and easily obtained.
So many have children, outside of marriage, without two parents involved. They have no worry. The government has it covered, so go for it. This leads to a generational dependence on the government. Their vote will be to the party who gives away the most. Every day is Christmas and a party because all the basic needs are met.
The offspring that follow expect the government to meet their needs, and become increasingly demanding in the things they “need”.
These idle hands lead to sloth, drug use and lack of self- respect.
Many times those who would create jobs in rural or urban areas are unable to hire local workers because not only do the youth NOT want to work, even if they did, they can’t pass a drug test.
Margaret Thatcher was quoted that there are no public funds, they come from the private sector in the form of taxes.
Given that many of the current generation have had a free ride, and an upcoming generation has only the previous example of dependence, the status quo can’t continue.
This group will look on in helpless horror as payment due exceeds accounts received and chaos can only follow.
Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tommyc/148234219/; Thomas Crenshaw