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June 27, 2005
Today's news
Generation "Why Should I?"
Posted by Max Chafkin at 2:44 PM
Before recent grads get bent out of shape about yesterday's AP article that re-christened them the "entitlement generation," they might consider taking the new moniker stoically. After all, Baby Boomers and Generation Xers have previously been described as feeling overly "entitled."
According to Martha Irvine's article, the new generation has "shockingly high expectations for salary, job flexibility, and duties but little willingness to take on grunt work or remain loyal to a company." Having lived through an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity, the 'entitleds' have "become accustomed to instant gratification," according to a pediatrics professor. And a consultant grumbles, "It seems they want and expect everything that the 20- and 30-year veteran has the first week they're there."
While the writer acknowledges that younger generations are forever prodigal in the eyes of their elders -- the boomers were hippies, the Xers were slackers -- she marshals a laundry list of employers and experts, all of whom seem to agree that the generation raised on PCs and PlayStations is the least willing to pay its dues. Are you having these kinds of problems with your younger employees? And, given the developments of the last five years -- the Internet bust, 9/11, the war in Iraq -- do you think a change may be on the horizon?
Or perhaps boomers are just getting cranky in their old age...
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I don't think boomers are cranky, I believe they're scared. I'm 26, and work for a Fortune 500 company. My "colleagues" often ignore ideas brought forth by younger employees. We are better educated, more motivated and better with technology. However, we've seen the horrible things employers do to their workers, and are skeptical about owing our soul to the company store. We see scheduling exceptions being made for workers with children, yet young, single employees end-up short-changed. Employee daycare and health insurance are two other examples. This new generation is facing a recessed economy, a government that isn't listening to their needs and increases in entry-level pay that don't match the rising housing costs. When recent grads are hired employers are saying "Welcome to the team.......now ride the bench". Its no wonder we have a propensity to take our ball and go home.
As a 16 year small business owner, I have never seen such an "entitlement" environment. I own a service business. I pay extremely well and pay for health insurance but the work is physical and no one wants to work hard. All the applicants straight out of high school and college expect to start at the top but don't want to sweat or do physical work to earn it.
Why should they? We have raised a generation who has been handed everything. In my generation, we worked a full time job while going to school fulltime and without student loans that are now used for living expenses, government handouts, or parents that cover your back.
Look what has happened over the years with customer service. When you drive up to order a fast food meal, how often are you greeted politely with a how may I help you or even recieve a smile, a thank you, etc. If anything the cashiers are speaking between themselves about how they hate what they are doing, want to get off work for a party or discussing how drunk they got at last nights party while you bag your own purchases.
The few people that do apply are told up front there is a background check and asked if they have anything on their record. Most will give you a third of their driving history but never do they disclose the drug convictions, felonies, etc. If they had, they would have been hired. Every one makes mistakes.
My frustration, as a business owner is that this generation thinks it's below them to work hard. They don't want to study and achieve an advancement to the next level. They expect to start at the top level when they hand in their application. They don't want to give good customer service but expect to take the customers money. They have been raised "entitled" to do what feels good.
Our news paper weekly has an article from a fresh out of college employee who continually writes how if you don't feel like working today - Don't. Play hooky. Call in sick to sun tan. Take the long way back to the office if you are driving to enjoy the day. Stop off and shop before you go back to the office. Disappear for a few hours. Don't let the boss tell you what to do. Don't listen if you don't want to.
If you play hooky, who covers for you? Call in sick when you are wanting to tan? Don't listen to your boss?
As a small business and the back bone of the country, we can not afford to parent this generation much longer.
I agree with Young Gun. I am 27 and have moved up my way past many elders. They are not cranky, they are scared of us. We roll in with blackberry and with a mentality to tackle the business in a more efficient way and these elders come in with a totally different attitude. I have been in meetings where these folks just ignore the ideas presented becase they are scared. They don't want to listen to us because they think we will push them down sooner or later.
My main concern is that the society is missing out on great opportunities presented by young people.
But just like that movie that came out recently, the youngsters are going to take out the seniors very soon.
Regards,
Guna.
http://www.OptimizationTips.com
In response to BabyBoomer, I agree that customer service (especially at retail) has plummeted. But it's because employers are missing the point of this article. The reason employees are disengaged is because they're not challenged, and rewarded for going out of their way. They also feel that their input is just pushed a side.
For instance, I just received my annual review (above average)and handed an increase on what the company deemed acceptable for an employee of my tenure (not based on performance). To my generation that's not proper. How about instead of a lousy 3% raise, can I get an extra week of vacation? 3% of my income equals about one week's gross pay, and vacation will make me happy. Seeing an extra $18 net in each pay check isn't going to make me want to dedicate my life to the company for the next year.
A question to babyboomers: I'm sure that when "The Greatest Generation" was forced to deal with the "Babyboomers" who grew up with a perfect little atomic family, in a crime-free subdivision and a parent in the home full-time; there was tension. I bet the same thing happened when Gen-X entered the work force. Will older generations be able to get over the fact that our priorities are different, and offer us what we need? Or will older managers and workplace standards cast aside a whole generation of workers because of the way our parents (Babyboomers & GenX) raised us?
Finally, employers HAVE to understand that $30k/yr. is no longer an acceptable entry-level salary for most jobs. Housing prices are blowing up right now. A year's tuition at most Universities is $15-20K. Babyboomer may pay for health insurance, but most companies only subsidize small portions of premiums. I quit my first job after college because my employer dropped the company's health coverage. He may have given me a job, but he wasn't doing me any favors!
At the age of 36, I've spent the last almost 15 years in sales and marketing in the high-tech sector. As a former VP and now small business owner, my perspective is that the younger generation (especially 17-24) simply has expectations that are so far out of reality its not even funny anymore. I've spent my life learning the different functional areas of a business, constantly improving on sales methods and relationship-building, only to waste my time reviewing half-assed resumes full of inaccuracies and flat out falsehoods from prospective employees. (Notice my particular vocabulary)
Today's younger generation, IMHO, is barely literate, has poor work ethics, and although may have some interesting ideas, knows little beyond that. Let me tell you what an idea is worth: nothing. An idea is worth nothing, absolutely zero. The rigorous planning, strategizing, and successful implementation of said idea is worth almost everything. And it is in this area that the younger generation lands flat on their face.
I won't even waste my time commenting on the poor customer-facing abilities of the younger generation right now. Young Gun, I do pay on performance and merit, rather than on lousy tenure. But you've got to prove yourself, and simply speaking up at a meeting is not proving anything. I guarantee that the older crowd may be a little too introspective sometimes (anal may be the appropriate word here), but they are listening to what you say and sometimes, one or two of them will ponder it late at night and chat your ideas over with colleagues and peers later on. In mid-sized and larger companies, nothing happens right away. You want fast results? Work for an SMB but realize that you have to make sacrifices (perhaps subsidized healthcare, etc) in order to make longer term gains. You want to call the shots and believe that you have what it takes to do it right? Start your own company.
Following the thought of Proven Material...
The point that everyone has been missing in this discussion is that you have to prove yourself. I don't care what generation you're in. Before you get perks and raises and extra vacation, you have to show that you can do a great job. Period.
The generation of people coming out of college feels that their college education is equivalent to years of experience on the job. Two words: it's not. I felt that way when I got out of school too, and quickly learned that I knew nothing. You can’t just automatically expect to get a great salary and perks until your company sees what you’re made of.
As a 30-year old Gen-Xer and now manager of the so-called "entitlement generation" I agree that younger people absolutely have a lot to offer and sometimes their ideas aren't taken seriously. I'm (still) right there with you... But you have to show that your ideas hold water. And show that you're willing to go the extra mile to make your ideas come to light. Don't come to me with an idea and then say "Cool. I'm going to take a long lunch now. And then I'm taking tomorrow off."
These grads are also coming into the workforce at a time where the market is still unstable. Companies are skeptical of offering huge rewards and raises because the companies who did that are the ones who didn't survive the early 2000's. But they do reward people who do a little hard work, put in some extra hours when they need to, and take pride in their work. It doesn't come automatically. You have to prove yourself. True, your starting salary isn't always going to be great. Come in and knock my socks off and I’ll make it more.
As a 35 yo Xer I agree wholeheartedly with Proven Material - "An idea is worth nothing, absolutely zero. The rigorous planning, strategizing, and successful implementation of said idea is worth almost everything. And it is in this area that the younger generation lands flat on their face."
and this fact itself is something that can take a decade to learn. you younger folks should park your hubris and see if you can learn something from your elders. "being part of the team" often also requires parking yourself on the bench when necessary. More importantly, it requires empathy and the ability to work in and lead teams, recognising your strengths and weaknesses and those of others. These are skills often developed over time. Until you recognise the value of others and the importance of working with them, regardless of their age, you might be no treated as no more than a technical resource, and you may not be given leadership and decision making responsibility. These things are earned from your peers, not taken.
It is interesting to read many comments by my generation and those in their 20's. I feel that most of the problems we see in many of our youth can be laid at the feet of the parents that did not raise children but "pals or friends" and gave everything to those "friends" What ever happened to parents being in charge, putting their mate ahead of the children (Gasp!!) And yes many of my gereration might not be as "up-to-speed" with blackberrys etc. So what, maybe we enjoy having personal time, and don't feel the need to be connected 24/7. We managed to grow up without all of these items, yes it might have been a less efficent way to conduct business but we survived and prospered. I personally do not watch TV, own a MP3, but do read the newspaper, news mags. and listen to NPR news programs. While silence (lack of music)is unthinkable for most of our younger population, it is a valued commodity to many of my age. Thankfuly many of our youth have drive, morals, and resoursefulness and will prove to the rest of us that they can take the reins and make our world a better place.
I Look forward to that future.
Entry-level service-industry jobs have always had a high turnover, haven't they? I wouldn't say it's fair to characterize a generation based on those who work at the most basic jobs, which probably don't even require a high-school education.
As to the younger generation feeling entitled -- doesn't this work itself out on its own? For example, if someone comes in feeling entitled and doesn't produce, won't they be fired since they don't produce?
Regardless, I would not be surprised if we hear fewer stories about the younger generation and their "star producers" compared to the boomer generation. If, in each generation, 2% (for example) are in such a category, there just aren't as many of the younger generation compared to the boomer group (low birthrate when younger generation was born).
I agree completely with Proven Material and Dan. I think Dan said it best, parents have raised their children to be their pal or friends. So have the schools. Parents have made sure they want for nothing. Along with that have not taught them respect for others or work ethics.
Why are there so many job openings and yet the unemployment remains high? I agree with Justin there is a smaller work base but there are jobs, well paying jobs with incentives and recognitions out there for those who want to work.
The priorities of the "entitlement" generation are not with work but with immediate gratification and that reflects back to the way they were raised and educated.
I have to agree with Mary. Stereotyping is a dangerous and damaging practice. I am a young executive myself at age 27, and I had to work my tail off to get where I am today... and I still do. That meant sacrificing a lot of leisure time and family time. That's not for everyone, and I understand and appreciate that. I don't expect my employees to throw their entire lives into their jobs. There IS more to life than work. While you're on the clock, I expect that you will do your very best for the company and our clients. When you're not, it's my hope that you will enjoy life and have a great time, and for the love of pete take some of that vacation time you've been banking and come back fresh and ready to knock my socks off! There is a very important balance, but unfortunately we often choose to tip the scale to one side or the other. I've had my fair share of employees with the "entitlement chip" on their shoulders throughout my still young career. They were of various ages. Most of them simply "entitled" themselves to a quick termination if they didn't wisen up. Likewise, I've had many employees that were absolute workaholics, and guess what? At some point they burnt out, got sick or had personal issues as a result that severely impacted their quality of work AND quality of life. BALANCE (not to be confused with mediocrity). Those who are capable of it are the ones I try to hire and work hard to retain. I believe that is the best way to run a business, but of course you're "entitled" to your own opinion. hehe....
Something's missing here in this discussion, only indirectly mentioned (unless I missed it). If we're not working hard, what are we doing? I'm 31, between Gens X and Y, I guess. I have made a conscious decision to work less than my father did. He was at the office 70 hours a week. He loved us and did his best for us, but when my brother died at the age of 21, Dad wished he hadn't worked so much. I've learned from that. So while I'm not exactly slacking (I'm working on a PhD), I am putting my family and my faith before my career. I see a lot of people doing the same. If someone wants to call that an attitude of entitlement, well, I disagree. It's getting priorities straight.
That said, I agree that schools and parents have raised children to be soft, expecting never to work hard and not to have to earn their self-esteem. Of course that will show up in work attitudes.
I will say the group of students I taught last semester was willing to work as hard as I expected them to, contrary to what I'd been led to believe about undergrads. All it takes is some high but reasonable expectations and showing them some respect, and people of any age will respond.
Boomers gave us three types of fruit, I see an equal mix of work-aholics, the liberal-minded, and the "live off the Gov." group which actually means living off the backs of the work-aholic with the liberals beating the drum that guides them into the store house of handouts. All of the above groups raised their children to follow suit, except the work-aholics, who either didn't have the time to waste teaching their kids how to work, or felt "bad" for their kids and wanted them to have it easier than themselves and so spoiled the next generation. Many of our young execs are very skilled, very ambitious, but are unwilling to do anything they feel is below their level of training. They don't want to lead by example, "This is the way we push the broom..." but by dictating, "You sweep the way I tell you, and, no, I have never swept the floor before--I don't have to." Finally, when the working boomers are gone, we will have only the elitists and the beggars with none left in between to provide the entitlements. And where will we be then? Ayn Rand knew, and Atlas may well shrug yet.
There's no question the youngers are coming in with a great handle on technology, but what seems to be missing is an understanding of the function of work. While it can be interesting and stimulating, it's not entertainment, and sometimes what needs to get done is downright boring. It's around that moment that the 20 somethings we've hired often decide to explore the world; try something new. It never occurred to me to leave a job with less than a year or two in, not unless something horrid had happened. Work is about commitment, focus and competence and while youth can infuse a company with new energy, those who are doing the hiring have to be equally concerned about what all the in/out of the 20 year olds may be doing to existing staff. It may not seem fair, but we have become more than a little hesitant when we see a recent year graduation on a resume these days.
When I entered the workforce in 2000, I received a starting salary well below my expectations. After voicing my frustration to my boss, he instituted what he called the “Demonstrate You’re Worth It” plan. He gave me a list of about seven projects and I had to pick four and complete one per month. The projects ranged from reading Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends and Influence People” (and writing an essay) to observing something about the office that could be handled more efficiently and developing a TQM report. At the end of the quarter, I successfully completed each task and got the raise.
I’m 28 now and realize that I straddle the fence between GenX and Gen “Why”, but even at this early stage of my career, I never felt “entitled” to more money. I thought I deserved it. But I worked for it, and there’s the difference. (By the by, I also realize now that, on some level at least, my boss was stalling on the salary hike to see if I really was worth it.)
These days, I speak to college students on how to transition to the workforce so I’ve come full circle. And, yes, they do expect more success at a younger age. Then again, as long as they’re willing to work for it, what’s wrong with that? So to the managers who are having problems with their younger employees, why not institute a similar “Demonstrate You’re Worth It” plan? The very best professionals will stick around and pay their dues, while the rest will weed themselves out.
Sincerely,
Emily Bennington
www.professionalsstudio.com
Nicely said Proven Material. At the age of 38, I see exactly what you're saying.
Real projects require focused energy and resources. The notion of being the "idea guy" and having everyone else jump to do the grunt work may work in movies, but not in reality.
Things probably do move too slowly, but that's not a complaint limited to the current generation. Hop around a bit if you want, you'll find bottlenecks wherever you go.
And Young Gun, we've all had complaints about low starting salaries. 11 years ago w/ a PhD I started well below 30K/year.
Many of the posts by twenty-somethings seem to embrace generalizations about older employees and/or bosses that are unfair. While their experiences may very well indeed be a certain way, it is ridiculous to imply (or outright state aloud) that younger workers are smarter, more tech-savvy or more driven than older employees. I am 39 years old and I am as driven as anyone else. In fact, I have seen many younger workers who exhibit all of the negative characteristics that are being attributed to older workers by some of these posts. Owning a Blackberry does not make you a superstar, and we would do well to assess people on a case-by-case basis. Anything less can be both dangerous and discriminatory.
Being a boomer (1951) it seems that each generation holds suspect its predecessors and its successors and the same will continue.
YOU are responsible for your success and my encouragement would be not to let any grass grow under your feet. If you’re an entrepreneur stay after it, however you may become weary and decide to pull to the side and take a company job. Those who do superior work in a company setting and go uncompensated should go to work for themselves or find another company will to provide that additional cash, benefits, or vacation. Even though you just started a new job buff up your resume and keep circulated.
Employers can't be upset or should not be if you advancing personally in your career.
Don’t let anyone hold you down and tell you your business. You are responsible for your success.
I must acknowledge it’s nice to have a coattail in the company setting to ride, however this is not your personal success, but rather a free ride......a petty version of winning the lotto.
The aforementioned discussion concerning ideas is noteworthy. An idea can only valued with implementation.
Cheers to YOUR success!
Unfortunately, I do feel that many young people who are just graduating do express an attitude of entitlement. People like myself (I'm 24) and the other younger posters on here are the exception, not the rule, when it comes to attitude in the workplace.
Eventually, this younger generation will learn that there is no easy way to success. The days of success being measured by grades are over for them now, and it will only be a matter of time until they realize how utterly meaningless grades in school really are in relation to success in the "real world."
You must work hard to be successful...period. Give them enough time out on their own without mommy and daddy paying their way for everything and they'll start to see that their attitudes will not get them anywhere in life.
Ok, guys and gals. I have raised two of these folks that we are calling the entitled ones. I was not traditional in my raising of them. I followed my heart and the sense that I had but frankly, I didn't have a great set of parents to emulate. I was on my own and they didn't come with instructions. What I see from my own children and their age group that I am concerned about is that they lack basic respect. They were allowed to talk back and get away with it. Well, my children were allowed to express themselves but there was a line. Problem came for me when they became assimilated into the mainstream with the teens that were so angry. Talk about rebels without a cause. Common, I grew up with Vietnam and the Russian nuclear threat. I remember the Kennedy assasinations and MLK, Jr. I remember the Manson murders. I didn't watch stupid horror movies and vampire crap, I lived in the horror of the idealism of our country going down the tubes. We of my time began experiencing the reality check of the veil beginning to be lifted.
So, due to our growing up with fear invoked into our beings, we wanted our children to have the life of less stress. We gave them too much, plain and simple and we gave ourselves too much in the process. Perhaps it was a response to the stress and feelings that maybe we wouldn't live to see old age and we needed to live it while we had it. WE made mistakes and our parents and grandparents and all those before did as well and so will these *entitled* ones. What I would like to see is the gap being closed. How about we all realize that they have the energy and ideas of youth and we have the knowledge and experience of years? WE need to be able to relate to them that how they see us some day will be them and that karmically it isn't working for each generation to feel threatened by the one on the horizon. They will experience it too if our world stays together. I want to have the blessing of grandchildren. I EARNED it and I am hoping that when my entitled darlings have to give birth and raise families that they will get it. Maybe if they do, they will teach their darlings while they are growing up that we really do need to treat others as we want to be treated. How about all of us realizing that we need each other. Especially in a world where to just get more and more cut throat means not really living. Who wants to be looking over their shoulders all their lives? Who wants to not be able to have relationships that are superficial and you can't even trust those you associate with? What is this world coming to? Its up to us the elders to break the chain of dysfunction. The hearts of the children will turn to the fathers and mothers if we have the strength and honesty to speak the truth and to be tough with ourselves and show these that we brought into this world the way. If we don't and our young eat us, then their young will eat them and pretty soon we are not human anymore and show no sign of divine in this world. I ask you from the bottom of my heart to take this into your soul and lets stop pointing fingers in this world and change things to make them what we want. And no, they don't need more toys......cut the cable and start talking!!!!
I am a 27 year old born in 1978, so I am probably at the extreme edge of the "entitlement generation" or Generation 'Y'. Judging from the posts here, and from past experiences, that seems like a pretty reasonable placement.
I do not think we should be labelled as entitled. Growing up, we had it far different than people in the Boom and even in Generation 'X'. You people didn't know what it was like to have been in the pressure cooker since day one. We had high expectations placed on us by our parents and teachers our whole lives. If you look at the surveys of students, you will notice pretty sharp rises in stress levels and achievement around my cohort. Even after we left the nest, we were expected to go even beyond the bachelor's...the master's is the new bachelor's degree, and from what I am seeing, the Ph.D. will soon replace that too. We were expected to take internships, do lab work, etc. before we knew what we really wanted to do. So now, when we are entering the workforce, OF COURSE WE ARE ASKING FOR A LOT! We worked a lot harder to get where we are than previous generations, and we expect to get what we deserve.
Mark - While you clearly appear to be offended by some remarks of previous posters (and rightfully so to a degree), please note that you are doing the exact same thing right back to them with your own generalizations.
With that said, I happen to be the same age as you (27) but will respectfully decline being lumped into your rather bold "WE" statements. It's no secret, college takes some work. It always has. However, learning the true in's and out's of success is not taught in a school nor a lab. For the most part, college teaches you the necessary technical skills for entering into the workforce. I think we can all agree with that. However, just a few things it does NOT teach you are such valuable things as years of product knowledge, a firm understanding of an organization's unique culture and accepted practices and specific trade knowledge, ALL of which come from years of experience which a new grad simply does not have. With the statement you closed with, "We worked a lot harder to get where we are than previous generations, and we expect to get what we deserve," I am both puzzled and more than a little amused. It sounds a little, ehem, entitled sounding.
Prove your worth by working hard, learning the business, showing loyalty, producing fantastic results and respecting your fellow co-workers. THEN, you'll get what you deserve. Don't do these things, and funny enough, you'll ALSO get what you deserve... A wonderful indefinite vacation... unpaid of course. ;-)
Best of Luck!
Okay, I'm taking a chance here opening up a can of worms. But here it goes. What do you do with a 23 year child that needs a reality check. He came from working class parents who tried their best to provide their children with what they needed. The parents have totally supported the child financially, but have thrown money into the pot when it was really needed. *We're talking quite a bit, while overextending themselves! The parents helped out financially when the dollars and sense are just vitally important legal issues. Now the child has graduated from a technical school, has tried on his working wings, and has now stated that he doesn't want to do that type of job. In fact, he has explicitly stated that he wants to practice a sport 24/7 because he may be able to make it to the big time. Meanwhile, he's want to know and asked the parent directly, "What are U going to do about it?" I'm floored! The parents cling to the thought that rejection will severe ties that they have with their son. But one has to ask, "What kind of ties are these?" The relationship seems a little one sides and rather superficial anymore. Signed, Parent on the ride of their life
"In my generation, we worked a full time job while going to school fulltime and without student loans that are now used for living expenses, government handouts, or parents that cover your back."
I'm 24 and I've worked part time/full time throughout my entire college career. My parents never helped me out finacially. In fact they leeched off me for awhile.
I asked my economics teacher if we pay more in real dollars for expenses and he said yes. This means that the cost of living is higher with inflation adjustments than it was for my parents. (you do know what the energy crisis is right?)
I do get government loans, but without these I would not be able afford college at all. The cost of living is enormous, and it's getting worse.
State college used to be free in California, but this had long changed when I turned 18. It was the Reagan administration that did that. They wanted to cut taxes because everyone was broke from the double digit inflation of the 70's.
What caused this inflation? Oil prices, and the cost of paying for the Vietnam war! This is besides the point though.
They say we aren't educated but I've had to learn way more then my parents about technology, so excuse me if my spelling is bad, or I don't know how to format an office memo.
Oh yeah and how about Healthcare? I don't have it... haven't had it for years. If I ever get really sick I'm so SOL. I'll have to default on my college loans because I won't be able to work.
How about being able to make a down payment on a house when I'm 30? Yeah right! The Babyboomers got rich off real estate, but I'm sure not going to. Instead I'll be paying off their mortgages long into their retirement.
So what exactly am I entitled to? What am I asking for?
The same standard of living the baby boomers enjoyed when I was their age.
Do I really have it? Well if you subtract all the useless junk we buy the answer is no.
Take away the ipods, and the internet and you're left with a generation with no health coverage, a broke government, more expenses adjusted for inflation, and a shot labor market thanks to sending all of our jobs over seas.
So yeah I guess I'm really entitled!
Yeah right! Give be a break Gen Xers and Babyboomers.
You're the ones who had the luxory of rebelling in the 60's and 70's. You could do well without a degree back then, but not now! If you don't have a degree in this labor market you can forget about all of it!
All we can rebel about now is not being yelled at because the bus was late - thanks to a dilapidated mass transit system that we have to use because we can't afford cars.
It's all coming unglued and the "entitlement generation" knows it. That's why we don't care about busting our asses because the American empire isn't going to last much longer.
Why should we invest our time for a company that doesn't give a damn about us, and probably won't last much longer anyway?
I'm a slave and I know it, so make money of your real estate schemes, and your oil wars, and your Enron debacles, and pay your illegal immigrant labor, and export our jobs away, and saddle us with your debt, and let foreigners buy all of our land, and take away our rights, and lure us with your stupid gadgets, and call us uneducated, but whatever you do don't call me entitled.
Even if I thought I was owed something it's not like it's going to be there to take when I'm your age.
And I know it.
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