As a working mom of two young kids, I’d like to add my viewpoint from the 30-40 crowd because honestly, we feel the same for similar reasons. We became parents right before or at the beginning of the pandemic so we also feel the stark absence of community. Pair that with the absolute lack of support for parents and we don’t have the capacity to do anything more than engage online in our bubble. How Gen Z feels about rent, we feel about childcare (as well as the cost of housing but at least we had the opportunity to buy before the housing costs went insane). And the administration’s ideas to encourage childbirth is a slap into the face of parents that have been screaming that we need social reform. While it’s scary that a whole generation is already disengaged, these reasons extend to many more and point to the reason why Trump was reelected.
I am in the same age bracket and my girlfriends and I were all talking about childcare this weekend - many of us pay rates similar (or more) to our mortgages for childcare!
It is an extreme consideration when thinking about having children/having more children. The administration’s incentives for childbirth seem so out of touch!
Yes! With just one in childcare now we only pay about what our mortgage is but when we had 2 in childcare…OUCH. And we live in a relatively low cost of living city. My sister had kids 10 years before we did and she didn’t even pay half of what we do now for childcare.
I’m not conspiratorial by nature, but I genuinely believe the current administration does not care about childcare costs because they don’t believe women should be working. I think it’s important to call out the extreme right on this, bc it’s out of touch with the rest of the US. I believe many moderates and republicans would support affordable childcare because it’s good for business - you can’t hire good workers without it - but the extreme right has blocked this due to their personal, religious beliefs.
Thank you so much for this, Elise. It’s so important to talk about. I've been thinking a lot about the crisis of faith in democracy described in this article, and I believe we need to examine some fundamental societal shifts that have contributed to this isolation.
I think I have mentioned it recently, but it seems extremely relevant here. It brings to mind Pete Buttigieg's proposal during his 2020 presidential run for an expected (but not required) year of national service after high school. Despite the promise this idea held, it was ridiculed and essentially went nowhere after the campaign, and I haven’t heard it mentioned by him since. I think the concept deserves revival and expansion because it seems to be one of the few ideas that tackles democratic disengagement at both a systemic and practical level.
Buttigieg's original plan called for expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps while creating new programs focused on climate change, mental health support, and caregiving. But I believe we should be even bolder. What if we created a "Democracy Corps" specifically tasked with rebuilding civic infrastructure and engagement in communities with low voter turnout? Or a "Digital Literacy Corps" that helps vulnerable populations navigate misinformation while building technological skills? We could establish a "Community Health Corps" that addresses healthcare disparities in underserved areas, giving young people medical exposure while providing essential services.
It would help the community get access to the things it needs most. It would help young people find purpose in their communities. And it would help politicians who struggle to convince voters of a message beyond pipe dreams and corny platitudes.
The implementation could be more ambitious than Pete suggested too. Rather than just offering these opportunities, we could integrate service learning throughout high school, culminating in this year of service. The federal government could partner with states to create pathways where this service year counts toward college credit or vocational certification. Additionally, we should ensure these positions pay living wages and offer meaningful mentorship components, creating genuine career exploration rather than just volunteer work. An apprenticeship is a lot more enticing than an unpaid internship.
This approach seems especially vital as we honestly confront that college will be less important for future generations than we've been telling them. The time to prepare for this shift was yesterday. Four-year degrees are already showing diminishing returns for many graduates, yet we continue pushing young people toward careers that may not exist in the next decade, and saddling them with debt they’ll struggle to ever pay off. Higher education will remain valuable for some paths, but we need to stop treating it as the universal solution to economic mobility.
Instead, we should focus on directing young people toward acts of service and jobs that won't become dead ends.
Roles that combine technical knowledge with human connection seem more resistant: nurses, teachers, mental health counselors, and specialized tradespeople show resilience. Jobs requiring complex physical manipulation in unpredictable environments (like plumbers, electricians, and construction specialists) remain difficult to automate.
Economic pressures, unaddressed needs, and failures of governance have created this situation. Rather than just lamenting young people's lack of faith, we need to build institutions worthy of their participation and prepare them for the actual world they'll inherit, not the one we wish existed. I'm gathering volunteers for action aimed at strengthening trust in institutions - not by telling people they should trust them, but by making those institutions actually trustworthy. If this interests you, please reach out. Democracy doesn't just need defenders on the internet, it needs renovators on the ground!
I love this idea now and I loved it when Pete suggested it. I was *lucky* to get to do an internship after college and then spend a year doing work where I was paid, but not well. We used to hear a lot of jokes that we got paid in sunsets and dolphin sightings. That doesn't pay the bills though! However spending time in the community, doing work that benefited both the environment and my neighbors and learning many skills (boat driving, etc) was very beneficial to me. And it's something I'll always be thankful for. The hardest part about these internships is that not everyone can afford to take them on. And it's the only way some of these entities can function, hosting interns and using their free labor. I'd love to see a program like you've mentioned that supports both the interns and the entities working on the ground!
Thanks, Amber! Personal stories help illustrate this, so thanks for sharing yours. I'll share mine too.
I was lucky enough to have 2 years of community college paid for by scholarship while I figured out what I wanted to focus my studies on. 2 years of University of California tuition later, even as a California resident, I was still facing a huge burden of debt upon graduation, but not as much relative to my peers who paid 4 years out of pocket. So even though I didn't have my parents funding my education, I was lucky enough to be able to take an unpaid internship at a post production facility which matched my intended career of being a film editor.
There were something like 9 other people from my school with that same internship at the same business, and the post house only had room for one of us to become an employee. I recognize that I was incredibly lucky, not only to be the one person who got a job out of it, but also I know that other people outside of the 10 of us, people who had to work their way through college with a minimum wage job, would never have had the opportunity to offer their time toward an unpaid internship in the first place.
Now I'm trying to envision my experience not as the fluke it was, but the default that the system guides people into. It seems like a bipartisan win-win, too. Good for kids, good for education (and not in a culture clash way), good for the economy, good for the community, good for labor (being allowed to choose a long-lasting career based on practical factors and with time and resources to feel things out), good for mental health (building social relationships in person toward a common goal)... the list goes on!
I, too, had a community college. A true one that was created for all and was extremely affordable that seems to not exist anywhere anymore. That is another thing that needs a major overhaul. Community colleges now exist as funnels for larger university, and are extremely expensive in their own right. They no longer serve the community at large. These have to come back. If it hadn't been for my bare bones, old school community college, I would have no place to fit in. I also think trade schools need to make a major resurgence. Not all kids are the same, end of story, and treating them like it only manages to isolate and discourage them further.
For sure! I was first gen to graduate from college and did have a big student debt burden but it's gone now, THANK GOODNESS lol. Took a hot minute to pay off though! So, I understand a bit how kids now feel about that!
I love hearing your story too. We all have our 'lanes' and know our experiences. But it's wonderful to hear what other experiences exist and imagine how we could make those better for both the interns and society.
I talk about this ALL of the time. I think it's a great idea, for so many reasons. Learning skills, giving students a buffer between school and making huge decisions, teaching us how government agencies work, etc., etc., etc. I think if we could do it *right*, it would be an amazing opportunity for so many different reasons.
As you say, the important part is making sure it pays. Then, even if the side benefits don't happen to materialize for a specific person, at least they earned a living and that's a learning opportunity, too.
I talk about this so often that I'm jealous of young me who didn't get this theoretical opportunity. Even before I got sick, I really struggled finding my place in the world. And the pressure on children to choose a school, and debt and a career is too high (especially now when those opportunities are too low and debts too high) is a lot for certain individuals.
It's almost too sensible for people to believe it's possible! Surely it must be more complicated and unsatisfying, right? Thanks Jennifer, and feel free to shoot me a message if you're interested in hearing about practical steps I'm trying to take to make things like this a reality!
I’m all for acts of service jobs, but in many ways that was our federal workforce that DOGE just gutted and the GOP convinced everyone was a waste. I worry no one will embrace these great ideas if we can’t sell them. We’ve got to win the information war!
It's kinda dumb, but maybe what people are saying is they need a rebrand of work in service of the public. Less of what people can claim is "bureaucracy" and more of what feels like a conversation of what individual communities need, seeing the impacts directly, and with transparent accountability.
What DOGE did was a corrupt power grab that made the country much poorer, so I hope what I'm saying isn't interpreted as supportive of that boondoggle. I'm just trying to take a lesson from the fact that it seemed to resonate with a lot of people, however misinformed they were in that support. Why did those services feel expendable? There's a disconnect that was exposed.
Since the 80’s a lot of basic necessities have become increasingly unattainable. And as the article points out Gen Z (to be fair millennials and gen x too) have had to work 3 jobs just to make ends meet. We are living with our parents for longer, more dependent on our parents financially, and advancing less in our careers.
People are exhausted. The conspiracy theorist in me often wonders if this was by design. The slow burn of ensuring the “right” people obtain power, get super wealthy, and make it harder for people to make ends meet so they don’t pay attention. This allows them more control and power. An exhausted population is one that doesn’t pay attention.
Again, that’s the crazy conspiracy theorist in me. One that after I get over my anger in a subject, I start to look at more rationally.
I don’t think you’re crazy. I think the proponents of trickle down economics (and other policies that consolidate wealth and power at the top) knew very well that these policies would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy people. They may not have realized how bad things would get for poor and middle class folks eventually, (and that “may” is doing a lot of heavy lifting) but it’s very clear they have no interest in making things BETTER for anyone who isn’t obscenely wealthy already.
And remember the Heritage Foundation (the project 2025 people) had 2/3 of their policy recommendations implemented by the Reagan admin. They have been playing a long game to consolidate more and more wealth at the top. It’s definitely not a conspiracy, they have written all of it down — the problem is you have a ton of voters convinced that this is good, and the true threat to our freedom is empowered working class having all of its needs met.
This tracks with something else I’ve read: a study done by More In Common on whether on not people agreed that Trump getting things done was more important than upholding the constitution showed that while most people (70%) agreed that upholding the constitution was paramount, the largest percentage of people who agreed getting things done is more important than constitutionality was Gen Z with over 40%. A disturbing number for any generation. https://moreincommonus.com/publication/trumps-return/
Yes! This is very concerning to me, but I believe it’s impacting all generations. Yesterday I posted about the need to protect due process for immigrants, and a 40yo Trump voter told me she doesn’t care because Trump is getting stuff done. She voted for action which makes me think she felt that our system was not working (which let’s be honest it’s not healthy due to corruption). My dad (also a Trump voter in his early 70’s) a few months ago said he’s so happy Trump can finally do what he wants without restraint. For him, it has nothing to do with finances, but it’s an entire belief system (cultivated by right wing media) that we must blow up the entire system in order to move forward. I just don’t see it that way. I want change - like ending the corruption from gerrymandering, dark donor dollars, etc. but I’m not willing to give up my rights or those of others to do it. It is a slippery slope to not getting those rights back. I grew up a Republican but as an adult align more with the Democrats. Working in medicine and having a community in that sphere expanded my empathy cup. How do we cultivate community for more people especially as so many are leaving the churches (which traditionally served in that role - for some not all)? This is a great question and timely article.
I came here to reference the same study, Joy! The results of that study were mind blowing to me, and I’ve been trying to understand it ever since I read it. This article helps connect the dots.
While the younger generation referenced in this piece may not feel that democracy works (and I value and empathize with their feelings and experiences), I wonder what type of government they are looking for. Democracy certainly isn’t perfect, but as Sharon has said in the past, it’s the best we have. Do people in this younger generation understand what authoritarianism is and what it might be like living under that type of government? I’m not asking this in a snarky or wag-the-finger kind of way - I am legitimately curious.
As a young boomer it seems the climate crisis & very little action being taken by society & government to help secure a livable planet for these generations may play a role also.
Agreed! We are witnessing increasingly "unprecedented" climate catastrophes while the status quo continues on. I would add that seeing our tax dollars contributing to catastrophic events in Palestine could play a role; all the protesting in streets and college campuses led to no change from Democratic leadership. I've heard that many couldn't bring themselves to reelect that administration as a result, which would track with the drop in voter turnout.
The lack of opportunity for young people is hurting their parents as well. I don’t hear a lot of talk about this, but we (Gen X) helped our kids pay for college so they didn’t graduate with massive debt, hoping it would help set them up to be independent after graduation. But not only did we sacrifice our savings for their educations, we are still helping them financially because their jobs don’t pay enough and their rent is insane, even for a shared one or two bedroom apartment. Utilities and food are also unaffordable. They are frustrated and sometimes depressed because they did everything they were told they needed to do to be successful, they all work hard, and they feel ashamed that they still have to ask Mom and Dad to help out sometimes. (And if that’s how it is for kids whose parents can afford to help out, what’s it like for those with massive student debt with no help at all?) Meanwhile, we are unable to save as much as we should be for retirement, the future of social security is questionable, and it feels like we will probably work until we die. Something has to give, doesn’t it? I don’t blame Gen Z for losing faith in our democracy. I have, too, but I will keep fighting anyway.
I'm a late Gen X with a 9th grader and a 3rd grader . I still have a dizzying amount of student loans (I graduated in 07 with my bachelor's and 11 with my masters), having kids and having to pay for daycare bankrupted me (literally.) I'm trying to save for my children's education while also paying off my debt and saving for retirement. (Retirement ? Ha!!) Something has got to give.
I'm surprised that in a post that is talking about civic engagement, the first recommendation is 'start with economics.' No one reading this post can 'start with economics' and the folks in power talk about economics CONSTANTLY. It's really not working, and also, economic results take awhile. That can't be the first step of the solution. It seems to me, from the rest of the article, that what would be a far better first step is addressing the growing isolation by improving community and drawing them into society. While I think this article makes a good point about young people being locked into digital spheres, we sort of all are. Maybe a first step is hosting our own events and inviting varied groups of people, like a block party or something. To be clear, I'm not saying a block party is going to save democracy, just that the increasing feelings of isolation in our nation are clearly a problem, and maybe that is a good grassroots place for the average person to start. (I recognize the irony of making this comment in a digital forum, and in my own defense will say that in addition to posting online, I am also currently planning a silly-hat-making party IRL, which is a long story, but anyway, is a gathering of community.)
Maybe enough block parties would have a positive influence. Sirius XM radio and CNN television host Michael Smerconish talks about the increased polarization in this country, and he thinks a huge contributing factor is the lack of mingling, from declining numbers of kids riding the school bus to adults not engaging with one another in a variety of settings. So much so, he has something he calls the Mingle Project. There's more here: https://www.smerconish.com/mingle-project/.
Interesting! I see it in some of my loved ones, actually. As an example - we actually have this split family debate regarding our feelings about the kids who live next door to my parents (who we don't know well) - two of us feel like 'these kids shouldn't be running through our private yard!' and two of us (ahem, I am in this camp) feel like 'it is fine for the kids to cut through the yard, they aren't hurting anything, who cares.' The two in the former camp are MUCH more online and much more reticent to engage with people in day to day life. Myself and my dad, who think that it's fine, are way less online and way more likely to chat with randos, if you will. I know this is anecdotal, and it could be a bit chicken and egg/correlation vs causation thing, but I do think there is something to getting out of practice, if you will, when it comes to building relationships with real people in real life. But, it is also a muscle we can all strengthen.
I've organized a couple block parties and they were so fun and so helpful for getting to know our neighbors. My kids are always asking when we'll have another one.
I don't think there is anything silly or wrong about trying to build community in any way possible. It can be a book club, block party, Tuesday play date, etc. And digital community is still community. It's both a blessing and a curse. It expands the world for some and isolates others.
I think digital communities have benefits (I pay to be in this one for example), but as we all learned during COVID, they don't take the place of in-person community. This is especially clear given that we've never been more connected in digital spaces and yet the reports of isolation and loneliness are the highest they have ever been, as well as deaths of despair. There's also the element of anonymity in digital spaces, which makes us all engage differently than we would in person, not to mention that we don't actually know who we're speaking with - we only know who people say they are. Being part of the community you live in, with people you see every day, and with whom you can engage in acts of care like grabbing a package out of the rain for them, or giving them a ride to pick up their car in the shop or whatever, is a really different level of connection and it seems the more into online communities we get, the more we retreat from those relationships.
Oh for sure - it is a double edged sword. I know for some who are disabled for instance, increases in digital community have expanded the world for them. It’s not that it’s the best fit for everyone or the only thing that’s needed. But that’s why it can be both a good and bad thing. We definitely still need in person community. I’ve just seen the benefits of both!
This article feels very black-and-white to me. I think there are a lot more factors than just what’s being stated. Each generation is pulled more into “online life” from “real world life” than the generation before and that was happening before the pandemic. It will also continue as advances in tech continue. The hate and division pushed in the US doesn’t create an environment of community.
The current admin has dismantled democracy and are on a path of doing only the wrong thing - so not feeling good about our current “democracy” or not trusting the federal gov’t feels like givens. I think you’ll find an increase in depression and social anxiety in all ages in this regard.
On the flip side, Run For Something Now has record highs of young people wanting to get involved in politics.
I feel like this is a very complex situation that comes down to so many more factors than “not trusting democracy” and the “pandemic”. IMO, putting so much focus on this angle gives an incomplete picture and a bad vibe.
I agree with this, and as I was reading Gen Z's grievances, I felt like 'oh um, you mean the things Millennials have been bringing up for over a decade?' which is not to be like 'oh we had it bad, too' but also....Millennials didn't drop out of society, and have consistently been shown to be the most community-oriented and socially conscious despite facing the same issues - so SOMETHING ELSE is going on here. I think the hate and division you mention are a huge difference, and as you also mention, the tech that's exacerbating it. That's both terrible and kind of great, since we all have the option to change how we engage with tech and each other.
As a parent to two children in this age group, I can see where this comes from. I have to say, though, that one of my children has contacted their congressional representatives and have been told that they are “brainwashed by liberal media” when they brought up their concerns. My children vote and participate in democracy and have been ignored and verbally insulted. This is the way that, perhaps some, politicians want it. We can’t put the blame and responsibility solely on this generation’s shoulders.
Very infuriating! I have come to associate the south with this kind of nonsense (I lived in TX for 12 years, now live in PA in a blue area) but I guess it's also spread to the southwest!
Democracy is certainly in jeopardy but the driver is the failure of capitalism in my opinion. Just ask Bernie Sanders, & the younger members of Congress. In your own article the examples of failure you give are directly related to economics. The systematic destruction of the middle class, the divisions in our country have amounted to class warfare.
This is a direct result of greed & trickle down economic theory. The elites are determined to protect their elitism & have a laundry list of those threatening their status quo. Racism is the primary characteristic that goes hand in hand with greed. This is certainly not new in our country but we first began to envision an alternative to this thanks to FDR’s New Deal politics. This created & built our middle class & saved us as a country from the Golden Age, when tycoons ruled the country & resulted in the Great Depression. This is the world that Trump & Project 2025 want to return us to, Making America Great Again. They don’t want a strong Middle Class, they want to destroy it. I’m old & I’ve watched much of this happen in my lifetime.
The far-right has a vision (multiple visions) of the future, and they are strong visions and they are certain and they are painted as good. Some show us the colonization of Mars and beyond. Others show us a return to traditional families and religion - where men are strong, women are beautiful, and children are obedient.
The center-right paints no such vision. Nor do the center or far left.
The problem with nuance is that it's not certain, and life is not certain. The problem with truth is that it's complicated. No, we can't sell simplistic answers, but we need answers. We need a vision.
So what is our Beloved Community? What is our vine and fig tree?
You are absolutely correct. And yet the center / left doesn't have a vision PRECISELY because of its inclusion of multiple people, lives and values. How do we funnel "Hey, we want everyone to have rights and respect, regardless of what that looks like, as long as you aren't hurting others" into a streamlined, solid vision?
Not that I don't think it can be done. It's just going to be really, really difficult to dream up a Utopia when we all understand everyone has a different Utopia. What the Far Right has is group-think and shared delusions. Selling the vision to them is easy-peasy.
I agree. It's hard to be inclusive and nuanced and succinct. And the public doesn't seem to have patience for nuance. And I get it - people are hard-pressed and pinched and they want change now.
I think about cultures and places where different groups live side by side in peace and that is a claim to fame for them. They don't give up their group's culture to embrace a monoculture, but they embrace tolerance and diversity.
I keep coming back to Sesame Street as a vision for the future. Everyone of good faith is included and celebrated. It is a safe place in an unsafe world. Maybe this is our way forward.
Oh yeah. I agree with the anger. I was seriously looking for work just as the economy crashed in 2008 - and simultaneously became very ill - then chronically ill. I am a chronically ill, middle aged woman who never made a career. Nothing in this world is made for me, and I also want change (just not this way!). So I can empathize with the pain and desperation - but people need to take responsibility for the way they manifest and use it.
Can we use Sesame Street as our vision?! Because I'm all for that. A Sesame Street Party with messaging by Mr. Rogers. You have no idea how unbelievably happy that thought makes me.
Without disputing what's written, this feels like an article that is written about each generation since - and including - Gen X. The moment in time may change, but gist appears the same: the (fill in the blank) generation is disengaged, displeased, distrustful, dismayed, disaffected. Look at this The Atlantic article - written in 1999 about Gen X - and you'll see many similarities and parallels: https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/99aug/9908genx.htm
An excerpt:
"Stereotyping aside, some disquieting facts jump out regarding the political practices and political orientation of young Americans. A wide sampling of surveys indicates that Xers are less politically or civically engaged, exhibit less social trust or confidence in government, have a weaker allegiance to their country or to either political party, and are more materialistic than their predecessors. Why are so many young people opting out of conventional politics, and what does this mean for the future of American democracy? Might it be that today's political establishment is simply not addressing what matters to the nation's young? And if so, what is their political agenda?"
The 1999 Atlantic article covers the spectrum of the (then world) Gen X was in: falling wages, rising inequality, economic hardship and downward mobility, environmental concerns and global warming, national debt, social security fears, social issues (child poverty, suicide, homelessness, crime, prison rates, public school safety, etc.). Disenchantment with the political parties. And so on.
I'm not convinced, "This cuts deeper than the standard generational friction every society faces". It seems (trite alert!), the more things change, the more they stay the same.
That said, this line struck a chord: "And right now, young Americans are disappearing from public life — not just from the ballot box, but from community organizations, volunteer roles, and public debate." I think the impact of family life deserves a closer look. As the parent of two kids squarely in the generation Elise writes about, we tried to be intentional. We encouraged them to get involved — whether in sports, theater, clubs, whatever. We emphasized working or volunteering, and when it came time for college, they chose affordable schools and degrees with clear job paths. Both registered to vote as soon as they could and haven’t missed an election since. My husband and I (working full time) have also made volunteering a regular part of our lives — sometimes in big ways, often in small ones — and our kids saw that and occasionally joined in. We talk about issues at the dinner table. We don’t sugarcoat, but we also don’t lean into doom-and-gloom. I’m not suggesting that if every family did the same, everything would be fine. But I do think we sometimes hand over too much power to “the world” — and not enough attention to how we, in our own homes and choices, shape the way our kids engage with it.
I agree. I mentioned this article to my husband and he said they said that about Gen X. I do think the world is harder in some ways and easier in others. I absolutely think families are vital. I don’t like that things are more expensive for my kids, but they’ve managed to get through college with no debt. One got a full scholarship at a state university and then started a PhD fully funded(that funding has now been cut) and one is in community college paying their own way. They both live(d) at home while in college.
My PhD student/child is forced to take a break and pivot and is coming home. We are fortunate to be able to have ample space for that. Maybe our home will become multigenerational as the years progress. We may all have to pivot.
Through it all we do have each other and our community. My kids spend as much time as possible with their friends and family in person. I do think the more families that can insist on this and give back to the community, the better.
As a mom of 3 young adults, I could not agree with this more. All 3 of my kids have college degrees, but only one could afford a house, and that one pays more on student loans than the mortgage. The way interest is compounded on student loans should be illegal. Congress could change all of the issues facing young people today, but they have chosen not to. We constantly talk about how important it is to know what political candidates stand for before voting. To know how to contact your representatives to voice your concerns, but they are so discouraged by a country that seems to not care about them. If I’m being honest, it’s hard to encourage them knowing that enough people thought a felon and rapist was the right guy to be president. We are a broken country, that can be fixed, but are we willing to do what’s needed?
I feel this. Not just for Gen Z but for millennials too. We want to be involved and make a difference but don't know where to start. The "join an organization doing the work" is a good tip but it's overwhelming to pick an org, when there are so many things that need to be fixed and so few forward steps happening. It's discouraging to put time and effort into something and then watch it hit wall after wall and nothing change. So, we vote but don't get who we voted for, we send donations of small dollars to people and causes we believe in, but nothing changes. It feels like all our time, energy, enthusiasm, money, was for naught. Who wants to pour limited personal resources into something that seems to make no difference?
THIS. I've been fighting this fight for years and yet things only get worse. I'm currently unemployed after being laid off for the 4th time in my 19-year career. I have no hope for buying a home, retirement, or sending my kids to a good college. I protest, I volunteer, I donate, I call my reps, I care for my neighbors... and it feels like none of it matters. Watching the world collapse (with your Boomer parents' full-throated support) while you've done everything asked of you is depressing beyond belief. I'm going to keep fighting, but only because there is no alternative.
If we don’t engage with our high school students, Charlie Kirk will.
Turning Point USA has already tried to start a chapter at Lee’s Summit North High School.
I asked the chapter President if she knew Charlie Kirk, and she said, “oh, yes, since I was 14.”
That’s why I joined the League of Women Voters, and have registered 17-1/2 year olds at our 5 high schools for the past 3 years.
Engage!
I love this. The answer to 'why isn't there engagement?' is to ...create opportunities for engagement.
Ashley, thank you. Exactly!
If the wheel already exists, be part of it.
If not, invent it.
No one was doing it, so I did.
You can, too!
As a working mom of two young kids, I’d like to add my viewpoint from the 30-40 crowd because honestly, we feel the same for similar reasons. We became parents right before or at the beginning of the pandemic so we also feel the stark absence of community. Pair that with the absolute lack of support for parents and we don’t have the capacity to do anything more than engage online in our bubble. How Gen Z feels about rent, we feel about childcare (as well as the cost of housing but at least we had the opportunity to buy before the housing costs went insane). And the administration’s ideas to encourage childbirth is a slap into the face of parents that have been screaming that we need social reform. While it’s scary that a whole generation is already disengaged, these reasons extend to many more and point to the reason why Trump was reelected.
I am in the same age bracket and my girlfriends and I were all talking about childcare this weekend - many of us pay rates similar (or more) to our mortgages for childcare!
It is an extreme consideration when thinking about having children/having more children. The administration’s incentives for childbirth seem so out of touch!
Yes! With just one in childcare now we only pay about what our mortgage is but when we had 2 in childcare…OUCH. And we live in a relatively low cost of living city. My sister had kids 10 years before we did and she didn’t even pay half of what we do now for childcare.
I’m not conspiratorial by nature, but I genuinely believe the current administration does not care about childcare costs because they don’t believe women should be working. I think it’s important to call out the extreme right on this, bc it’s out of touch with the rest of the US. I believe many moderates and republicans would support affordable childcare because it’s good for business - you can’t hire good workers without it - but the extreme right has blocked this due to their personal, religious beliefs.
Thank you so much for this, Elise. It’s so important to talk about. I've been thinking a lot about the crisis of faith in democracy described in this article, and I believe we need to examine some fundamental societal shifts that have contributed to this isolation.
I think I have mentioned it recently, but it seems extremely relevant here. It brings to mind Pete Buttigieg's proposal during his 2020 presidential run for an expected (but not required) year of national service after high school. Despite the promise this idea held, it was ridiculed and essentially went nowhere after the campaign, and I haven’t heard it mentioned by him since. I think the concept deserves revival and expansion because it seems to be one of the few ideas that tackles democratic disengagement at both a systemic and practical level.
Buttigieg's original plan called for expanding AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps while creating new programs focused on climate change, mental health support, and caregiving. But I believe we should be even bolder. What if we created a "Democracy Corps" specifically tasked with rebuilding civic infrastructure and engagement in communities with low voter turnout? Or a "Digital Literacy Corps" that helps vulnerable populations navigate misinformation while building technological skills? We could establish a "Community Health Corps" that addresses healthcare disparities in underserved areas, giving young people medical exposure while providing essential services.
It would help the community get access to the things it needs most. It would help young people find purpose in their communities. And it would help politicians who struggle to convince voters of a message beyond pipe dreams and corny platitudes.
The implementation could be more ambitious than Pete suggested too. Rather than just offering these opportunities, we could integrate service learning throughout high school, culminating in this year of service. The federal government could partner with states to create pathways where this service year counts toward college credit or vocational certification. Additionally, we should ensure these positions pay living wages and offer meaningful mentorship components, creating genuine career exploration rather than just volunteer work. An apprenticeship is a lot more enticing than an unpaid internship.
This approach seems especially vital as we honestly confront that college will be less important for future generations than we've been telling them. The time to prepare for this shift was yesterday. Four-year degrees are already showing diminishing returns for many graduates, yet we continue pushing young people toward careers that may not exist in the next decade, and saddling them with debt they’ll struggle to ever pay off. Higher education will remain valuable for some paths, but we need to stop treating it as the universal solution to economic mobility.
Instead, we should focus on directing young people toward acts of service and jobs that won't become dead ends.
Roles that combine technical knowledge with human connection seem more resistant: nurses, teachers, mental health counselors, and specialized tradespeople show resilience. Jobs requiring complex physical manipulation in unpredictable environments (like plumbers, electricians, and construction specialists) remain difficult to automate.
Economic pressures, unaddressed needs, and failures of governance have created this situation. Rather than just lamenting young people's lack of faith, we need to build institutions worthy of their participation and prepare them for the actual world they'll inherit, not the one we wish existed. I'm gathering volunteers for action aimed at strengthening trust in institutions - not by telling people they should trust them, but by making those institutions actually trustworthy. If this interests you, please reach out. Democracy doesn't just need defenders on the internet, it needs renovators on the ground!
I love this idea now and I loved it when Pete suggested it. I was *lucky* to get to do an internship after college and then spend a year doing work where I was paid, but not well. We used to hear a lot of jokes that we got paid in sunsets and dolphin sightings. That doesn't pay the bills though! However spending time in the community, doing work that benefited both the environment and my neighbors and learning many skills (boat driving, etc) was very beneficial to me. And it's something I'll always be thankful for. The hardest part about these internships is that not everyone can afford to take them on. And it's the only way some of these entities can function, hosting interns and using their free labor. I'd love to see a program like you've mentioned that supports both the interns and the entities working on the ground!
Thanks, Amber! Personal stories help illustrate this, so thanks for sharing yours. I'll share mine too.
I was lucky enough to have 2 years of community college paid for by scholarship while I figured out what I wanted to focus my studies on. 2 years of University of California tuition later, even as a California resident, I was still facing a huge burden of debt upon graduation, but not as much relative to my peers who paid 4 years out of pocket. So even though I didn't have my parents funding my education, I was lucky enough to be able to take an unpaid internship at a post production facility which matched my intended career of being a film editor.
There were something like 9 other people from my school with that same internship at the same business, and the post house only had room for one of us to become an employee. I recognize that I was incredibly lucky, not only to be the one person who got a job out of it, but also I know that other people outside of the 10 of us, people who had to work their way through college with a minimum wage job, would never have had the opportunity to offer their time toward an unpaid internship in the first place.
Now I'm trying to envision my experience not as the fluke it was, but the default that the system guides people into. It seems like a bipartisan win-win, too. Good for kids, good for education (and not in a culture clash way), good for the economy, good for the community, good for labor (being allowed to choose a long-lasting career based on practical factors and with time and resources to feel things out), good for mental health (building social relationships in person toward a common goal)... the list goes on!
I, too, had a community college. A true one that was created for all and was extremely affordable that seems to not exist anywhere anymore. That is another thing that needs a major overhaul. Community colleges now exist as funnels for larger university, and are extremely expensive in their own right. They no longer serve the community at large. These have to come back. If it hadn't been for my bare bones, old school community college, I would have no place to fit in. I also think trade schools need to make a major resurgence. Not all kids are the same, end of story, and treating them like it only manages to isolate and discourage them further.
For sure! I was first gen to graduate from college and did have a big student debt burden but it's gone now, THANK GOODNESS lol. Took a hot minute to pay off though! So, I understand a bit how kids now feel about that!
I love hearing your story too. We all have our 'lanes' and know our experiences. But it's wonderful to hear what other experiences exist and imagine how we could make those better for both the interns and society.
I talk about this ALL of the time. I think it's a great idea, for so many reasons. Learning skills, giving students a buffer between school and making huge decisions, teaching us how government agencies work, etc., etc., etc. I think if we could do it *right*, it would be an amazing opportunity for so many different reasons.
As you say, the important part is making sure it pays. Then, even if the side benefits don't happen to materialize for a specific person, at least they earned a living and that's a learning opportunity, too.
I talk about this so often that I'm jealous of young me who didn't get this theoretical opportunity. Even before I got sick, I really struggled finding my place in the world. And the pressure on children to choose a school, and debt and a career is too high (especially now when those opportunities are too low and debts too high) is a lot for certain individuals.
I love this idea and think it should be implemented. Everyone needs to feel needed and there are so many needs to fill.
It's almost too sensible for people to believe it's possible! Surely it must be more complicated and unsatisfying, right? Thanks Jennifer, and feel free to shoot me a message if you're interested in hearing about practical steps I'm trying to take to make things like this a reality!
I’m all for acts of service jobs, but in many ways that was our federal workforce that DOGE just gutted and the GOP convinced everyone was a waste. I worry no one will embrace these great ideas if we can’t sell them. We’ve got to win the information war!
It's kinda dumb, but maybe what people are saying is they need a rebrand of work in service of the public. Less of what people can claim is "bureaucracy" and more of what feels like a conversation of what individual communities need, seeing the impacts directly, and with transparent accountability.
What DOGE did was a corrupt power grab that made the country much poorer, so I hope what I'm saying isn't interpreted as supportive of that boondoggle. I'm just trying to take a lesson from the fact that it seemed to resonate with a lot of people, however misinformed they were in that support. Why did those services feel expendable? There's a disconnect that was exposed.
Since the 80’s a lot of basic necessities have become increasingly unattainable. And as the article points out Gen Z (to be fair millennials and gen x too) have had to work 3 jobs just to make ends meet. We are living with our parents for longer, more dependent on our parents financially, and advancing less in our careers.
People are exhausted. The conspiracy theorist in me often wonders if this was by design. The slow burn of ensuring the “right” people obtain power, get super wealthy, and make it harder for people to make ends meet so they don’t pay attention. This allows them more control and power. An exhausted population is one that doesn’t pay attention.
Again, that’s the crazy conspiracy theorist in me. One that after I get over my anger in a subject, I start to look at more rationally.
I don’t think you’re crazy. I think the proponents of trickle down economics (and other policies that consolidate wealth and power at the top) knew very well that these policies would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy people. They may not have realized how bad things would get for poor and middle class folks eventually, (and that “may” is doing a lot of heavy lifting) but it’s very clear they have no interest in making things BETTER for anyone who isn’t obscenely wealthy already.
And remember the Heritage Foundation (the project 2025 people) had 2/3 of their policy recommendations implemented by the Reagan admin. They have been playing a long game to consolidate more and more wealth at the top. It’s definitely not a conspiracy, they have written all of it down — the problem is you have a ton of voters convinced that this is good, and the true threat to our freedom is empowered working class having all of its needs met.
This tracks with something else I’ve read: a study done by More In Common on whether on not people agreed that Trump getting things done was more important than upholding the constitution showed that while most people (70%) agreed that upholding the constitution was paramount, the largest percentage of people who agreed getting things done is more important than constitutionality was Gen Z with over 40%. A disturbing number for any generation. https://moreincommonus.com/publication/trumps-return/
Yes! This is very concerning to me, but I believe it’s impacting all generations. Yesterday I posted about the need to protect due process for immigrants, and a 40yo Trump voter told me she doesn’t care because Trump is getting stuff done. She voted for action which makes me think she felt that our system was not working (which let’s be honest it’s not healthy due to corruption). My dad (also a Trump voter in his early 70’s) a few months ago said he’s so happy Trump can finally do what he wants without restraint. For him, it has nothing to do with finances, but it’s an entire belief system (cultivated by right wing media) that we must blow up the entire system in order to move forward. I just don’t see it that way. I want change - like ending the corruption from gerrymandering, dark donor dollars, etc. but I’m not willing to give up my rights or those of others to do it. It is a slippery slope to not getting those rights back. I grew up a Republican but as an adult align more with the Democrats. Working in medicine and having a community in that sphere expanded my empathy cup. How do we cultivate community for more people especially as so many are leaving the churches (which traditionally served in that role - for some not all)? This is a great question and timely article.
I came here to reference the same study, Joy! The results of that study were mind blowing to me, and I’ve been trying to understand it ever since I read it. This article helps connect the dots.
While the younger generation referenced in this piece may not feel that democracy works (and I value and empathize with their feelings and experiences), I wonder what type of government they are looking for. Democracy certainly isn’t perfect, but as Sharon has said in the past, it’s the best we have. Do people in this younger generation understand what authoritarianism is and what it might be like living under that type of government? I’m not asking this in a snarky or wag-the-finger kind of way - I am legitimately curious.
As a young boomer it seems the climate crisis & very little action being taken by society & government to help secure a livable planet for these generations may play a role also.
Definitely. That’s one of the biggest concerns for my two young adult gen z children.
Agreed! We are witnessing increasingly "unprecedented" climate catastrophes while the status quo continues on. I would add that seeing our tax dollars contributing to catastrophic events in Palestine could play a role; all the protesting in streets and college campuses led to no change from Democratic leadership. I've heard that many couldn't bring themselves to reelect that administration as a result, which would track with the drop in voter turnout.
Yes! The lack of action on both climate change and common sense gun reform need to also be considered as reasons for an erosion of faith in democracy.
The lack of opportunity for young people is hurting their parents as well. I don’t hear a lot of talk about this, but we (Gen X) helped our kids pay for college so they didn’t graduate with massive debt, hoping it would help set them up to be independent after graduation. But not only did we sacrifice our savings for their educations, we are still helping them financially because their jobs don’t pay enough and their rent is insane, even for a shared one or two bedroom apartment. Utilities and food are also unaffordable. They are frustrated and sometimes depressed because they did everything they were told they needed to do to be successful, they all work hard, and they feel ashamed that they still have to ask Mom and Dad to help out sometimes. (And if that’s how it is for kids whose parents can afford to help out, what’s it like for those with massive student debt with no help at all?) Meanwhile, we are unable to save as much as we should be for retirement, the future of social security is questionable, and it feels like we will probably work until we die. Something has to give, doesn’t it? I don’t blame Gen Z for losing faith in our democracy. I have, too, but I will keep fighting anyway.
I'm a late Gen X with a 9th grader and a 3rd grader . I still have a dizzying amount of student loans (I graduated in 07 with my bachelor's and 11 with my masters), having kids and having to pay for daycare bankrupted me (literally.) I'm trying to save for my children's education while also paying off my debt and saving for retirement. (Retirement ? Ha!!) Something has got to give.
I'm surprised that in a post that is talking about civic engagement, the first recommendation is 'start with economics.' No one reading this post can 'start with economics' and the folks in power talk about economics CONSTANTLY. It's really not working, and also, economic results take awhile. That can't be the first step of the solution. It seems to me, from the rest of the article, that what would be a far better first step is addressing the growing isolation by improving community and drawing them into society. While I think this article makes a good point about young people being locked into digital spheres, we sort of all are. Maybe a first step is hosting our own events and inviting varied groups of people, like a block party or something. To be clear, I'm not saying a block party is going to save democracy, just that the increasing feelings of isolation in our nation are clearly a problem, and maybe that is a good grassroots place for the average person to start. (I recognize the irony of making this comment in a digital forum, and in my own defense will say that in addition to posting online, I am also currently planning a silly-hat-making party IRL, which is a long story, but anyway, is a gathering of community.)
Maybe enough block parties would have a positive influence. Sirius XM radio and CNN television host Michael Smerconish talks about the increased polarization in this country, and he thinks a huge contributing factor is the lack of mingling, from declining numbers of kids riding the school bus to adults not engaging with one another in a variety of settings. So much so, he has something he calls the Mingle Project. There's more here: https://www.smerconish.com/mingle-project/.
Interesting! I see it in some of my loved ones, actually. As an example - we actually have this split family debate regarding our feelings about the kids who live next door to my parents (who we don't know well) - two of us feel like 'these kids shouldn't be running through our private yard!' and two of us (ahem, I am in this camp) feel like 'it is fine for the kids to cut through the yard, they aren't hurting anything, who cares.' The two in the former camp are MUCH more online and much more reticent to engage with people in day to day life. Myself and my dad, who think that it's fine, are way less online and way more likely to chat with randos, if you will. I know this is anecdotal, and it could be a bit chicken and egg/correlation vs causation thing, but I do think there is something to getting out of practice, if you will, when it comes to building relationships with real people in real life. But, it is also a muscle we can all strengthen.
I've organized a couple block parties and they were so fun and so helpful for getting to know our neighbors. My kids are always asking when we'll have another one.
I don't think there is anything silly or wrong about trying to build community in any way possible. It can be a book club, block party, Tuesday play date, etc. And digital community is still community. It's both a blessing and a curse. It expands the world for some and isolates others.
I think digital communities have benefits (I pay to be in this one for example), but as we all learned during COVID, they don't take the place of in-person community. This is especially clear given that we've never been more connected in digital spaces and yet the reports of isolation and loneliness are the highest they have ever been, as well as deaths of despair. There's also the element of anonymity in digital spaces, which makes us all engage differently than we would in person, not to mention that we don't actually know who we're speaking with - we only know who people say they are. Being part of the community you live in, with people you see every day, and with whom you can engage in acts of care like grabbing a package out of the rain for them, or giving them a ride to pick up their car in the shop or whatever, is a really different level of connection and it seems the more into online communities we get, the more we retreat from those relationships.
Oh for sure - it is a double edged sword. I know for some who are disabled for instance, increases in digital community have expanded the world for them. It’s not that it’s the best fit for everyone or the only thing that’s needed. But that’s why it can be both a good and bad thing. We definitely still need in person community. I’ve just seen the benefits of both!
I also realize my opening statement could come across kind of gruff - when I was typing it did not! I was agreeing with idea of block parties 🤓
haha I didn't take it as gruff at all! I totally felt like you'd come to my block party if you lived on my block.
This article feels very black-and-white to me. I think there are a lot more factors than just what’s being stated. Each generation is pulled more into “online life” from “real world life” than the generation before and that was happening before the pandemic. It will also continue as advances in tech continue. The hate and division pushed in the US doesn’t create an environment of community.
The current admin has dismantled democracy and are on a path of doing only the wrong thing - so not feeling good about our current “democracy” or not trusting the federal gov’t feels like givens. I think you’ll find an increase in depression and social anxiety in all ages in this regard.
On the flip side, Run For Something Now has record highs of young people wanting to get involved in politics.
I feel like this is a very complex situation that comes down to so many more factors than “not trusting democracy” and the “pandemic”. IMO, putting so much focus on this angle gives an incomplete picture and a bad vibe.
I agree with this, and as I was reading Gen Z's grievances, I felt like 'oh um, you mean the things Millennials have been bringing up for over a decade?' which is not to be like 'oh we had it bad, too' but also....Millennials didn't drop out of society, and have consistently been shown to be the most community-oriented and socially conscious despite facing the same issues - so SOMETHING ELSE is going on here. I think the hate and division you mention are a huge difference, and as you also mention, the tech that's exacerbating it. That's both terrible and kind of great, since we all have the option to change how we engage with tech and each other.
As a parent to two children in this age group, I can see where this comes from. I have to say, though, that one of my children has contacted their congressional representatives and have been told that they are “brainwashed by liberal media” when they brought up their concerns. My children vote and participate in democracy and have been ignored and verbally insulted. This is the way that, perhaps some, politicians want it. We can’t put the blame and responsibility solely on this generation’s shoulders.
To have an elected official discount a constituents concerns as being "brainwashed"... Wow. Just wow. Are you in the south?
No. I live in Arizona. My son is in Utah. He was told this. My friend who lives in my district was told just about the same thing though. Infuriating!
Very infuriating! I have come to associate the south with this kind of nonsense (I lived in TX for 12 years, now live in PA in a blue area) but I guess it's also spread to the southwest!
Democracy is certainly in jeopardy but the driver is the failure of capitalism in my opinion. Just ask Bernie Sanders, & the younger members of Congress. In your own article the examples of failure you give are directly related to economics. The systematic destruction of the middle class, the divisions in our country have amounted to class warfare.
This is a direct result of greed & trickle down economic theory. The elites are determined to protect their elitism & have a laundry list of those threatening their status quo. Racism is the primary characteristic that goes hand in hand with greed. This is certainly not new in our country but we first began to envision an alternative to this thanks to FDR’s New Deal politics. This created & built our middle class & saved us as a country from the Golden Age, when tycoons ruled the country & resulted in the Great Depression. This is the world that Trump & Project 2025 want to return us to, Making America Great Again. They don’t want a strong Middle Class, they want to destroy it. I’m old & I’ve watched much of this happen in my lifetime.
History & education matters.
The far-right has a vision (multiple visions) of the future, and they are strong visions and they are certain and they are painted as good. Some show us the colonization of Mars and beyond. Others show us a return to traditional families and religion - where men are strong, women are beautiful, and children are obedient.
The center-right paints no such vision. Nor do the center or far left.
The problem with nuance is that it's not certain, and life is not certain. The problem with truth is that it's complicated. No, we can't sell simplistic answers, but we need answers. We need a vision.
So what is our Beloved Community? What is our vine and fig tree?
You are absolutely correct. And yet the center / left doesn't have a vision PRECISELY because of its inclusion of multiple people, lives and values. How do we funnel "Hey, we want everyone to have rights and respect, regardless of what that looks like, as long as you aren't hurting others" into a streamlined, solid vision?
Not that I don't think it can be done. It's just going to be really, really difficult to dream up a Utopia when we all understand everyone has a different Utopia. What the Far Right has is group-think and shared delusions. Selling the vision to them is easy-peasy.
This keeps me up a lot :)
I agree. It's hard to be inclusive and nuanced and succinct. And the public doesn't seem to have patience for nuance. And I get it - people are hard-pressed and pinched and they want change now.
I think about cultures and places where different groups live side by side in peace and that is a claim to fame for them. They don't give up their group's culture to embrace a monoculture, but they embrace tolerance and diversity.
I keep coming back to Sesame Street as a vision for the future. Everyone of good faith is included and celebrated. It is a safe place in an unsafe world. Maybe this is our way forward.
Oh yeah. I agree with the anger. I was seriously looking for work just as the economy crashed in 2008 - and simultaneously became very ill - then chronically ill. I am a chronically ill, middle aged woman who never made a career. Nothing in this world is made for me, and I also want change (just not this way!). So I can empathize with the pain and desperation - but people need to take responsibility for the way they manifest and use it.
Can we use Sesame Street as our vision?! Because I'm all for that. A Sesame Street Party with messaging by Mr. Rogers. You have no idea how unbelievably happy that thought makes me.
Oh, that sucks. Your anger makes a lot of sense to me.
And yes, I think a public television party would be amazing.
Without disputing what's written, this feels like an article that is written about each generation since - and including - Gen X. The moment in time may change, but gist appears the same: the (fill in the blank) generation is disengaged, displeased, distrustful, dismayed, disaffected. Look at this The Atlantic article - written in 1999 about Gen X - and you'll see many similarities and parallels: https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/99aug/9908genx.htm
An excerpt:
"Stereotyping aside, some disquieting facts jump out regarding the political practices and political orientation of young Americans. A wide sampling of surveys indicates that Xers are less politically or civically engaged, exhibit less social trust or confidence in government, have a weaker allegiance to their country or to either political party, and are more materialistic than their predecessors. Why are so many young people opting out of conventional politics, and what does this mean for the future of American democracy? Might it be that today's political establishment is simply not addressing what matters to the nation's young? And if so, what is their political agenda?"
The 1999 Atlantic article covers the spectrum of the (then world) Gen X was in: falling wages, rising inequality, economic hardship and downward mobility, environmental concerns and global warming, national debt, social security fears, social issues (child poverty, suicide, homelessness, crime, prison rates, public school safety, etc.). Disenchantment with the political parties. And so on.
I'm not convinced, "This cuts deeper than the standard generational friction every society faces". It seems (trite alert!), the more things change, the more they stay the same.
That said, this line struck a chord: "And right now, young Americans are disappearing from public life — not just from the ballot box, but from community organizations, volunteer roles, and public debate." I think the impact of family life deserves a closer look. As the parent of two kids squarely in the generation Elise writes about, we tried to be intentional. We encouraged them to get involved — whether in sports, theater, clubs, whatever. We emphasized working or volunteering, and when it came time for college, they chose affordable schools and degrees with clear job paths. Both registered to vote as soon as they could and haven’t missed an election since. My husband and I (working full time) have also made volunteering a regular part of our lives — sometimes in big ways, often in small ones — and our kids saw that and occasionally joined in. We talk about issues at the dinner table. We don’t sugarcoat, but we also don’t lean into doom-and-gloom. I’m not suggesting that if every family did the same, everything would be fine. But I do think we sometimes hand over too much power to “the world” — and not enough attention to how we, in our own homes and choices, shape the way our kids engage with it.
I agree. I mentioned this article to my husband and he said they said that about Gen X. I do think the world is harder in some ways and easier in others. I absolutely think families are vital. I don’t like that things are more expensive for my kids, but they’ve managed to get through college with no debt. One got a full scholarship at a state university and then started a PhD fully funded(that funding has now been cut) and one is in community college paying their own way. They both live(d) at home while in college.
My PhD student/child is forced to take a break and pivot and is coming home. We are fortunate to be able to have ample space for that. Maybe our home will become multigenerational as the years progress. We may all have to pivot.
Through it all we do have each other and our community. My kids spend as much time as possible with their friends and family in person. I do think the more families that can insist on this and give back to the community, the better.
As a mom of 3 young adults, I could not agree with this more. All 3 of my kids have college degrees, but only one could afford a house, and that one pays more on student loans than the mortgage. The way interest is compounded on student loans should be illegal. Congress could change all of the issues facing young people today, but they have chosen not to. We constantly talk about how important it is to know what political candidates stand for before voting. To know how to contact your representatives to voice your concerns, but they are so discouraged by a country that seems to not care about them. If I’m being honest, it’s hard to encourage them knowing that enough people thought a felon and rapist was the right guy to be president. We are a broken country, that can be fixed, but are we willing to do what’s needed?
💯 this.
I feel this. Not just for Gen Z but for millennials too. We want to be involved and make a difference but don't know where to start. The "join an organization doing the work" is a good tip but it's overwhelming to pick an org, when there are so many things that need to be fixed and so few forward steps happening. It's discouraging to put time and effort into something and then watch it hit wall after wall and nothing change. So, we vote but don't get who we voted for, we send donations of small dollars to people and causes we believe in, but nothing changes. It feels like all our time, energy, enthusiasm, money, was for naught. Who wants to pour limited personal resources into something that seems to make no difference?
THIS. I've been fighting this fight for years and yet things only get worse. I'm currently unemployed after being laid off for the 4th time in my 19-year career. I have no hope for buying a home, retirement, or sending my kids to a good college. I protest, I volunteer, I donate, I call my reps, I care for my neighbors... and it feels like none of it matters. Watching the world collapse (with your Boomer parents' full-throated support) while you've done everything asked of you is depressing beyond belief. I'm going to keep fighting, but only because there is no alternative.
I've been laid off before and it's no fun. Standing with you.. "shoulder to shoulder into the fray" my friend.
"Kids today!!!" 😖 Said everyone, throughout history, who was not a kid at the time of said quote.