Is it just me or have the Baby Boomers ruined the American dream for those coming along nowadays?
402043
The Boomers have caused problems, but the biggest problem is yet to come...when they retire that's when the real problems start.
708474
no im not living the american dream. only few people actually live it thats why its called a dream. life is an ongoing struggle for me and about 250 million americans. what needs to be changed is definitely the heathcare, and welfare system. the military budget also needs to be reduced from $400 billion to about $40 billion. spend $360 on healthcare and welfare. people will be better taken care of. food in the u.s. is great though. dont change that. i love american buffets and taco bell. i also like how people trust each other in the states. in a lot of countries people dont trust each other and that is sad. i also like how americans are much friendlier than other countries. thats one thing americans can teach others. and also the food as well. im not talking about mcdonalds coz thats rubish. but like american buffets. even steak, ribs, and chicken wings. other countries have taught me tolerance. many countries are real good at accepting people of different religious groups, backgrounds, gays, poor people, etc. we are all people, and sometimes thats hard to understand in the states because you have to fit into this mold on what a person should be.
798971
No.\n\nRepubs are on the way out because people have finally figured out that they have nothing to offer the vast majority of Americans.
681755
There you go..someone else who sees that! If you are a young person, then CONGRATULATIONS for noticing the trend to nowhere. Us baby boomers have already known about the decline and fall of the music industry.
899140
Yes, our society has degraded tremendously since 1970! I was twelve years old back then, and I have been watching. I wish we could get our old values back before it is too late.
383996
Yes and No. Yes, because of the stance America is taking on world issues. Also because the Govt. is confusing the world over with its stances which is so different from what it used to be. \n\nNo, because the American dream and the ideals would always remain. It is getting corroded by today's American society, especially the youth (who do not even know who the first President of the United States was!) \n\nSo in 50 years, America would be the UK of today, saying 'yes' to India and/or China for everything. And if it listens to China, that is the day the American dream would crumble.
829750
Well, seeing as I AM one of those "children", I totally see this from your point of view.  It's ridiculus what they're doing over there, and then my generation (and a few to follow) are going to have to clean up after it...it SUCKS.  Thanks for sticking up for us!
737380
The US isn't maintaining its past lifestyle now.  There are more homeless than ever, with the rising cost of housing fewer people are able to own their own homes, more young adults are having to move back in with their parents because they can't afford their own homes or apartments. People are working more than ever but are still falling farther & farther behind.  Spiraling costs in healthcare are putting it more and more out of reach. Between less money being available for primary and secondary education, school closings, and larger class sizes, a decent education is getting further out of reach. Manufacturing and production jobs have been exported to other countries where the labor costs are cheaper, so there are fewer jobs in these areas for all of those people who can only get that limited american public education. The only sure place where there is anticipated growth is the prison industry.  It ain't just for black folks any more. \n\nThe american standard of living is quickly going straight to hell NOW. It's not going to take 100 years.  And all you teens & 20 somethings...you should care, this is the world you're inheriting, and you have a long time to be stuck with it.
836647
The American dream is what it has always been the perfect career the perfect house smart kids good friends and enough free time to be able to enjoy all the perks of being an American.\n\nThe American reality is over crowding, kids going to sleep hungry\nsingle parent homes.\nelderly citizens living on the street because they can't afford rent.\n high rate of high school dropouts which translates into low paying jobs longer work hours.to make ends meet, no medical insurance. too many lawyers.\ntoo many politicians in positions of power who could do something who don't
1007067
Cause the kids of today are totally out of control.  Today, it seems to be a contest of how early they start, and how many notches in their belts they have by the time they become seniors.  Their parents must all be proud!!!!!\n\nUnfortunately, a lot of them are in for a rude awakening.  Unemployment, teen pregnancy, poor educations, poverty, etc. are what's in their future.............Mark my words they will pay for their decisions later in life!!  Too late..........The  competition for blue collar jobs will increase substantially by the time they are ready to go and find jobs.  \n\nMan, the times have changed  I truly feel the PARENTS are to blame.  They will also have to live with the consequences of their and their children's actions\n\nGood luck.........stay smart!\n\nMr. Happy\n:o)
332246
I think there have always been shallow, materialistic people.  However, with more toys and gadgets to covet with each passing day, they "need" more things all the time and appear to be more shallow.  That said, I can't imagine a more shallow, self-conscious decade than the '80's.  Hmmm...a Republican, saber-rattling president in the White House...coincidence?  I think not.
555753
Due to burst.  Real estate in way too many areas is way overpriced, most of it driven by Baby Boomer c**ksuckers who are buying up second homes and overinflating prices.\n\nAs the Boomers retire, they're going to figure out that without viable buyers for their pieces of crap, the prices are going to drop.
92533
Because American's are lazy and no longer think for themselves. Our generation as a whole has become profoundly gullible and we eat what society feeds us because we don't want to work for our own cognitive nourishment.
447927
Present America is like pre WWII Germany!\nYou just see they want any others to prosper. Because of their ongoing fookish decisions, whole world is suffering (e.g. hike in petrol price to $72/barrell!!! Is it not fact?)\n\nAmericans are enjoying their lavish life at the cost of world.\n\nThose who think otherwise, should re-assess their veiws & may modify their comments.
220022
With so many young mothers in not just our country but others as well, I would have to say yes. why limit our educated citizens to the childless. In america today we are experiencing shortages in many higher education careers, nursing has been suffering since I was in high school, doctors and teachers are also thinning out, even the coal mining industry is saying that they are going to suffer labor shortages for the next ten years. the baby boomers are starting to retire they are going to need even more care and attention than they have in the past. anything we can do to encourage students to attend school should at least be given a chance. where I live it was recently reported that not only are we short of employees, but those coming through school arent performing well enough to get into white collar positions. anything we can do to help should be done.
567197
the American Dream is getting harder and harder to achieve here, that it is almost down right impossible. Its due to our inadequate leadership (i.e. President Bush) and poor decisions/judgements made (i.e. the Iraqi war). I'm an extremely patriotic American (I love my country and their citizens.. sry I cant say the same for George w. Bush) and I suggest you just stay where you are. Things in the US arent going so great...\n\nby the way... gas in my city is reaching $3.62
344997
In my opinion the American dream is dieing fast. The reasons. \n\nBig money owns the Gov and corruption is rampent. It always took money to make money but whether it be the old blood liberals or the new blood conservitives the rich today do not want compitition. Taxes make it really difficult to make the jump from making it to wealthy. To really make the jump almost requires breaking the law for a time until you can afford to hire the legions of accountants and tax attorneys to legally keep your money. This means not having wealthy enemies such as the Clintons who use political office to attack foes from the past. Notice how independent political organizations always see the leaders and benifactors in tax trouble? \n\nLending institutions are designed to cater to the wealthy. So it's hard to get start up money. Even once you do, the good ole boy attitude among those who control resoruces in an area mean you fit in or you get crushed by local governments, banks and other organizations. \n\nThere just isn't a lot of money left in the US not in the hands of the rich already. Jobs are exported, wage scales decreased. Who can save enough money to convert a dream into reality? The middle class has almost disapeered. Only the wealthy and the top end of the middle class can save any more. Even many "wealthy" live hand to mouth. Remove their income for a single month and they will potentially lose everything. \n\nFriends help friends. So people with money tend to know each other from schools, colleges and industries they work in. Far more difficult to get a break if you don't know the right people. \n\nThe wealthy cannot afford liquid assets any more. Most are paper wealthy. That is they might officially be rich but what they are rich in is debt. We are fast becoming a nation that has replaced wealth with debt in how we measure success. Few wealthy people could sell everything they owned and actually pay back all of their debt. Most wealthy people think they are actually middle class. \n\nEducation is a huge factor as well. The more wealthy you are the better a school you went too. The better your school the better you tend to do academically. The better you do academically the better chances you have at higher paying jobs, scholarships and such. The wealthy can actually afford to pay for collage. Working your way through college is fast becoming a myth today. \n\nA bigger issue is cultural splitting. Instead of the single culture found in America much of this century various ethnic and economic enclaves have become predominient. They have been there all along but today they find voice in the mainstream media. The message not how to suceed but how to stay in that same poverty ridden cycle. Work ethic is unheard of in some of these cultures. Schools tend to be violence ridden and full of students who have to be there to avoid getting their parents arrested. Exporting the students does not help the cultural attitude towards education. That has to start in the home. There has to be a tangible future attached to getting an education. Hard to motivate somebody to do well in high school when they know college is a pipe dream. This cultural adversity affects students of all races. It is an economic not ethnic issue. \n\nFixing it requires first getting rid of the current corruption. Until the corruption is lifted it will furthor poison the American dream. The second crucial aspect is that  people have to adopt core of the American culture. That is the strong worth ethic, sense of fairness, pride in being American. Without that we are lost no matter what we do. We can combine social compassion with this, there is nothing that precludes such. Without the core ideas though no idea will work.\n\n----\nAdded in response to another response. \nBill Gates came from a wealthy family. He is no rags to riches story.