Views From a Coffe Shop

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  • femurphy77

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    30   0   0
    Mar 5, 2009
    20,268
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    S.E. of disorder
    I read this in the comments section of one of the Yahoo! "Articles" about a cop in Oklahoma that received his cup of coffee with the word PIG on the label. It was an interesting read and thought it must be a spoof because it's attributed to a 26 year old college grad and as we all know ALL millennials are snowflake wannabe socialists. I did a little background snooping and the attributed author did write it as is confirmed in an interview of her on Fox News.

    The Fox interview is at the bottom of this Snopes page: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alyssa-ahlgren-coffee-shop/


    "This article was written by a 26 yr old college student by the name of Alyssa Ahlgren, who's in grad school for her MBA. What a GREAT perspecitve...

    My Generation Is Blind to the Prosperity Around Us!
    I'm sitting in a small coffee shop near Nokomis (Florida) trying to think of what to write about. I scroll through my newsfeed on my phone looking at the latest headlines of presidential candidates calling for policies to "fix" the so-called injustices of capitalism. I put my phone down and continue to look around.

    I see people talking freely, working on their MacBook's, ordering food they get in an instant, seeing cars go by outside, and it dawned on me. We live in the most privileged time in the most prosperous nation and we've become completely blind to it.

    Vehicles, food, technology, freedom to associate with whom we choose.These things are so ingrained in our American way of life we don't give them a second thought.

    We are so well off here in the United States that our poverty line begins 31 times above the global average. Thirty One Times!!!

    Virtually no one in the United States is considered poor by global standards. Yet, in a time where we can order a product off Amazon with one click and have it at our doorstep the next day, we are unappreciative, unsatisfied, and ungrateful. ??

    Our unappreciation is evident as the popularity of socialist policies among my generation continues to grow. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently said to Newsweek talking about the millennial generation, "An entire generation, which is now becoming one of the largest electorates in America, came of age and never saw American prosperity."

    Never saw American prosperity! Let that sink in.

    When I first read that statement, I thought to myself, that was quite literally the most entitled and factually illiterate thing I've ever heard in my 26 years on this earth. Many young people agree with her, which is entirely misguided.

    My generation is being indoctrinated by a mainstream narrative to actually believe we have never seen prosperity. I know this first hand, I went to college, let's just say I didn't have the popular opinion, but I digress.

    Why then, with all of the overwhelming evidence around us, evidence that I can even see sitting at a coffee shop, do we not view this as prosperity? We have people who are dying to get into our country.

    People around the world destitute and truly impoverished. Yet, we have a young generation convinced they've never seen prosperity, and as a result, we elect some politicians who are dead set on taking steps towards abolishing capitalism.

    Why? The answer is this,?? my generation has only seen prosperity. We have no contrast. We didn't live in the great depression, or live through two world wars, the Korean War, The Vietnam War or we didn't see the rise and fall of socialism and communism.

    We don't know what it's like to live without the internet, without cars, without smartphones. We don't have a lack of prosperity problem. We have an entitlement problem, an ungratefulness problem, and it's spreading like a plague."
     

    Karl-just-Karl

    Retired
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    0   0   0
    Nov 5, 2014
    1,205
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    NE
    That sounds like a very realistic individual with a great perspective, a wonderful attitude and has the potential for a very bright future ahead of her.


    I bet she is very lonely.
     

    rob63

    Master
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    20   0   0
    May 9, 2013
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    My wife has kept us subscribed to Time magazine for the purpose of having a "mainstream" source of information. I never bother to read it, but today she told me that they have finally went full socialist. I asked her what she meant, and she said that they have actually declared that capitalism has failed completely and it is time to do away with the concept of profits. The blindness is staggering.
     

    gregkl

    Outlier
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    33   0   0
    Apr 8, 2012
    11,868
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    Bloomington
    I read this awhile ago. I thought it was well written. I wish the majority of the younger generations would read and ponder this.

    We have so much anger right now throughout the world, really. Especially here in America, I just don't get it. I get up in a conditioned home, drive a good enough car to a job, work, earn a paycheck. Then I come home, eat well and do "life".

    Is my life perfect? I only wish. I, like others have my crosses to bare but I keep up with the journey.

    No one outside of me really affects my life that much. President Trump hasn't caused me to significantly alter my life and neither did Obama when he sat in office for 8 years.
     

    Cygnus

    Master
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    0   0   0
    Apr 24, 2009
    3,835
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    New England
    My wife has kept us subscribed to Time magazine for the purpose of having a "mainstream" source of information. I never bother to read it, but today she told me that they have finally went full socialist. I asked her what she meant, and she said that they have actually declared that capitalism has failed completely and it is time to do away with the concept of profits. The blindness is staggering.

    Aren't they going out of business??? I thought they were now solely online like Newsweek....

    <waits for cacophony of "that's still a thing?" and "What's Newsweek?">
     

    jwamplerusa

    High drag, low speed...
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    2   0   0
    Feb 21, 2018
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    Boone County
    I ended up sending this to both of my children who are in "that" she bracket.

    Hopefully it will help one or both with their perspective on life.
     

    Cygnus

    Master
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    0   0   0
    Apr 24, 2009
    3,835
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    New England
    That's my 1st thought. They failed not capitalism. One has to work at it to succeed.

    Right! And generally more failures before a success. They need to change their product and adapt to markets. Capitalism, done with proper over-site,checks, etc., is the only thing around where the winners are not picked by the government or others in power and someone from ANY SES can rise up. Not that it's an easy thing for anyone, but in system where EFFORT is rewarded, equal outcomes are a non-starter. Or maybe I'm just an old f&*%.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
    Emeritus
    Rating - 100%
    187   0   0
    Dec 7, 2011
    191,809
    152
    Speedway area
    Right! And generally more failures before a success. They need to change their product and adapt to markets. Capitalism, done with proper over-site,checks, etc., is the only thing around where the winners are not picked by the government or others in power and someone from ANY SES can rise up. Not that it's an easy thing for anyone, but in system where EFFORT is rewarded, equal outcomes are a non-starter. Or maybe I'm just an old f&*%.

    Well our age has much to do with what we see as striving to succeed. And you are right.
     

    ChristianPatriot

    Grandmaster
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    28   0   0
    Feb 11, 2013
    12,800
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    Clifford, IN
    Can you really blame them, the young generation?
    They have been spoiled from the start of life.

    Not really directed at you jedi but I eye roll when I see these kinds of statements. America has been at the top of the heap since well before anybody on INGO was born. We’re ALL born spoiled here, going back nearly 100 years. I get tired of statements like, “Well MY generation had to work for everything we had! These young people don’t know what it’s like.” Give it a rest. I was born in ‘86 and I have to get my butt out of bed every morning like the rest of the country and go to work. And don’t even act like you wouldn’t have been just as addicted to technology if it was around in your day. 90% of the 20-30 somethings I know today are all hard working people that reject the culture of today just like the 50-60 somethings do.

    Again jedi, I don’t think you meant anything nefarious by what you said. Just a pet peeve of mine.

    Rant off.
     

    Ingomike

    Grandmaster
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    6   0   0
    May 26, 2018
    28,146
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    North Central
    Not really directed at you jedi but I eye roll when I see these kinds of statements. America has been at the top of the heap since well before anybody on INGO was born. We’re ALL born spoiled here, going back nearly 100 years. I get tired of statements like, “Well MY generation had to work for everything we had! These young people don’t know what it’s like.” Give it a rest. I was born in ‘86 and I have to get my butt out of bed every morning like the rest of the country and go to work. And don’t even act like you wouldn’t have been just as addicted to technology if it was around in your day. 90% of the 20-30 somethings I know today are all hard working people that reject the culture of today just like the 50-60 somethings do.

    Again jedi, I don’t think you meant anything nefarious by what you said. Just a pet peeve of mine.

    Rant off.

    Someone recently posted a point something like this about family companies, the first generation starts it, the second builds it, and the third squanders it because they are to far removed from the hard work of starting it. There are exceptions but it happens that way a lot.

    In general people born after 1980 do not know a single American that lived through the depression. That event was a huge impact on all that lived through it, however things have gotten better most of the time for most Americans since then, but the influence of those that suffered through it lived on for decades. We are now at a point that those that suffered are all but gone and each generation has spoiled their kids more than the last. Was I spoiled as a kid? Yes, compared to how my dad and his dad were raised. Are their grandkids and great grandkids spoiled more than I? Yes. Did I take for granted how good I had it? Yes. Do the young have it made today beyond imagination of their great grand parents? Yes.

    "Well MY generation had to work for everything we had! These young people don’t know what it’s like.”

    It it seems you may not really know what that means. Many on here had no options for help to pay for college, or even an opportunity to go to college. There were no home loan programs for first time homebuyers at one time. So yes, the older generations have made it so the young do not have to work as hard to get an education or buy a home as just two examples.

    Please don't take this as an indictment of you or even your friends, I'm thankful there are exceptions.
     

    jedi

    Da PinkFather
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    51   0   0
    Oct 27, 2008
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    NWI, North of US-30
    Not really directed at you jedi but I eye roll when I see these kinds of statements. America has been at the top of the heap since well before anybody on INGO was born. We’re ALL born spoiled here, going back nearly 100 years. I get tired of statements like, “Well MY generation had to work for everything we had! These young people don’t know what it’s like.” Give it a rest. I was born in ‘86 and I have to get my butt out of bed every morning like the rest of the country and go to work. And don’t even act like you wouldn’t have been just as addicted to technology if it was around in your day. 90% of the 20-30 somethings I know today are all hard working people that reject the culture of today just like the 50-60 somethings do.

    Again jedi, I don’t think you meant anything nefarious by what you said. Just a pet peeve of mine.

    Rant off.

    We are all "family" here so I'm not offended by your comments.
    Unless off course you like glocks. Then we cant talk. LOL!

    Besides we all know it's the baby boomers fault for the mess we are in now. They failed to keep .Gov in check and gave us everything on a silver platter. ;)
     

    Tombs

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    0   0   0
    Jan 13, 2011
    12,021
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    Martinsville
    This time in our history is an economically complicated one.

    Kids saddling up $250k in college debt aren't entirely wrong to be complaining about it, especially if it's necessary in their region for employment.
    People complaining about excessively low entry level wages aren't entirely wrong to complain about it, if you actually look back in time at what those same jobs paid 30 and 40 years ago and realize the number figure is almost the same as today. (And then realize the people today usually have no union protections that people back then enjoyed)

    Things are pretty good right now, but I'm growing increasingly concerned about the chickens coming home to roost as I watch the cost of everything continue to rise as wages remain largely the same for the majority of folks.

    Heck, for the money we spend on education alone in Indiana, there's no excuse that, that amount of money shouldn't be able to cover full college for everyone.

    In the end, it's not that things aren't good, it's that they could be a lot better simply by doing things more efficiently. And I'm pretty sure everyone can see it.
     
    Last edited:

    jamil

    code ho
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    0   0   0
    Jul 17, 2011
    60,116
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    Gtown-ish
    Not really directed at you jedi but I eye roll when I see these kinds of statements. America has been at the top of the heap since well before anybody on INGO was born. We’re ALL born spoiled here, going back nearly 100 years. I get tired of statements like, “Well MY generation had to work for everything we had! These young people don’t know what it’s like.” Give it a rest. I was born in ‘86 and I have to get my butt out of bed every morning like the rest of the country and go to work. And don’t even act like you wouldn’t have been just as addicted to technology if it was around in your day. 90% of the 20-30 somethings I know today are all hard working people that reject the culture of today just like the 50-60 somethings do.

    Again jedi, I don’t think you meant anything nefarious by what you said. Just a pet peeve of mine.

    Rant off.

    We're all running the same "circuitry". If you could take a Millennials as a babies back in time to grow up in the WWII era and they'd have the same values and behavior as they did. We're largely a product of our environment. You take WWII era babies and bring them up with the Millennial generation, and they'd behave pretty much the same. So it's unfair t to disparage Millennials as if they are personally at fault because they don't generally have the same values as people from past generations. But, y'all are fun to make fun of still.
     

    BugI02

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jul 4, 2013
    31,886
    149
    Columbus, OH
    This time in our history is an economically complicated one.

    Kids saddling up $250k in college debt aren't entirely wrong to be complaining about it, especially if it's necessary in their region for employment.
    People complaining about excessively low entry level wages aren't entirely wrong to complain about it, if you actually look back in time at what those same jobs paid 30 and 40 years ago and realize the number figure is almost the same as today. (And then realize the people today usually have no union protections that people back then enjoyed)

    Things are pretty good right now, but I'm growing increasingly concerned about the chickens coming home to roost as I watch the cost of everything continue to rise as wages remain largely the same for the majority of folks.

    Heck, for the money we spend on education alone in Indiana, there's no excuse that, that amount of money shouldn't be able to cover full college for everyone.

    In the end, it's not that things aren't good, it's that they could be a lot better simply by doing things more efficiently. And I'm pretty sure everyone can see it.

    Sorry, can't buy in to that. From:

    https://financesonline.com/10-most-expensive-degrees-from-top-us-universities-colleges/
    10 Most Expensive Degrees From Top US Universities & Colleges

    #10 Wesleyan University, Film Studies: $218,370
    #9 Bucknell University, Biochemistry: $219,330
    #8 Connecticut College, Music/Technology: $219,950
    #7 Vassar College, Media Studies: $223,525
    #6 Bard College, Music: $271,375
    #5 St. John’s College, Master of Liberal Arts: $308,392
    #4 Trinity College, Public Policy and Law: $308,490
    #3 Columbia University, MBA: $317,030
    #2 Vanderbilt University, Law: $375,620
    #1 Sarah Lawrence College, History and Law: $402,962

    Please note how many are for medical college (zero) or STEM subjects (one), and how many are 'educational rolexes' for aspiring young politicians and Wall St apparatchiks (and them not even quants)

    Sorry, you're entitled to the best education you can afford; if you cannot afford the education you got don't expect a bailout. The idea that someone besides a surgical specialist could find so much college debt 'necessary in their region of employment' just doesn't hold water

    The raw cost of an engineering degree from Caltech or MIT is about $200k, with even there 60% of students receive financial aid from the university in the form of tuition subsidies from the endowment

    So, if you have the chops, you can receive a technical education from the arguably best schools for significantly under $50k per year. If you can't afford the best and don't have the chops to get a ride, shop the tier you can afford
     
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