Four-hundred student leaders of all political persuasions rallied on Capitol Hill recently, demanding public investment in higher education. They held a press conference and conducted 100 congressional visits. Their message?
That's right. WTF. Where's the Funding?
In the 1950s, college was practically free. Some of our parents and grandparents were able to attend a four-year state college for just $1,000 per year. That's tuition, room and board. This investment in education produced one of the greatest workforces in history and helped to create America's great middle class.
Today all we hear about is cuts, cuts and more cuts. You can't cut your way out of a recession. And you can't cut your way to growth. The way to get out of a recession and get out of debt is the same strategy our grandparents used to get out of the Great Depression: Invest in jobs. Invest in education. Invest in infrastructure and technology. Put people back to work. Stimulate the economy. Grow the tax base. That's how you cut the deficit. Not by cutting investments in jobs and education.
The Millennial Generation (born 1980-2000) is the largest, most diverse, most open-minded, most tech-savvy, most eco-conscious generation in American history. Millennials are also the most unemployed, in debt and generally screwed over. Despite their desire to contribute to this country's greatness, Millennials may be the first generation in decades to face worse economic prospects than our parents and even grandparents.
Millennials deserve better. The Millennial generation can help lay the foundation of American prosperity by driving a vibrant green energy economy; reinventing and rebuilding our infrastructure; galvanizing the immense potential of the private sector through fresh innovation and creativity; contributing to a broadened tax base; and answering JFK's call to service.
The youth unemployment rate is double the national average, with African-Americans between 16-24 shouldering a crushing 33 percent unemployment rate. Latino and Asian youth suffer from above average unemployment rates as well. The average college student borrower graduates nearly $25,000 in debt; Americans now owe more in student loan debt than credit card debt.
To make matters worse, Congressional Republicans are insisting on slashing $875 from the maximum Pell Grant award, effectively ending thousands of struggling students' college education. In 43 statehouses, budgets are being balanced on the backs of students and working families through tuition hikes, funding cuts, or both. The supposed beneficiaries of these cuts? You guessed it. Youth and future generations. Not only are they stealing kids lunch money. They're saying it's for their own good.
What will the Millennial Generation do? What young people always do: Innovate and fight back. Students are piloting new attention-getting tactics like Briefcase Brigades. On their upcoming national action April 27, youth and students across the country will dress up for job interviews, some with briefcases, and visit local offices of members of Congress. They will ask their elected reps to stop cutting education and jobs. Photos and videos will be posted in social media. Briefcase Brigades will be followed by graduation actions. Summer actions will build up to bigger actions in the Fall.
Young people and students aren't asking for any special favors or handouts. They just want the same opportunities that the Baby Boomers and other previous generations had: The opportunity to work hard, get an education, make a living and give their kids a better life. In short, a chance to live the American Dream.
The jobs and education crises are two of the biggest issues impacting young people. If you want to join the growing youth movement for education and jobs, please watch this video and sign up for a local Briefcase Brigade here.
Follow Van Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VanJones68
When I first read that quote, I gave myself a little pat on the back---it was nice to hear my generation summed up with such compliments. So I kept reading, and read that we were the most screwed over. Oh yeah, that. Well, at least I have some bragging rights, right? Do you think I could put my status as a millenial on my resume? But no, really.
I must admit, it was refreshing to read about my generation's dilemma right there in black and white for everybody to see in this article. Things are cut-throat out here in the job market. More than ever, where you end up relies more on luck of timing, place, and who you know than the degree and experience on your resume. Considering the years of academic butt-kicking I have behind me, that is quite discouraging. & that's coming from a girl who was privileged to go to a decent public school district and then immediately to a four-year, prestigious university, so I know that my struggles only chip the tip of this iceberg. That's what worries me the most about this whole thing.
This is a a segment from my reaction piece to this article, posted on the youth advocacy site SparkAction.org-- I hope you will continue to read: http://sparkaction.org/content/least-i-have-street-cred-snazzy-suit-april
You did get a bait and switch with all that mandatory positivity instantly swapped for reality. Like the generation of the '29 market crash.
We're your opposites, the abandoned, feral latchkey kids to your helicoptered childhood-as-careers. My generation was called into an assembly in 1983, by a livid Vice Principal, because no one would run for our class office on the student council, because student government was (and still is) an absurdist farce. Your generation watches Glee. Voluntarily. Even your solution above is "Conform Harder". You may have to make your own fun this time.
When students protested back in the 60s and 70s, everyone knew about it. It was splashed across TV screens and written about in newspapers on a continuing and ongoing basis.
When students protest today we hardly know about it. If the Millennials want their concerns addressed and respected and represented, then they need to understand that not everyone spends 40 minutes of every hour texting and sending and receiving emails from their hand held devices.
That may be the way Millennials are comfortable communicating but if they want the broad support for their cause from Boomers and even the reamining memebers of the WWII generation, then they need to be seen where these older generations will be looking.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, times they are a-changin' and we've moved beyond 8-tracks and rotary dial phones.
But technological availability is not always an indication of technological efficacy.
Also its possible to attend college without huge debt...it takes lots of hard work and sacrifice, but its possible
These Limousines of the Seas Need Crew: Deckhands, Chefs, Butlers,
Stewardesses and Cute Hostesses are Needed Now.
Make Some Money, See the World, and Share Time with Elite People.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXVxPpvIszY
The deal was you go to college, pay it off with the amazing job you get afterwards. This generation, it was a little different - graduating during the economic crisis was a bad time to want a job. People who simplify that issue to just 'you didn't work hard enough' aren't taking a few things into account. College costs are rising/out of control, the loan and debt industry was out of control, and job prospects tanked. Our culture needs to stop portraying elite, outlandishly expensive schools as the only way to a good life - but also realize that a good education is expensive, and that there is absolutely NO WAY any 17 year old can afford that.
Another fundamental fact: If we dont hang together we will surely hang separately. don't listen to all the nihilsim.
learn mandarin or a regional indian dialect or any number of other asian languages and GO TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE! THERE ARE NO JOBS IN THE USA! THERE WILL NOT BE ANY GOOD JOBS IN THE USA! DON'T TRY TO CHANGE .GOV! .GOV WILL NOT CHANGE! INVEST IN LUGGAGE AND PLANE TICKETS AND GO TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE!
thanx, sam.
America should firmly turn away from the socialistic trends of today and especially that the current regime has, as well as their apparent aim to bring American businesses to their knees, let us open up the bounty and jobs of American energy arenas, and get this country back to the capitalistic tenets, rule of law and private property, and self reliance, that made America the greatest nation in world history, and let's continue the climb upward!