When we look at the biggest societal issues within America the most obvious issues include those between one race vs. another, or one gender over another, or one religion being favored over others, or that one class in society is favored over all others, or that the wealth of the nation is concentrated into too few hands. There is, however, another conflict that doesn’t seem to get nearly as much press, though it ought to, which is the generational conflict now occurring between the older generation as compared to the younger generation. Indeed, in America, a foundational belief is that each generation achieves more and has more than the previous generation, which certainly seems to not only uphold the American dream and the values of that dream, but is beneficial for those who are its youth, for they would thereby logically have their day. The crux of the issue, though, is that as things are presently, it would seem that the youth of America are not well positioned to have their day, and therein lies the rub.
In life, there are going to be all sorts of battles, some expected and some unexpected. This signifies that most of the conflicts and civil unease in America are all things which are well known, and are being dealt with in their own way, of which, to a large extent, a lot of progress has been made to provide a better construct for race relations, gender equality, and religious tolerance. The fact that this progress has been made makes for a more inclusive society, which thereby makes for a society more in keeping with what America represents at its best. That said, there is that worrisome concern that those of the present generation, rightfully feel, which is that even though they are in aggregate more educated than previous generations – that somehow they have lost out on or are losing out on job security, job advancement, and job income, so needed to have an upwardly mobile life. In fact, most of the youth today would be somewhat puzzled that there was ever a time when a family was supported financially with just one income, and that they were still able to own a house and a car. This would presuppose that America, for those who are the youngest generation, has somehow lost its mojo.
Indeed, when we consider that the vast majority of the wealth is held in the hands of the aged, it cannot just be assumed that this will be gifted to the young, for some of that wealth, is earmarked for charities and foundations, of which, in any event, just because somebody is aged, doesn’t mean that they are decrepit or about ready to die. All of this signifies that the youth of America who are stuck with massive federal deficits that need to be paid back and serviced, as well as conceivably their own large debts to Higher Educational facilities, must feel that all is not okay with this construct, which might well lead them to believe that their burden that they are carrying upon their aching shoulders, isn’t fair, and thereby needs to be reevaluated or else there will be the type of civil unrest directed against the aged, not so much because they are hated, but mainly because the aged have the power, the money, and the clout to thereby live lives of the highest quality; whereas those on the precipice of the prime of their lives, are struggling, with limited horizons, which will surely lead to some serious civil unrest, yet to be fully felt.