The kids are not alright

[marmar]

Optimism about future for American youth at all-time low
By Zachary Roth


In recent weeks, we've seen indications that Americans are deeply pessimistic about the state of the economy. Now, there's evidence that we're feeling gloomy not just about the present, but about the future too.

Just 44 percent of respondents to a new Gallup poll said it was very or somewhat likely that today's young people will have a better life than their parents. Fifty-five percent said it was very or somewhat unlikely.

That's the worst response since the question was first asked in 1983. It's far worse, even, than the results the survey yielded during the depths of the Great Recession in March 2009. At that time, 59 percent said it was likely that young people's lives would be better than their parents', while 40 percent said it was unlikely.

Here are the responses over time:



Older Americans were much more pessimistic about the future than younger ones. Among those between the ages of 50 and 64, just 36 percent said they expected younger Americans to have a better life than their parents, and among those 65 and over, just 37 percent did. By contrast, 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they expected their lives to be better than their parents'. Among Americans aged 30-44, 45 percent agreed with that view--a total just about in sync with the results as a whole. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110503/ts_yblog_thelookout/optimism-about-future-for-american-youth-at-all-time-low

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Thanks for posting this.

[ensho]

2. life will not ever get better on earth as there is more and more of less and less

nt

[hfojvt]

3. well yeah, but when you are as awesome as the boomers

it's kinda hard for anybody to be better.

We just set the bar too damn high.

[Chris_Texas]

4. I certainly hope this is parody

[reggie the dog]

5. check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1DOcke51iM

[seabeyond]

6. THINK OF THE CHILDREN11!!!11. oh wait. they are.

i agree. it is a tough generation to be in for so many many reasons. not only this

[BOG PERSON]

7. no wonder they were out dancing in the streets over an extrajudicial killing.

that's literally the happiest news they've heard in ten years.