The current up and coming (flat and not really moving might be more accurate) generation isn’t the worst. Not yet at least. We still have time, and not to worry the current champ, the Baby Boomers, are still putting up a good fight. I’m not sure what you want to call us, generation data, generation Z (zombie??), or whatever contrived name you might think of. And yes, us, I consider myself to be apart of this up and coming generation. But we are almost at a point of no return and I fear our mark being left on the world might be one of bastardizing social capitalism.
Let me explain. Each generation hits a point when they’re characteristics become their historical reference. I’m 28, with a lot friends nearing 30 or over 30, getting married, having kids, getting early divorces, etc. Essentially, we’re grown up. At least on paper that is. At this point in their lives the Greatest Generation had returned home from saving the world from a massive war and were reaping the benefits of a massively growing economy that they built with their bear hands. Times have changed obviously, and I’m not looking for my generation to miraculously save the world from a war that doesn’t exist. I mean hell, we’ve been a part of some large social changes in our society, and continue to be one of the more open-minded generations. So there’s already some good attributes. But economically we’ve got a problem.
The numbers are pretty obvious that as a generation we’ve supported fiscal reform to give our system of capitalism a much-needed social conscience. This is a good thing. I personally believe it’s important to remember that, while yes we may work hard to earn everything we receive, inevitably you got where you are by virtue of help in some way, shape or form. For myself, sure I have a good job, with a good salary, but my parents helped with college, along with government grants, and I also received my first internship from a friend of my sister. Have I worked hard since to succeed in my field. Yes, of course. But I can’t deny that my disposition on life was vastly improved to that of an inner city youth, or any other countless people less fortunate than me. And my disposition is not an uncommon one. And yet I fear that this effort to give our standing economic system a more socially conscious lean is not bred from pure benevolence and might actually stem from slightly selfish biases.
Maybe it’s my locale, maybe it’s luck of the draw. Whatever it is I’ve come across a lot of peers that from my vantage point exploit these systems meant to help others. For example when living in Crown Heights I met a girl who at the time worked for a nonprofit (good), but collected welfare (okay, I guess), and also refused a better paying job because it would put her out of the bracket that could receive welfare and because the hours wouldn’t allow her to travel (What the…). She filled me in on some of her recent trips and honestly I can’t afford to travel that much, nor do I have the time (at least her point was logical?). To give even more context to the situation, this same girl had a Macbook, an iPhone, and a college degree that she certainly worked hard to receive but also received some help monetarily in order to do it.
This is what I call capitalizing on socialism. And it’s also what I consider bastardizing a system put in place to help others find equal ground, and shouldn’t be used for personal gain. Utilizing such a system for personal gain is applying a very capitalistic mindset to a social conscious (I’d say socialist, for lack of a better term here, but I’m not sure people can handle that without getting in a tiff) program. Did I mention this same girl asked me how I felt about stealing money after I informed her I worked in the finance industry? Well she did.
This practice is not unique. An old roommate told me how co-workers of his would avoid certain hours in order to stay below that magical threshold to still get an EBT card. I spotted one of those same co-workers on his way back from guitar lessons in Manhattan. GUITAR LESSONS. The issue is these programs have budgets like anything else. Which means the help they can offer is finite. Which means if you’re receiving welfare from anyone of these programs, you are limiting how much is remaining for anyone else. This isn’t to guilt people who use these systems. I already told you I heavily support a more socio-economically conscious government. And therefore support these programs. I think they can do great things for people in need and the people who truly are in need aren’t able to travel or take private guitar lessons in Manhattan trust me. No, this is more of an issue with those taking advantage of said systems. If you’re traveling so much you can’t work a 9 to 5, if you’re paying for private instrument lessons, if you’re buying new Apple products that just came out, or if you’re being offered decent paying jobs that you’re turning down for selfish reasons, you might be taking advantage of the system (by might, I mean definitely). There are exceptions for all situations so I’m just speaking in generalities, but these exploits, while definitely smaller in scale, are comparable to the exploits of big business. Again it’s not a fair comparison as I think some big financial firms have done exponentially worst things, but it doesn’t change the fact that both have the same line of thinking. “How can I take advantage of this for my personal gain? How can I capitalize on this?”
It’s not that I wish to have mindless drones that adhere to all rules without questioning the norms of society, and work tirelessly without an ounce of uniqueness to show for it. No, we’ve already had the Baby Boomers. And It’s not that I wish to stifle the creativity of one of the most innovative generations, as we’ve certainly been a force of progression that has seen more millionaire entrepreneurs than any generation before it. And this isn’t to say somethings shouldn’t be taken advantage of. But if you’re “taking advantage” of what’s seemingly a fair system you’re not sticking it to the man. No you’re only sticking it to the next person in line that may truly need it. And although our welfare programs may need much improvement, they’re not unfair systems built to line the man’s pocket with money, so taking advantage isn’t sticking it to the man. And isn’t benefiting anyone else except yourself. I guess in the end I just hope we can continue down our path of creative renaissance, and social progression without mortgaging our ethics or morals, or mortgaging it on the backs of those less fortunate than us and definitely more in need. No, the wealthy and big business already have that role perfected. We should strive to reach our utmost potential. It’s only thing we owe this world. And somehow I just can’t see a bright girl, with a college degree working minimal hours so she can go to concert festivals and yoga getaways, as someone reaching their full potential.
About Matt Cargile
Matt Cargile is the Editor in Chief of rookerville.com. He also works in finance, but refuses to read any news printed on pink paper. He is a child at heart with adult means. His childhood dream was to either become a magician or the leader of the next great empire and somehow both these things make complete sense. He's contradictory in nature, but is always consistent.
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