The Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack cover
Amazon.com

Was this farcical film family a portent of things to come?

Featured Topic | Posted 23 weeks 4 days ago

Are mom and dad the last hope in a weak U.S. economy?

Kids living with their parents well into their twenties is an old story. But with a worsening U.S. economy and possible recession comes a bizarre twist, according to the Associated Press: "Kids" in their thirties, forties and even fifties are moving back home with their parents, the victims of a harsh economic climate. Plenty of well-meaning parents are reportedly delaying retirement or scaling back their dreams because they feel compelled to help their children.

A new survey by the AARP found that one-fourth of Generation Xers -- those 28 to 39 years old -- receive financial help from family and friends.

Is this evidence of something horribly wrong with the American dream? Or is something wrong with Americans' knack for self-reliance? Do kids really need to move back home with mom and dad? Or do they need to suck it up and get their acts together?

Read More

Ben likes: Manufacturing sob stories

Warner Todd Huston/Newsbusters

So, if family members are helping each other out in times of financial stress isn't this a good thing? Is the AP against family members being there for each other in times of need, are they trying to say that families helping each other out is somehow a bad thing? Or is it that the AP would prefer the government to do all the "helping"?

In the final analysis, this story offers no proof of the claims made at all. But it does do one thing very well and that is the only purpose for this story. It gives an uninformed, unquestioning reader the distinct feeling that everything in America is bad today. And all this during a presidential election where news of a bad economy will help Democrats, too.

Imagine that.

Read More

Joel likes: The pain

Tamara Draut/The American Prospect

Back in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, three factors helped facilitate the transition to adulthood. First, there were jobs that provided good wages even for high school graduates. A college degree wasn't necessary to earn a decent living. And if you wanted to go, college was far more affordable. The second was an economy that lifted all boats, with productivity gains shared by workers and executives alike. The result was a massive growth of the middle class, which provided security and stability for families. Third, a range of public policies helped facilitate this economic mobility and opportunity: a strong minimum wage, grants for low-income students to go to college, generously subsidized state college tuition, a reliable unemployment insurance system, enforcement of the right to join a union, major incentives for homeownership, and a solid safety net for those falling on hard times.

This world no longer exists.

Read More

Where do you stand on this issue?

Click on the graph to cast your vote.
average
vote
your vote

Join the Debate

Start your own blog, comment on topics, and let your voice be heard. Start your free account now!

User login

login

2008 Republican National Convention

Links to Rocky Mountain News RSS feeds.

Ads by Google