The American Dream is dying for younger generations

• For the first time, a 30-year-old today is not doing as well as their parents at the same age. This breaks the fundamental social contract.
• As a result, less than 1 in 5 people under 34 feel very good about America, while those over 55 are much more positive. This creates warranted envy and anger.

The system is rigged against the young in favor of the old

• Minimum wage has been kept purposefully low. If it kept pace with productivity, it would be $23/hour.
• Home prices have skyrocketed relative to incomes. Permits and zoning weaponized by asset-owning incumbents make it harder for new entrants.
• People under 40 used to control 12% of household wealth - now cut in half to 6%. Meanwhile, the over-70 cohort has gone from 19% to 26%.
• Higher education has become increasingly expensive and inaccessible as institutions act more like luxury brands than public servants. Harvard's endowment has soared while freshman enrollment grew just 4% in 40 years.

Recent crises have accelerated the wealth transfer to the old

• During Covid, the government prioritized propping up financial markets to protect Boomer wealth over bailing out the real economy. This robbed opportunity from younger generations.
• Bailing out incumbent businesses prevents the natural disruption that allows young entrepreneurs a shot at success.
• Unprecedented stimulus in response to the pandemic leaves massive debts for future generations to pay while inflating the assets of older cohorts.

Social media is wreaking havoc on young people's wellbeing

• Self-harm, depression, celibacy, gun deaths, obesity, overdoses and deaths of despair have all exploded among the young, especially since social media went mobile.
• Companies like Facebook are using technology to exploit the flaws in human nature for massive profit at great cost to youth. It's akin to implanting a "neural jack" to create a generation that hates America.

Concrete solutions exist but there is a lack of political will

• Increase minimum wage to $25/hour. Reform taxes with higher rates on the wealthy and corporations. Expand the social safety net with universal pre-K, child tax credits, etc.
• Force colleges to use technology to reduce tuition, expand enrollment and increase vocational degrees in exchange for funding. Base affirmative action on income rather than race.
• Ban kids under 16 from social media. Breakup big tech monopolies. Remove liability protections for algorithmically promoted content.
• Institute congressional term limits to get more representatives who understand modern issues. Promote national service programs to build solidarity.

We have the resources to fix this, but do we have the will?

• Nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with it. We just need to find the will to enact solutions and rebalance the system.
• If we acknowledge our children's wellbeing is paramount, that they are worse off than previous generations, and that we have the resources to address it - we must ask ourselves, do we really love our kids?