'Generation Debt' By Anya Kamenetz

503 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Welfare reform in the us

In "Generation Debt", the author, Anya Kamenetz, highlights the issues facing Americans regarding student debt in 2007. Many students are extending their education, continue living at home, or even moving back in with their parents, because the cost of school that challenges students of this generation. Teenagers back then worked the farms and fought the wars, and supplied an income to their families until they moved out and got married. Teenagers today benefit more from education, but they may be worse off.
"Generation Debt" is the term Anya describes over 68 million Americans, between eighteen and thirty-four, in 2002, who are continually suffocated by their debt. Much like the term "Generation X", the generation of debt is a result of social …show more content…

The amount of federal student loans rose a whopping 249 percent after inflation, to just over $61 billion between 1995 to 2005. The lack of aid has put off aspiring high school graduates, which, as a result, has actually made them less educated than their parents. In 1970, the nation's graduation of high school students peaked, at around 77 percent. In 2004, it declined 10 percent.
Even with school, "Generation Debt" are the backbone of the work society; however, they continue to struggle with loans and debt. Wal-Mart and McDonalds are the nation's top employers; the latter being the largest youth employer. The "youth class", as Kamenetz points out, is one of the reasons why the labor market has downgraded to a point where it can pander to the entry-level workers. And even those who are better-off fair no better. Many young people with bachelor's degrees join those who are underemployed, or even unemployed.
Kamenetz references President Ronald Reagan and how he began to dismantle welfare, which as a result, blamed the poor for their own problems. Today, the same figure, the 'welfare queen' that Reagan essentially created, shadows over the new generation. Public resources are being taken and put it towards the already wealthy, toward building prisons and expanding the military (paragraph 22)—which takes away from education and job

Show More
Related

  • Linda Gordon's Welfare System

    303 Words  | 1 Pages

    Linda Gordon's article is thoughtful, insightful and highly relevant. As governments slash poverty relief programs at all levels and as welfare-bashing reaches an all-time high, it is instructive to take a step back and look at how the current system developed.

    Read More

  • One Nation On Welfare By Michael Grunwald Summary

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    When speaking about Welfare we try to avoid it, turning welfare into an unacceptable word. In the Article “One Nation On Welfare. Living Your Life On The Dole” by Michael Grunwald, his point is to not just only show but prove to the readers that the word Welfare is not unacceptable or to avoid it but embrace it and take advantage of it. After reading this essay Americans will see the true way of effectively understanding the word welfare, by absorbing his personal experiences, Facts and Statistics, and the repetition Grunwald conveys.

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Welfare Reform

    2400 Words  | 5 Pages

    O?Beirne, Kate. ?The State of Welfare: An old and tricky question resurfaces.? National Review 54.2 (February 11, 2002): 1--2. Online. Information Access Expanded

    Read More

  • Analysis: The New Liberal Arts

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Individuals are struggling nowadays to acquire an education higher than a high school diploma. One of the main reasons for this issue could be very well the price it is to attend college. Prices have skyrocketed throughout the years. A lot of the people who attend college have to take out a “student loan,” just so they can get by. I believe one should not need to be in serious debt before they even graduate, all because they want to go out and further their education, and become successful in their life.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Welfare Reform

    1609 Words  | 4 Pages

    In today’s America, there are many people who would either be disgusted at the very mention of Welfare or be highly grateful for its existence. I believe that in order for welfare to be more effective in America, there must be reform. From the time of its inceptions in 1935, welfare has lent a helping hand to many in crisis (Constitution Rights Foundation). However, at present many programs within the system are being abused and the people who are in real need are being cheated out of assistance. The year after the creation of welfare unemployment was just about twenty percent (Unemployment Statistics). The need for basic resources to survive was unparallel. Today, many people face the same needs as many did during the 30s. Some issues with

    Read More

  • The Government Should NOT Forgive Student Loan Debt

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    An education is one of the most important tools a person can acquire. It gives them the skills and abilities to obtain a job, earn a wage, and then use that wage to better their lives and the lives of their loved ones. However, due to the seemingly exponential increase in the costs of obtaining a college degree, students are either being driven away entirely from earning a degree or taking out student loans which cripple their financial prospects well after graduation. Without question, the increasing national student loan debt is one of the most pressing economic issues the United States is dealing with, as students who are debt ridden are not able to consume and invest in the economy. Therefore, many politicians and students are calling on the government to forgive their student loan debts so that through their spending the slowly recovering economy can finally return to its pre-2008 strength.

    Read More

  • David Basinger Fighting Grade Inflation Summary

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    A complete college education is important because it is a way to acquire the information required to succeed in the work world. Basinger’s article gives insight to another college student encumbrance, student loan debt, by demonstrating how each is undesirable, affecting student-academic relationships negatively. The article, “Why You Might Be Paying Student Loans Until You Retire” by Sophie Quinton, demonstrates how a college student’s education is worsened by the persistent burden of student loan debt. Quinton discusses the imperfections of student loans and describes how student debt affects populace and economy negatively, worsening student-teacher relationship. Quinton continues by referring to shocking statistics on student loan debt. She mentions that almost one-fifth of Americans have student loan debt and 218 colleges have over 30 percent default rates. She then concludes her disagreement with the system of student loans by writing, “This is a program that desperately needs reform before it simply melts down--like the mortgage market did not long ago” (Quinton

    Read More

  • The History of Welfare in America

    2743 Words  | 6 Pages

    Welfare has been a safety net for many Americans, when the alternative for them is going without food and shelter. Over the years, the government has provided income for the unemployed, food assistance for the hungry, and health care for the poor. The federal government in the nineteenth century started to provide minimal benefits for the poor. During the twentieth century the United States federal government established a more substantial welfare system to help Americans when they most needed it. In 1996, welfare reform occurred under President Bill Clinton and it significantly changed the structure of welfare. Social Security has gone through significant change from FDR’s signing of the program into law to President George W. Bush’s proposal of privatized accounts.

    Read More

  • Journal 11: Effects Of Debt On Young Adults

    357 Words  | 1 Pages

    The effect debt has on young adults is severe. More and more young adults today battle with debt and how to deal with it. I know many people who pay cash for everything they purchase, while this a admirable ambition it is often difficult for most Americans. I see debt a lot like cramming for a test. Although you may get the problem fixed in a short-term matter, it comes back up later and often tends to be more serious than before. This is why taking care of debt now is crucial. There are many ways to avoid debt but the first ones I can think of are not impulse buying. This is something I struggle with recurantly, and often times with clothing. I may not be in need of a new shirt nor can I afford one but I get sucked into the

    Read More

  • College Education Should Not Be Free

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    In that year, the number of college graduates was only 432,058 (Sourmaidis) and ever since the demand continually increased as did price. This trend allowed for the student loan crisis to occur, which is a problem we face today. As of 2016, American students have accrued a massive 1.3 trillion in student loan debt. Just 10 years ago, the nation’s balance was only $447 billion (Clements). This ever-present cumulative burden has caused many post graduate Americans to delay important life events such as marriage, homeownership and children because of this substantial encumbrance (Clements).

    Read More

  • America's Semi-Welfare State

    1877 Words  | 4 Pages

    The prospect of the welfare state in America appears to be bleak and almost useless for many citizens who live below the poverty line. Katz’s description of the welfare state as a system that is “partly public, partly private, partly mixed; incomplete and still not universal; defeating its own objectives” whereas has demonstrates how it has become this way by outlining the history of the welfare state which is shown that it has been produced in layers. The recent outcomes that Katz writes about is the Clinton reform in 1996 where benefits are limited to a period of two years and no one is allowed to collect for more than five years in their lifetime unless they are exempted. A person may only receive an exemption on the grounds of hardship in which states are limited to granting a maximum of 20% of the recipient population. The logic behind this drastic measure was to ensure that recipients would not become dependent upon relief and would encourage them to seek out any form of employment as quickly as possible. State officials have laid claim to this innovation as a strategy that would “save millions of children from poverty.” However, state officials predict otherwise such as an increase in homelessness, a flooding of low-waged workers in the labour market, and decreased purchasing power which means less income from tax collections. The outcomes of this reform appear to be bleak for many Americans who reside below the poverty line. How does a wealthy country like America have such weak welfare system? Drawing upon Katz, I argue that the development of the semi-welfare state is a result of the state taking measures to ensure that the people do not perceive relief as a right and to avoid exploiting the shortfalls of capitalism ...

    Read More

  • The Problem Of College Debt

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    In an article written by Andrew Lehren, the author provides the bold statement that “the only thing worse than graduating with lots of debt is not going to college at all” (Lehren). In today 's society, many families lack the funds to provide a full ride for their children in terms of college. Due to this fact, many people turn to alternate solutions such as loans or diving straight into the workforce instead of attending college at all. These solutions, however, may greatly affect a person throughout the course of their life. The problem of college debt is increasing rates in regards to tuition, however, fortunately there are various solutions accessible in order to decrease or eliminate the debt that many american students face.

    Read More

  • Education Debt: The Problem and Solutions

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    With the ever-increasing tuition and ever-tighten federal student aid, the number of students relying on student loan to fund a college education hits a historical peak. According to a survey conducted by an independent and nonprofit organization, two-thirds of college seniors graduated with loans in 2010, and each of them carried an average of $25,250 in debt. (Reed et. al., par. 2). My research question will focus on the profound effect of education debt on American college graduates’ lives, and my thesis statement will concentrate on the view that the education policymakers should improve financial aid programs and minimize the risks and adverse consequences of student loan borrowing.

    Read More

  • Student Loans Essay

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    As people of many ages wish to further their education outside of high school, they tend to take out student loans in order to fulfill this wish since the large tuition payment is not in their budget. Paying for an education that presents a degree seems easy to many by taking out large loans to pay for their education. Recently, student loans have challenged the economy of Americans. Education is perceived as a necessary expense to many, in which they do not mind putting a burden on the economy for. Many people believe those loans can be paid off in a matter of a couple years. However, this idea is misguided as many people do not pay their student loans off until their early forties.

    Read More

  • How Is Bob Winderlin Become Successful

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    Most Americans simply cannot pay for college without financial assistance. Loans are easily accessible and seem promising, which is why a majority of college students are diving into debt without considering the future consequences that come with student loans (Leonhardt n.p). My financial goal throughout college is to pay for college tuition and other expenses without accumulating any debt. This means I am primarily going to fund my college education through scholarships, grants, and various forms of employment to cover any leftover expenses. Though the cost of college has drastically changed since the 1960s’, my grandfather is a major inspiration behind my goals to work my way through college and receive a debt-free degree. Through my economics class, I have learned the importance of staying debt-free in order to obtain financial success. Without student loans, I will have the freedom to take internship offers and make other career moves that I would not be able to do if I had a loan payment to make every month, along with my other living

    Read More

More about 'Generation Debt' By Anya Kamenetz

Open Document