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Fact that @AOC and @CharlotteAlter think we have not been prosperous is ignorance of wealth privilege in its worst form.
For comparison..When my dad was growing up, his family was so wealthy, they had the luxury... Of eating ONE EGG A WEEK.
This was considered an extravagance.
For comparison..When my dad was growing up, his family was so wealthy, they had the luxury... Of eating ONE EGG A WEEK.
This was considered an extravagance.
Here is another reality.
Both women grew up wealthier than I did.
But I never thought of myself as 'disadvantaged'.
Both women grew up wealthier than I did.
But I never thought of myself as 'disadvantaged'.
I was thinking about this more and more, and getting angrier about it.
My dad came to the US in 1969 to study at George Washington. He came with $20 in his pocket, and barely enough money to get through one semester of classes.
My dad came to the US in 1969 to study at George Washington. He came with $20 in his pocket, and barely enough money to get through one semester of classes.
He lived in Arlington, walked across Potomac to GW everyday...because he couldn't afford the bus.
He would tell me how that introduced him to American winters...he couldn't even afford a winter coat the first year.
He would tell me how that introduced him to American winters...he couldn't even afford a winter coat the first year.
He got a job at the university, enough to pay for his room, board and classes...which was a big deal for him.
Only then did he bring my mom to the US.
Only then did he bring my mom to the US.
I mean...heck. Compared to them, I GREW UP I PRIVILEGE. I never struggled like that. I had a very 'American' middle America middle class upbringing...which was 'luxurious' compared to what my dad struggled through.
I mean, growing up...I got NOTHING luxurious. I got a bike for my 13th birthday...and even that was more of a bribe, because we were moving and my parents knew I was miserable.
I will never say I was not given what I needed to succeed. I have always been blessed. But was I 'privileged'?
Compared to AOC and Alter...I was poor.
Compared to AOC and Alter...I was poor.
Today, my kids are privileged. No question. My wife and I are both doctors, and...admittedly...compared to my upbringing, they are spoiled rotten.
And my wife grew up far poorer than me.
And my wife grew up far poorer than me.
Should I now feel guilty that my sons are going to grow up benefiting from my parents hard work, and my and my wife's hard work, when I grew up with less privilege than AOC did?
I mean, that seems to be the argument, which...is frankly strange.
I mean, that seems to be the argument, which...is frankly strange.
The simple truth is, in 25 years AOC will look around, and some new up and comer will whine about how much harder they had it compared to AOC's generation.
We all have it hard in different ways. But no way did we have it as hard as those in the 30s and 40s. Or even 60s.
We all have it hard in different ways. But no way did we have it as hard as those in the 30s and 40s. Or even 60s.
I guess my stream of consciousness gets me to this: to reach adulthood, we ALL STRUGGLE. Some more than others, sure. But relatively speaking, this generation had the best of humanity...and the next generation will have it even better, even though they'll still have to struggle.
OMG, STOP.
By the way... Your generation won't be poorer than your parents.
YOU may be poorer, but the generation overall is doing fine.
YOU may be poorer, but the generation overall is doing fine.
