If you haven't read this Op-Ed, you should. The concept is nothing new (the younger generations in this country are under-employed and the traditional vehicles for class mobility have broken down in the face of a recession and few job opportunities). The cited statistics are striking and I think this point cannot be repeated enough. When young people are sidelined, marginalized, or just under-employed, the whole nation suffers and will continue to suffer as these people are called upon to fill vacancies in the job market or as they turn to other sources of income generation, including illegal activity. GDP per capita goes up every year in this country. Where is the money?

The article also reminds me of how much I dislike educational institutions (including but not limited to law school) for raising tuition rates every year, even in the face of stagnant or declining earnings amongst graduates. Draconian student loan laws (such as the prohibition against discharging student loans in bankruptcy) only exacerbate the problem. Then, when everyone gets paid, our young minds are forced into jobs that do not utilize their skills or talents, depriving everyone of their ingenuity and hard work. This generation, with little job training and with large holes in their professional education, may one day be asked to lead the private sector. Will they be ready? What will we do if they aren't?