[onewhippedpuppy]

So only those in generations younger than you are collecting on government programs? Because I'm fairly certain that's wrong in every possible way.....

Hate to break it to you Fint, but your story isn't special. I grew up in a trailer dirt poor, to parents that didn't have college degrees. I worked my way through college with a full time job, full load of engineering courses, and a wife and kid. I worked my ass off in my career and excelled to the point that most of my peers had 20+ years of experience more than I. When my company went bankrupt, was purchased by our primary competitor, and my organization was downsized, I started my own business to support my family. You know what? I'm not special either, because I know many others that have similar stories. I know lots of 20-somethings that are working hard to improve their lives. Though I'm sure in your eyes they are worthless because they don't look like you. My brother in law works 70+ hours and six days per week as a truck driver to support his family, but I'm sure you would instantly discard him because he has a flat billed hat, skinny jeans, and DC shoes. He's also a huge car guy that loves to wrench on his A4, but you'd probably never get far enough in conversation to find that you have things in common.

Generalizing and painting with a broad brush shows a real lack of understanding of the topic at hand. Turn off the news, or whatever crap source of information that you favor, and get out into the world. I suspect that if you approach it with an open mind, you'd find that many of your stereotypes are patently false.