Our Idiot Brother: The Tea Party’s Relationship to Occupy Wall Street
The satire is appreciated.
In another era “Bob” might have been OK. He has (presumably) at least the ability to read and write. He was able to present at least enough cogent critical thinking to convince someone in an obscure liberal arts department to award him a graduate degree. He spent a few years gaining some sort of experience, getting his youthful ya yas out of the way and might want to settle down to reality now.
In another era there was someone, maybe his dad, or “Mark’s” family, or his uncle Bill, or someone connected to him who had a business. Could be carpet store, grocery, billing or delivery service, some kind of family business, who would find a place for him. Uncle Bill has mentored young people before and some of them have become very valuable in keeping the business running. Maybe the guy could have made something of it if he really wanted to if that option were open.
He has a point. Uncle Bill’s carpet chain was bought out by a larger corporation. The family run grocery has folded. The market is now dominated by big corporations who have very different concerns. He is angry that this happened while he was doing all that other stuff. These are the folks who do not get interviews now. They are not qualified in this tough environment.
Given that, sure he made a bad choice. He did not bother to think about his future and now finds that he has no prospects. He could have become an engineer, dentist, IT specialist, or nurse but did not. Now what?
Well I have no easy answer to him. This is what the world has become and it is not going to get better anytime soon. Dig in young man because it is tougher than when I was your age.
