Like me, you may be tired of hearing whiny Gen Z'ers complaining about having to show up on time for jobs or railing on TikTok about having to take a bus, a safe-space-seeking loser who must cancel others for his feeling uncomfortable, or one whose unrealistic expectations keep him in a constant funk.
For some reason, after I saw this video over the weekend, I couldn't get this one kid out of my mind.
Maybe it's because he reminds me of Napoleon Dynamite. Maybe it's because he sounds legitimately distraught, unlike most of the Gen Zers in their made-for-TikTok dramas. Maybe it's because he's angry about what many Americans are upset over. And then I felt bad for the kid because somebody put it in his head along the way that he should be able to make it while he's only just starting out.
The unknown person's rant was picked up by a popular X account, Wall Street Silver, who shorthands what the kid is saying. Listen to it for yourself if you don't mind a few F-bombs. I've transcribed most of what he said below. See if you don't see some truth in his rant.
"Can someone explain to me why I make over 3 times the federal minimum wage and I CANNOT afford to live?"
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) April 5, 2024
"It is a struggle to survive right now"
"The American dream is dead"
"I cannot AFFORD to live anywhere alone"
"I know so many people who are struggling"
"I am so tired"… pic.twitter.com/ZWDvkyPEbz
He complained:
Can someone explain to me why I make over three times the federal minimum wage [$21.75/hour] and I cannot afford to live? I don't want to hear "pull yourself up by your bootstraps, work 90 hours a week." That's not the goal, guys! That should not be our standard! I'm so f**king tired of people being complacent with this uniparty — both of them f**king us over.
He went on to describe his parents making less than half the minimum wage and being able to live alone.
A one bedroom apartment: $1,800. Two bedroom apartment $2,200! Who the f**k can afford that? It is embarrassing to come out and say that it is a struggle to survive right now, but I know so many people who are struggling.
He digressed to talk about his grandparents, who were able to buy a $3,000 home when they were his age.
... And yes, I understand inflation and all of the bullsh*t that they have been pulling with the Fed—WHY ARE WE ALLOWING IT?!
And then I clock out of my shift. I am tired and I have to go home and I check the news. ANOTHER $60 F**KING BILLION TO A COUNTRY THAT NOBODY CAN POINT OUT ON A MAP!
What are we doing? Where has the plot gone? We have lost it folks.
The American Dream is dead. It is over.
He could be one of those universal basic income influencers, an anti-bootstraps AOC acolyte, or a Ron Paul devotee. Maybe the kid's a commie and doesn't want to work 90 hours a week because "that's not the goal, guys!" Maybe.
But it doesn't make him wrong about most of his complaints.
How does that saying go? "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And weak men create hard times." Where are we on that continuum? Seems we're in for some big trouble before things get better.
That kid should pull on his boots on, look for another job, and vote appropriately. I'll cook him Sunday dinner when he comes around.
Put your thoughts in the comments below.
