[dwmbt]

interesting hypothesis, but my subjective rebuttal is that nearly all of my friends would readily admit that they'd be perfectly content with building a life similar to that of their parents. most kids just don't think it's possible.

i asked in the parent comment if this is a normal thing? my parents were immigrants, so they don't have the experience of growing up here. it's always been an uphill battle. perhaps i've inherited that mentality but i wonder if americans of previous generations were also 23 and cynical, never thinking it possible to afford building a comfortable life?