America, we are sick and we need to get better. We are addicted to money and we are addicted to credit. It is so common for people in America to be so consumed by their own consumerism that they will likely never be able to actually enjoy the possessions that they’ve bent over backwards to get. I believe that media and Hollywood has created a lifestyle that we grow up thinking we are supposed to fulfill. We are supposed to go to college and/or get a great job. We’re supposed to be married and get that big house with the white fence. We’re supposed to drive the nice car and have barbeques on the weekend. Well I say it’s a trap and the statistics agree with me. Our divorce rates and credit problems continuously climb.
We all know someone that is in a position that may not be the most desirable in life. More and more Americans are finding themselves in these positions earlier than intended. According to CoolNurse.com, “The United States of America has double the adolescent pregnancy and birth rates of any other industrialized country.” This is testament to our decline in family, values, and education. Every one of these young people that find themselves in this position are immediately thrust into a hard situation for anyone to overcome. For these young people, whether the couple stays together or not, life’s requirements have now become exponentially more difficult to weather.
Additionally, according to Networks Financial Institute, “Credit card debt among young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 has increased 55%, while credit card debt among the youngest adults, between 18 and 24, has skyrocketed 104% since 1982.” These numbers show that on average, a typical college student carries more than $7,000 in credit card debt. This is not a good start. At 25 years old myself, these are problems that have undoubtedly become more common during our generation. We have got to address these problems as a society or face the bleak outlook of the future.
It is hard enough for a person to develop into an adult, go to school, get a job, maintain perfect credit and buy the things that he/she wants while staying single, not having kids, and living modestly. We are not equipping our generation with the tools necessary to be successful. The disconnect we see from parent to child that is leading to these results is a product of the fall out from that past generation. In addition, I contend that marketing campaigns and television deserve at least some blame. Every day, every second, these campaigns are brainwashing our citizens about how you should look, how you should act, what you should think, why you should think that way, etc. It’s poison and we’ve become too lazy to think critically.
As we get older and take on more than we can chew, we find that our options are limited. The freedom to seek what you really want in life dwindles away with every credit card agreement, loan application, marriage vows, apartment lease, mortgage and so on. The true problem is that we are making these decisions without allowing the opportunity to get to know ourselves. You cannot make anyone else happy before finding out who you are, what you’re made of, and how to make yourself happy. These are the reasons for our increasing divorce rates and credit disasters. Give yourself a chance.
We all need to wake up and realize that these are the keys to keeping us quiet. An employee that has a lot of bills will be quiet and do the job without stepping up and saying what he/she believes. A man with a family won’t step out of line for fear of losing that income. A single mother will do whatever job it takes to keep food in her children’s mouths. Don’t be fooled into thinking they have your best inertest at heart. The banks make their money on late payments and overdraft fees. If the banks and politicians are so worried about your ability to be a stronger consumer, why does it cost you money to monitor your credit score? This should be as simple as monitoring your bank account. The fact is, they need you to be desperate. They want people that will shut their mouth and do what they are told. I'm offended... are you?
So how do we get back on track? It’s tough. There is no doubt about that. We have got to start thinking differently than we do. We have got to start standing up for ourselves and taking responsibility for our own lives. We have got to stop swallowing every excuse they put out for us. The American dream is to be free and do what you love to do. Not just for an occupation, but everyday. Falling into the traps of this era are only turning you into a slave to the big machine. Educate yourself on the pitfalls of debt and use it wisely. Don’t act on impulse as so many of us do. This is usually what gets us into trouble. Don’t trust anyone else to solve your problems. We as a generation have got to start taking responsibility for our actions and learning from our mistakes.