" It's not just kids -- our generation is horribly materialistic as well. The thing with the younger generations that I see is that a great many of them have this sort of entitlement issue.

I work in academia and am around a lot of college-age students, as well as having two sons of my own that age. I can't tell you how many I meet who seem to think that the world owes them a posh living -- that they shuold get a job without even trying, that the job should be something they love to do, but that they won't actually have to WORK at it, and for this they will be handed a huge salary. I even meet some on the other side of graduation who still have this attitude despite coming slap-up against reality.

I remember the guy who did my taxes telling me he could stand his job because he didn't have to do it all year round and it paid well for not having to do much. He made it clear he wasn't willing to work at a job where he actually had to WORK, especially if he didn't enjoy it, couldn't take off as much time as he felt like taking AND it didn't pay well.

On what planet are these kids growing up -- because it's not the same hard earth under my feet. One of the best pair of lectures I heard as an undergrad was in Adolescent Development -- one was titled "Love is Work" and the other "Work is Work Too." The message of the latter was that even if you are one of the lucky few in the world who gets the job you always wanted, it will still be work, there will still be days you have to go to work when you don't feel like it, etc. And the vast majority of people do not get so lucky, no matter how well-educated, no matter how hard they work.

A lot of the kids today need to hear and take to heart a lecture along these lines. "

" Should we live more modestly unlike the following Politicians?
1. John Kerry (D-MA) $267,789,805
2. Herbert H. Kohl (D-WI) $171,423,011
3. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) $102,822,519
4. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) $91,713,012
5. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) $79,555,657
6. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) $79,051,090
7. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) $43,867,072
8. John McCain (R-AZ) $36,431,099
9. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) $30,691,003

Al Gore and Madonna Live pretty simply too. "

" The premise of 'Live simply so others may simply live' has gone by the wayside. I agree though Karl, parents seem to console children thru merchandise which is sad really. When I was a kid, I got excited for a trip to Gramps house or my favorite dessert as they were served rarely. Simple pleasures are not relished anymore and I feel TV had desensitized us. "

" John, it's not the KIDS today that have bought the houses, boats, cars, and toys that they can't afford--it's WE, the adults. KIds learn what they're shown through example. Something to think about, eh? "