Growing up, I spent most Sundays in Billerica at my grandparents’ house, opposite my grandfather, playing chess or some other board game.
With the anchors of NPR speaking in the background, I remember many moments in which my grandfather would comment on the state of the world under his breath.
I would ask him what he said, and he would nonchalantly pretend that what he said didn’t matter, secretly hoping that I would enquire further – which was something I always did. Generally, in these instances, I was informed that our country was a mess and that the days ahead were going to be more difficult than those that had passed. This education in worldly things began, I’m sure, as soon as I was able to speak and listen, or maybe even earlier.
You see, I am from a family of curmudgeons, and I am very proud, nay, honored to consider myself one of them, to be yet another individual among the rank of the moderately dissatisfied. I can assure you that I am in excellent company. Now that I have branded myself a cynic, I will now commence to tell you about some things I think are wrong with popular American ideology from my perch here in the Pioneer Valley.
As Jon Stewart stated at the Rally to Restore Fear/Sanity, ‘’we live now in hard times, not end times,’’ and I believe he is right. The economy isn’t doing too hot, and each of us either feels it or will feel it. You could be one of the lucky ones with both parents currently employed, and the question of returning next semester isn’t constantly on your mind.
Life right now may seem pretty secure, but keep in mind that in the next couple of years you will be graduating, becoming part of that terrifying realm known as the ‘’real world.’’ Personally, I’m hoping for graduate school as a means to put off Judgment Day for just a little longer. Oh, and to further my education as well.
America needs social change in the form of an overhaul of our prevailing ideologies. An unfortunate tendency I see out there in America is an obsession with the word ‘’entitlement.’’ American popular culture promotes the idea that if an individual does ‘’A,’’ they then deserve ‘’B.’’ A person may go to college, skip a few lectures and assignments and then complain that their grades are mediocre. They may even feel self-righteously indignant in regards to their grade, asserting that they went to most classes and that they are entitled to a better grade. Later on, they may feel indignant again when they are unable to get a job, assuming that because they went to college they are entitled to a good job.
It is a mistake to think that just because someone sits through something, such as a college class, and puts forth the minimum effort required, they should then expect an ideal or even tolerable outcome. Every situation in life has an outcome and that result is what you make of it. You can’t always just start rioting because a football game doesn’t end the way you want it to end.
Young adults should learn to live with less materialistic values. Consume less. Many of America’s problems stem from our addiction to instant gratification.
Popular American ideology advances the idea that we should be entitled to big cars, big houses and cheap entertainment. Popular American ideology manufactures laziness and fosters a culture that believes individuals operating effortlessly in work ethic cruise control are entitled to an ideal outcome.
As the mighty Maynard James Keenan, frontman for the bands’ Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, said in a recent speech during the Arizona state centennial, people need to learn to ‘’work more for less.’’
The young, up-and-coming generations, need to learn to work hard for less and to purge the desire for instant gratification.
Jeffrey Bagdigan is a Collegian columnist. He can be reached at [email protected].
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Darth Schleyer • Mar 3, 2012 at 6:58 pm
@KelWard
Face it, Maynard is a bit out of touch and spending too much time in his wine cellar with his 2,000+ bottle collection. Stop making excuses for his obvious verbal gaffes. I think he should seriously take some time out to think about why he shouldn’t be telling other people how they should live or spend their money. Really, the hypocrisy is strong with that guy.
KelWard • Mar 1, 2012 at 11:59 am
people need to learn to ‘’work more for less.’’.. my interpretation would be.. work more for less materialistic items.. self gratification instead…
Anoymous • Feb 25, 2012 at 3:59 am
All this doing with less talk has really inspired me. I think I’ll be consuming less of Maynard’s music and merchandise in the future.
Humanidee • Feb 25, 2012 at 3:20 am
The same can be said for Australia. If you look at world health statistics, we are among the healthiest countries. Meanwhile, our ”happiness” ratings are quite low? Why is it that the people living in third world conditions are less healthy, yet more happy? Work. Our answer to feeling good relies too heavily on physical possessions. When will we be satisfied with what we have? Working towards a common goal builds happiness and fosters sustainability.
Dave • Feb 24, 2012 at 3:35 pm
You were onto something for much of your article and then your locomotive derailed and took all of the box cars with it. People need to learn to work hard for less? No, people need to work hard for more.
I started out working odd jobs for little money barely over the age of 10, and it was hard work, but my work had value to others.
As I increasingly learned the value of money, and that I could rely on myself to sustain my needs, and even my wants, I desired to work hard and improve my station. Ever since I earned my first real job as a 14 year old, I have never been among the ranks of the unemployed. I’m fortunate, but I worked hard and no job was ever above me. No job is above me now and I own my own small business that employs 20 others.
Admittedly, in today’s economy, it certainly is tough for many people to find work. If you have a family of 4 it’s hard to make ends meet working as a cashier at McDonalds. I am fortunate, and I have made good decisions and seized upon opportunities. I have back-up plans, I don’t spend for today, I save for tomorrow.
Today we have a federal government who has seen fit to extend unemployment benefits that last for years, giving little incentive for people to get off their hind ends and take any job they can find. This isn’t to help people get by until they can find a new job, it’s to get people addicted to government handouts, to be dependent on government. It becomes an entitlement. This same government does everything in their power to punish employers who want nothing more than to need more workers.
It’s cute to listen to a multimillionaire tell us all how hard we should work hard for less. That there’s something inherently wrong with wanting more for ourselves, our family, and our friends. Maynard doesn’t work out of necessity, he’s already covered because he put in the effort early in his musical career. Not all of us are fortunate to be able to pursue our passions to the level he can. We’re just trying to get to the point where we can drop the daily grind and open a few vineyards like him. Make no mistake, I’m sure he’s working harder than he ever has.
If Maynard didn’t put in the long days and nights traveling, writing music, marketing himself and his band, he would be just as broke dick as the common man working and hoping for a day he can earn enough and save enough to do all the things he loves like he can now, whether that’s busting his ass working the soil in Arizona trying get the right grapes to grow or sitting around on some beach somewhere sipping margaritas.
Isomorphic • Feb 24, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Maynard’s twitter brought me here.
First of all, I’m not sure whether or not the self-entitlement phenomenon that you speak of is quite as uniquely prevalent among the younger generation as you say. Complaining always happens, at the high school level, college/university level, “real-world” level, etc. I’m not sure you can just call out the young ones quite so easily.
Then, the part where you quote Maynard: “…people need to learn to ’work more for less.’” Isn’t there a statistic floating around somewhere claiming that productivity/hours of work has consistently gone up over the decades meanwhile wages has barely increased? For the recent college/university graduate, there are countless “internships” out there that demand work for no pay. Many are forced to settle for these to gain experience because they can’t compete with the older generation.
-I
Sean R Bailey • Feb 24, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Very well stated, I’m a 28 year old male who’s father was a baby.boomer. my grandfather was born in the depression era and served in the Korean War. he was a self employed baker by trade. invested his money, lost his money.. picked himself.up and tried again. The key was he never gave up.. that old saying of “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade” really fit into play. The other key was it didn’t come easy..
I believe technology is to blame somewhat. It’s way way to easy for.someone to throw themselves into debt 99cents at a time. instant this and on demand that. keywords that.have enabled several generations to start thinking. “I can have what I want when I want for little to no effort”. It’s really unfortunate.. My advise is unplug.. Our.four fathers where analog why can’t we be? atleast in the 9-5 times
hmm • Feb 22, 2012 at 5:15 pm
hey James, i think increasingly a lot of us are just worried about getting jobs and being able to live with dignity rather than assuming we’re entitled to big cars etc….