Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion

A story about the struggles young graduates face posed the question: Who are you calling entitled? Our readers were eager to answer that one.

Not too impressed, every child has to make it on own in "their time" with the inventions and economic situation at the time. I'm very impressed with the deficit our present governments have left you, and apologize.

-- canuk2112

You want to be able to find employment? Don't choose meaningless art degrees. I haven't met a dentist, accountant or lawyer who couldn't find work. Unless you are ready to aim high, don't even bother. Stop wanting to be cool and free-spirited or you will find your hipster butt standing in the unemployment line.

-- Chaplin

I have hired some of these students for summer help. Some were excellent workers. Some were not. I am sure it is no different than past generations. If you want to work, you will find work.

-- zander

I'm 37 and I remember working two jobs when I was 19, one overnight, the other starting at 9 a.m. and my grandmother praising me for working so hard. I was from a low-income family, so I knew what I HAD to do. I believe today's generation is too fixated on what they WANT to do, rather than sucking it up and doing what they have to do to move forward. They all want to start at the top. This generation has been given everything they want. I think they're a lost cause. My six-year-old on the other hand, is going to learn from her mistakes, work her way up and know the value of a dollar.

-- KittyNJack

I was lucky to graduate from RRCC in 1978 with youth unemployment at 17 per cent. It was simple, pack up the old car and go to Calgary to live in a small basement room. Worked my way up to buy our first house that was 750 square feet and just one floor, that had the added benefit of a 13 per cent mortgage. We only ever had one car and never went on big vacations for our first 20 years of marriage. I still see lots of ads for tradespeople, some companies with signs up on the road. Unfortunately, I do not see that with liberal arts degrees. Every generation has their challenges to face, some just do it better than others.

-- schrop

Perhaps we should also talk about the difference in housing for a family of four over the past few decades.

In the '50s through '80s:

-- bungalows were around 1,000 square feet and two storeys were 1,400 sq. ft.;

-- houses generally had single garages

-- ensuite bathrooms were rare and usually only a toilet and sink;

-- bedrooms were smaller;

-- walk-in closets didn't exist;

-- countertops were laminate;

-- many houses only had one small bathroom

Yet we wonder why houses cost more these days.

-- sputnik

Entitled is not the word I would use. Perhaps ruined. The baby boomer parents of this generation have ruined them. Baby boomers went out and bought and bought everything for their children, even when they couldn't afford it, keeping up with the Joneses. Baby boomers have brought the average household debt to 150 per cent of income. They can't afford to retire, keep on working, and the new generation can't find employment. Baby boomers can't sell their houses and downsize because a) their children are still living at home -- can't find employment to support themselves, and b) they have taken on too much debt to make it worth it to sell their homes and downsize. This "entitled" generation is a product of their parents.

-- missy G

When I run into university kids telling me they don't get out of bed for less than $15 and hour and two weeks' vacation, what should I think? And I am in my 30s, not far off from the 27-year-old graduate telling me how rough they got it. Play the economic game all you want, but work is work and whining is just that. Where does a 22- or 27-year-old get off feeling screwed 'cause they don't have a sports car and 'paltry' 1,500-sqaure-foot home?

-- RC2004

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 2, 2012 A10