The idealism of the young....

I took a few days off and seems like the only things that I missed were the Devils wins in Carolina and Dallas to keep the streak running!
I think I'll skip on recaps on those two and return to the team with Friday's game in Tampa against the Lightning until some news comes out..

I also hope to add two more posts today with a cleaning of the inbox and another installment of the Erik Arnesen interview,but I wanted to do this post first because it has made me think a bit and since I try to use this as more than just a sports blog,I wanted to write a bit about this.

I stumbled upon this person's comments on Ryan's Facebook page,which appeared on mine since Ryan commented on them.
I refrained from a thought regarding his for two reasons-one is that this person has no idea who I am and could care less and the other is that sometimes giving people attention is exactly what they want with their conduct,so when I feel that is the case-I don't give them what they are seeking.

This person "loathes" protectionists,nationalists and any advocates of  "buying American" ideas and goes with the cheaper and best product for its value.
Fair enough-to an extent.
As a person that doesn't make as much money as I would like,I understand buying the best product that you can at the most reasonable price is important to the wallet and when push comes to shove,that is the bottom line.
For example,I dislike shopping and giving my money to Wal-Mart,but one doesn't have to like the fact in order to realize the decision to spend there is the best one for my families purchasing power.
If all were equal,I would like to think the location of the manufacturing base might be a tie breaker,but often times it is not and as important as my country doing well is,my families needs are important as well.

The writer then moves onto the fact that the United States is moving beyond manufacturing and into a service and information based economy and sadly the facts support that belief as well.
One might be able to argue that the businesses in the USA as a whole have sent the economy in that direction,but it is tough to deny that is the way that things are going.
So far,the post is pretty true,although not pleasant to hear.
Then the quote and what made me think-"These stupid old people don't understand that their kids are not going to have jobs at the factory" 

Stupid? Old? Don't understand?
I don't believe so.
They understand,they just feel sadness.
Sadness that their children and grandchildren are going to be the first generation of Americans since the Industrial Revolution to not improve on their parents quality of life.
Take this from a person that isn't/wasn't suited for a factory job-those jobs were the great equalizer for the less educated and gave them a fighting chance for a decent quality life.
Can one imagine anyone being able to buy a home with a 40 hour a week job at Seven-Eleven?


My father once told me that people start out on the left of the political spectrum and drift right and although I don't think that is always the case,it is more often than not.
Why is that?
I think it is easy to be Utopian and idealistic when you are young,have no one to worry about other than yourself and have few consequences for your mistakes.
It is easy to think of things as you would like them to be instead what they are when your responsibilities are few and one can pontificate without having to deal with the system.


The young have a sense of entitlement.
I did and most others as well-when other people do the dirty work for your wants and needs,one can afford to be idealistic and until you move out onto your own or graduate college,one can offer these thoughtful posts on nostalgic thinking by the old and moving onto the future,since after all you aren't changing anything either,just adding your opinions like everyone else.


Change is a young man's game.
I must admit that as you age,it is simpler to acknowledge the status quo,but change also means truly doing something about what needs to be changed.
Youth is a ticket that has an expiration-you gain responsibilities,realize that there is more than life than just what affects you and a concern that your life is not going to last forever with a need to take care of those that you leave behind.
As the time on the ticket gets closer to running out,you realize that the "stupid old people" are suddenly the same as you and you become nostalgic for the youth you left behind.
Thinking about the person that you were and will not be again with the few cares and few concerns with the ability to have an opinion on everything and one that is often wrong,that person lives on forever,even if in the past.
Think about that one just a bit-everyone's time comes.
Take that from an "old nostalgic man".


Back with more later....