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March 10, 2006

Book Appreciation: Strapped, by Tamara Draut.

Snatched out of my forum for display on the front page: Why it's getting harder and harder to be under 35 in America.

A friend of mine, Dirk, has been reading Strapped, and is beginning to get steadily more and more annoyed with the state of affairs. Given the statistics the book offers on housing costs, childcare and insurance, I can see why. It's sort of compounded when you compare the sort of standards our parents had at our age with what we're given now.

Good jobs are hard to find, and when you do find work, you probably won't get benefits. Plenty of companies are willing to work people 35 hours a week to avoid insuring them; I know people in this exact situation. Having a kid in your 20s is a laughably ruinous proposition for every single person I know. One income used to rent a house: Now two incomes get you an apartment.

But I guess that's just because we're all "slackers." Yeah, that must be it.

I'll probably be stealing this book from Dirk when he's done with it, as depressing a read as it sounds like. And I think you guys should pick it up, too.

Posted by Spike at March 10, 2006 01:46 PM

Comments

Oh, damn. I guess I need to actually pick the book up now, instead of just furiously googling everything I can find about it...

=P

Seriously. This has got my /RANT mode on.

dirk

Posted by dirk at March 10, 2006 02:03 PM
66.73.195.121

Makes you want to become a conservative doesn't it.

Posted by Tom N at March 10, 2006 06:42 PM
160.33.43.65

I'm more than a little sure that the main thrust of the book is that Republican policies that favor corporate behemoths and owners over workers are part of the problem.

Posted by spike at March 11, 2006 02:32 AM
68.249.31.190

Is it easier once you're OVER 35? I hopes so, be cause that gives me at least ONE thing to look forward to this September.

Posted by michael patrick at March 11, 2006 11:59 AM
72.73.197.76

Actually, it's easier if you're already over 35. We're pretty much screwed for life.

Posted by Spookable at March 11, 2006 12:14 PM
24.136.188.88

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