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If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that capitalism isn't working - well, at least for younger generations who get to 'enjoy' the scraps left by their predecessors. While it might not be totally right to pitch our forks at white middle-aged billionaires - you know, your Elon Musks and Jeff Bezoses, the totems of what's wrong with today's economy - tell that to 8-in-10 young folks who feel like the possibility of owning a house in this day and age is rather laughable. 

Sure, addressing both capitalism's finicky structure and the way it continues to affect Gen Xers' and millennials' livelihood won't fix what's already broken. Neither will crying and meme-ing into our Twitter feeds. But at least we have that (until Musk runs it to ruins, of course). 

In the midst of a seemingly thriving economy, a disheartening reality persists for a significant portion of young Americans who find themselves grappling to make ends meet. As the value of their hard-earned salaries continues to dwindle, more and more Americans are compelled to embrace the burden of additional workloads.

Startling statistics from a 2018 Bankrate survey expose the extent of this crisis, revealing that nearly 40% of the population now holds a secondary job. This fervent pursuit of supplementary income is particularly prevalent among millennials, with a staggering 51% resorting to some form of a side hustle to combat the financial strain - as if the record rates of burnout cases and depression weren't an indicator that the system is majorly flawed.

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    #7

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    Turnip and a Frog
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How has this guy never been elected President? What he says is just common sense, not anything controversial.

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    #9

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    Papa Patata
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hey now, Kim K says you gotta get off your a*s and work hard. Funny how she made her money just flaunting hers.

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    #10

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    Bouche, Audi, and Shyla, oh my!
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was in highschool, I did walkathons every year for different causes. When looking for sponsors, I didn't go to the better parts of town. I crossed the tracks to the poor section. The poor have been there, and know the struggle. They were the ones that gave.

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    Marco Richter
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This would take an extremely talented and well versed host to counteract the combined excuses and BS those fil thy rich made up to legitimate their wealth

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    Bouche, Audi, and Shyla, oh my!
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Avocado toast is obviously too good for the likes of you! Seriously, I've never tasted avocado. What does it taste like?

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    #15

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    Kat Hoth
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have socialism for the rich and dog-eat-dog consumerism for the rest of us.

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    Jrog
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A few historical data. USA based, listed as YEAR:INDEX [MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE / AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME] - 1960: 2.68 [$15000/5600] - 1970: 2.75 [$24000/8700] - 1980: 3.55 [$64000/18000] - 1990: 4.13 [$124000/30000] - 2000: 3.9 [$165000/42000] - 2010 : 4.49 [$220000/49000] - 2020: 4.75 [$320000/67500] - 2023: 5.45 [$479000/87800]

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    #18

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    Jane No Dough
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ever notice that every religion keeps telling us we should be happy or at least satisfied with running on that same hamster wheel our entire lives because we'll be rewarded after we're dead?

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    TheAmericanAmerican
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Buuuut guuuyys... how else are the capitalists supposed to keep their wage slaves chained??? Come on, guys! Think of the billionaires! 🥺

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    Libstak
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bastardising unions brought us to this cross roads. It needs to stop, we are powerful together, that's why media keeps creating hate and division to keeps us down.

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    Kat Hoth
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not having to worry about bills would relieve over half to the depression in the US.

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    RabidChild
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Once upon a time schools actually taught kids about the Labor Movement and why it was so important. Of course that's when they also taught civics and how to tell time on analog clocks so....

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    Twizzle Sticks
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unions, and democrats, gave us the 40 hour workweek and with it, the concept of “the weekend.” They stopped child labor and got us paid vacation time. They are currently fighting to get paid medical leave and free, or subsidized, childcare for working families. And somehow they’re the bad guys?

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    TheAmericanAmerican
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Without workers, no iPhone. Without workers, no Tesla. Without workers, no Starbucks. Without workers, no ANYTHING!!!

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    Bamboozled
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    35 interviews in 5 months, applied to 200 companies. Reasons for rejections - you're great, we just found someone more flexible (read accepted to work for a lot less money)

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    Manda Hart
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ditto for recruitment agencies that advertise jobs as 'a great place to work and achieve your potential', yet fail to disclose the company name in the listing.

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    Elora
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or, hear me out: Eliminate money and the need for it all together. No other creature has to pay to exist. Money was created solely to create an imbalance of power and give those with the money control over everything and everyone without money.

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    Maisey Myles
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I took a friend to Five Guys a couple of weeks ago. 2 Cheese burgers and a large order of fries plus 2 drinks- add in the small tip (yes, it was stupid to tip someone for doing their job). The bill came to $47 and some change. I swear to dog I'm not exaggerating. You charge that much and still won't pay your employees a decent wage

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    TheAmericanAmerican
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The corporate tax rate was like 90% back in the 1950s. Today it's like 26%. Wealth redistribution works!

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    #38

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    Bookworm
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah... at my first performance review at my retail-minion job, my manager told me I got, like, a 30-cent raise and then reminded me not to talk about my wages with my coworkers because it's personal between me and the managers. Totally illegal, but short of starting a union or quitting my job in dramatic fashion, there's no benefit to pointing that out.

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    brittany
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    who asks for cover letters anymore? the temp agency i applied for said dont even bother sending one because no one reads them, they either get thrown away or they get passed over without even looking

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    #42

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    Coyote Osborne
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He may be playing it, but that doesn't mean he knows the rules or is any good at it.

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    #44

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    Robert Beveridge
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I looked up plane tickets last night and yeah the 22 hour drive each way to my destination is lookin a lot cheaper. Pedal to the metal!

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    Sally Jenkins
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Especially when your spending habits look like electricity, water, gas, rent, cell, etc. I'm not buying antiques at Sotheby's! I'm trying to keep a roof over my head.

    #49

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    #50

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    Vasana Phong
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At my old job I was able and doing the job of 3 people, kept getting false promises of xtra help coming, I left, now they had to hire the 3 people

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    Coyote Osborne
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do. I am a fierce, empathetic pack animal that is loyal to my family, and willing to smash my head into things that threaten them. As opposed to a parasite. Billionaires have more in common with a guinea worm than they have with me.

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    Vasana Phong
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since we got bought out by a larger company, our$300 summer bonus turned into a $20 wawa gift card and a badge with the company logo “ to wear with pride while drinking a cup of coffee “

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    #53

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    Karis Ravenhill
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can see both sides of the argument on this one. How about a compromise? End password sharing, but every paying user can opt-in to "Donate a Membership", Netflix can allocate a free membership to those who can't afford one, like those registered as disabled or low income, there's a lot of homeless families with kids who could benefit especially since there's a lot of city programs giving free cellphones to the homeless. Just an idea.

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    MushroomHead22
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    there is more to the story most likely. not every old person who still works do it because they have to. imagine being retired and having nothing to do all day.... some people, regardless of age, need to be stimulated.

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    Althea Armwood
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had the head of an organization tell the employees he wanted to hear their honest feedback and opinions on how things are. People gave their honest feedback and opinions. He came back and said, "I don't think y'all understood the assignment so we are going to do it again, but right this time". Well, if you wanted us to shove praise up your butt instead of the truth, why didn't you just say so instead of wasting everyone's time?!

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    H.J. carlson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's an exercise in futility. Mgmt is deaf to also, when they choose to be.

    #58

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    H.J. carlson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    😂 Ok. See you at the unemployment line or the bankruptcy lawyer.

    #59

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    Jacob B.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok, that made me laugh. Granted his book "Captial" is his real economic work, that got me a chuckle.

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    #62

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    Szzone
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't do this. It telegraphs your intentions to the company owners. Keep the union talk on the DL until it's time for it to become common knowledge. The company will take every step to prevent a union forming, don't notify them of it ahead of time.

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    Coyote Osborne
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "If you hate your job, why don't you just starve and die in the street?"

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