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The End Of The American Dream (In 1 Uncomfortable Chart)

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The dream of life in the vassal state formerly known as America is fading fast. As The Bureau of Labor & Statistics (BLS) reported yesterday, there has never been a lower percentage of American men in the workforce. What is even more stunning - given the daily avalanche of "buy-and-hold" for a "safe-retirement" holding hands with your loved on as you stroll the beach at sunset - the percent of Americans aged 65 years or older has lamost doubled in the last 30 years and is near its highest since the mid '60s.

 

So much for that dream retirement...

 

And a close-up of the decoupling...

 

But stocks are near record highs and the Dow is positive by 1 point
for 2015... so suck it up America - "you have to believe to receive."

Charts: Bloomberg

 

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Sat, 02/07/2015 - 21:59 | 5757216 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

This is not going to end well.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:02 | 5757221 flacon
flacon's picture

Why do the lines have a regular yearly "squiggle"?

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:19 | 5757270 Leraconteur
Leraconteur's picture

School and winter.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:38 | 5757310 Shocker
Shocker's picture

This is a very uncomfortable chart.

Doesn't fair well for the "Recovery"

Layoff List: http://www.dailyjobcuts.com

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Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:43 | 5757331 mickeyman
mickeyman's picture

The hand of Skynet

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 06:44 | 5757919 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

We need a 180....Change and Hope.

 

Praying wouldn't hurt either.

 

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 16:09 | 5759203 Zero_Head
Zero_Head's picture

thith ith the republigan war on men thilly

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:12 | 5757249 Victory_Garden
Victory_Garden's picture

Somewhere over the Rainbow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

 

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:28 | 5757289 honestann
honestann's picture

Awesome.  Brings back fond memories of my former life in Hawaii.  What a voice!

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 04:03 | 5757782 Victory_Garden
Victory_Garden's picture

Yes, and surly he would say thank you, Ann.

And this heart would thank you also for being a modern rampaging highly advanced Joan of Arc, and all the Real you lay down here in your good words, dear One. Your spoken truth to power really inspires the lace-panty wearing men, to be sure.

Bless.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 21:36 | 5760372 claytonmoore50
claytonmoore50's picture

'The Iz!"

Excellent stuff!

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:36 | 5757308 cornfritter
cornfritter's picture

i'm a sucker for girl singers :-) and this was a very good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rd8VktT8xY

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 03:39 | 5757278 honestann
honestann's picture

Yes, but and end to this is what sane humans want.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:55 | 5757509 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

I don't care if it just fucking ends.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 07:42 | 5757960 The Navigator
The Navigator's picture

It's not going to end well when

1. the seniors have the jobs

2. they are collecting SS and med benies

3. the newly (young) emploed are paying thru the teeth for the above

Generational warfare, except for the .01%

And if you think you can escape this by leaving your kids a house and some money, be assured the .gov has a plan to defeat you, those in the middle.

.gov is on the side of the .01% and when they say 'tax the rich' they mean tax the middle class.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 09:36 | 5758078 Trample the Wea...
Trample the Weak. Hurdle the Dead.'s picture

This is not ending well.  

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:00 | 5757218 Bryan
Bryan's picture

The tragic thing is... no one seems to notice.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 21:47 | 5760408 claytonmoore50
claytonmoore50's picture

They do sense something is wrong, but they cant seem to put their finger on why they are struggling more each year just to hold onto that illusion of 'middle class lifestyle'.

Most of them are easily distracted by Bread and Circuses...

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:02 | 5757223 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Japan.  Everywhere.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:48 | 5757338 BlindMonkey
BlindMonkey's picture

I am waiting anxiously for the robots to enter the service sector. Imagine a fully automated McDs. Fast and every order will be right. Skynet may want you dead but, until then, it won't fuck you in the drive through.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:59 | 5757524 daveO
Sun, 02/08/2015 - 15:25 | 5759051 venturen
venturen's picture

"Je Suis Japanese"

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:05 | 5757230 Dudeskis
Dudeskis's picture

Hope Google hurries up and figures out how to upload our brain to a cyborg because all these young men getting a late start on their career will need to work well in to their 200's to pay off student loans and save enough to retire.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:18 | 5757269 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

The peons are expendable.  This is probably closer to the truth.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:08 | 5757236 nmewn
nmewn's picture

In my corporate office, day after day, on the LAN I'm treated to the latest VP being hired. Bright eyed & bushy tailed, clutching their freshly minted degrees close to their vests, ready to take on the corporate world and trumph for Mom & apple pie!

Man, do they have a lot to learn...lol.

A VP is nothing but cannon fodder, you're fault, bye ;-)

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:45 | 5757332 mickeyman
mickeyman's picture

I was so happy when I first became a VP

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:57 | 5757520 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

Oh no, I know a guy who just got hired as a VP. I heard VP and thought, wow, must be nice. Guess not.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:11 | 5757247 Goldilocks
Goldilocks's picture

The Scientific Method: Steps, Terms and Examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVfI1wat2y8 (4:25)

Dr Judy Wood : Evidence of breakthrough energy technology on 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vadSaWyiozg (2:24:57)

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 01:26 | 5757632 mvsjcl
mvsjcl's picture

Sorry, but Dr. Judy Wood is hardly a champion of the Scientific Method. Try Dr. Steven E. Jones instead.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 04:01 | 5757732 InTheLandOfTheBlind
InTheLandOfTheBlind's picture

Pons and Fleischman would disagree

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 09:47 | 5758091 mvsjcl
mvsjcl's picture

So would countless other disinfo trolls.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:29 | 5757293 lordbyroniv
lordbyroniv's picture

You all are as dark as Rasputins cape !!!11111111

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 22:49 | 5757340 Creepy A. Cracker
Creepy A. Cracker's picture

The spoiled brats still have to learn how to show up and work for a living.  The over 65 year olds already have that figured out.  Who would you hire if you wanted something accomplished?  And not just something accomplished between texts, selfies, and tweets, either.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:16 | 5757416 PresidentCamacho
PresidentCamacho's picture

Just don't complain when I steal all your shit when your at work because you spent all your money on Garbage and you should be retired now.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:14 | 5757433 Creepy A. Cracker
Creepy A. Cracker's picture

Won't complain one bit. 

Oh, and watch your step as you enter the house to commit felonies.  I hate having to clean up large messes and services charge SO much for that kind of thing. 

Do you plan on killing the people inside because they have more material property than you (apparently this is being defined as noble by some) or will you simply take their property because, well, you "deserve" their stuff (even though you consider it all "Garbage" and/or "shit")?

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:27 | 5757443 European American
European American's picture

In regards to your insightful observation. 

Sometimes ones roots have to reach deep into the depths of Hell before ones leaves can attain the lofty heights of Heaven.

When the power grid goes down, and we all know at ZH that any number of events are on the way for that to happen, and after a few months of surviving in a downright medieval life-style, the various youngsters who were up to their eyeballs in electronic addictions and those that are able to outrun, during the first few weeks, from being eaten by the ravaging obese coming down off gmo junk food, and those coming off their psychotropics, the Great Wake-Up call to what is Real, will finally make sense. They'll either be dead and eaten or they'll see how brainwashed common core made them.

On the otherside, I suspect any intelligent over 65'ers who were smart enough to take some of their savings, before it was turned over to the banks/corp/gov, and acquied tangible, sustainable provisions, i.e.. groceries and guns and ammo, water filters, etc..,, to keep the once "enabled" at bay, will also have a better chance of making it to the otherside. 

I suspect the same above chart might also also reflect the survival rate for both groups. My money's on the 65 plus group.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 00:09 | 5757538 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

This really just makes me sick. The boomers benefit from their parents' guidance and the middle of the great Fed ponzi, then ignore their kids, keep their jobs past retirement to buy stupid shit that will rot after they die, and then brag about how they will kill anyone that comes near them after the system they did so much in building falls apart. Wow, a really great bunch of folks.

Keep going down this road and you'll be lumped in with the "undesirables" when fascist America faces hunger. I'm guessing there will be enough Chris Kyle's on Adderall to deal with the boomers living on compounds. Then you can go whine to God about how it all isn't fair and wasn't your fault.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 01:27 | 5757635 JoJoJo
JoJoJo's picture

We dont whine to God. We pray - for the undereducated,undermotivated youth who have been unschooled by public education, not disciplined because of fear of socialist services and have been sold the bill of goods telling them its useless to pray to God.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 02:02 | 5757687 European American
European American's picture

It boils down to this "tarsubil" regardless of the age. As I see it, there's the "haves" and the "have nots" and since the beginning of time the "have nots" want what the "haves" have. Been that way long before the present "generations" were alive.

The reason the "boomers" are working past their retirement is because both parents are having to support (buying stupid shit for their kids, e.g. iphones and monster drinks) their children and their childrens children. Many of those children have not worked a day in their life. Why, because these kids are more concerned about texting, eating gmo shit food, social networking and playing violent video games than taking responsibility for their more than often worthless lives. So spare me the sob story theatrics and do something positive with your life instead of getting "sick" on your keyboard commenting on ZH.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:30 | 5758299 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

Meh, not so sure about that. My dad is still working to pay for materials to build a workshop that will be finished right around the time he dies from building a workshop. Having alienated all of his kids and only supported them by loans with interest in the form worship of him (thank God I never fell into this trap myself), the shop and house he has spent so much on building will go to disuse and either bulldozered for other construction or rot.

Many of the millenials and GenXers I know are not supported by their parents and live in debt and small living spaces while their parents live in mansions. The thing is, a lot of the millenials and GenXers don't want the mansions as they wouldn't want the maintenance time and costs and what single person wants to live in a 4K square foot house? It's stupid. This isn't envy, it is just disgust at how completely warped our society is. I don't leave the millenials or GenXers out of it. Many have followed the exact same pattern or have decided to not have kids and worship only themselves by themselves.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:40 | 5758415 Creepy A. Cracker
Creepy A. Cracker's picture

I don't doubt your story.  Relationships go two ways.  You seem to blame the relationship problems that you have with your father all on him.  Have you considered respecting your father, maybe help him with some of his projects in the shop that you despise, and see how the relationship flourishes?  We're all human beings.  We all have issues.  You don't seem to tolerate that very well.  A lot of judgmental statements in your soliloquy.

Been there, done that, by the way.  Decided that it wasn't all other people's fault.  Changed my attitude.  Things are now good.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 08:36 | 5758008 29.5 hours
29.5 hours's picture

 

 

Do not fall into the ruling elite's divide and conquer and laugh out loud strategy. The whole "greedy boomer" versus "entitled brats" debate is false and destructive.

We are in a mess and we can only survive and prosper by building solidarity.

 

 

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:32 | 5758307 tarsubil
tarsubil's picture

The generational divide is real. The conditions promoting the split may have been put in place by the ruling elite but the ultimate responsibility for it in my family goes to the family.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 22:02 | 5760447 claytonmoore50
claytonmoore50's picture

I put all my kids through school, no friggin' student loans, helped each one buy a home and paid for weddings!

I worked my ass of from the time I was 15 years old, saved money lived frugally and invested wisely.

Screw you to anyone who doesn't believe I earned every penny of MY Social Security, when I actually get old enough to collect it (age 67 for my birth year), still years off, by the way. I was compelled by Gov. force to pay in, I expect something back dammit!

And, by the way, I will defend what I have inside my humble 'compound'.

 

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:04 | 5758126 Metalredneck
Metalredneck's picture

I hope they learned enough from the boomers to just kill 'em all.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:56 | 5758368 Lone_Star
Lone_Star's picture

I'm 31, I work my tail off at everything I do. Right out of grad school I was working three jobs because two of them didn't have health insurance. Now I'm just working two jobs 7 days a week, and fixing the problems created by the employees who are 65 & older.

There are tons of people in my generation who are lazy, worthless good-for-nothing's, but there are also many like me who want nothing more than to work hard and contribute something to society. Just like there are plenty of older people who are forced to work past retirement age, but refuse to learn how to use the new systems or technology that is in place.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:00 | 5757371 papaswamp
papaswamp's picture

What happened then? Oh yea...MFN China, NAFTA....supported by BOTH parties...and of coyrse the rise of the machines (tech replacement of workers). US was doomed.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:02 | 5757373 Magnum
Magnum's picture

"It's a stinking world because there's no law and order anymore! It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old, like you done. Oh, it's no world for an old man any longer. What sort of a world is it at all? Men on the moon, and men spinning around the earth, and there's not no attention paid to earthly law and order no more."

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:55 | 5757511 amadeus39
amadeus39's picture

Did the toilet lever break and the plumber, who used to be a doctor, charges $80 an hour?

 

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 23:21 | 5757427 Heavy
Heavy's picture

I'm betting that happens before other wars.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 00:47 | 5757591 FreeShitter
FreeShitter's picture

The Nazis and the German people never though their empire would end either. Its going to be of Biblical proportions when this bitch breaks.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 00:50 | 5757596 PrayingMantis
PrayingMantis's picture

 

 

... whoo-hoo ... wreckovery  ... !

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 00:53 | 5757598 starman
starman's picture

Inflation is a bitch and then you die!  

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 01:27 | 5757634 holdbuysell
holdbuysell's picture

Banksters must giggle to themselves every day when they wake up at how they duped an entire planet to trade and store their productive efforts in a completely worthless manifestation that they alone are enabled to create, but only when someone pays them to create it.

You really can't make this stuff up.

Collective insanity indeed.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 01:34 | 5757643 JoJoJo
JoJoJo's picture

Dont expect millenials to take jobs that are beneath them. They are a.proud and spoiled bunch who have taken humility lessons from their leader - President Obama. Ever watch him trot up to the podium like a Lippizan show horse?

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:25 | 5758170 americanreality
americanreality's picture

If that's true...  who is going to wipe your ass in 4 years when you're too old and useless to manage it on your own?  Face it.  Once you hit 60 you are nothing but a worn-out useless gas bag in society.  And unfortunately you also revert to that spoiled infant mentality.  Old and in the way.  

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:00 | 5758218 cherokeepilot
cherokeepilot's picture

Well, youngster, I guess that you will commit suicide when you hit 60.  This old worn out gas bag still runs a farm, raises some of the critters that you may eat and doesn't depend on assholes like you for my living.  I had enough common sense and discipline to save enough money for my retirement.  Even if that retirement funds goes south, I can still live off my land since my wife preserves a lot of the food we produce in our gardens and we have animals to eat if we need. 

There are many like me in my community, help and take care of each other.  Fellow that cuts my hay is 83 and still working, How's that for a "worn-out old gas bag"?

By the way, my wife is 70, still works part time as a certified nurse, something she has done for 50 years.  I'm 75 and still working and enjoying life, haven't "reverted to that spoiled infant mentality" yet.  However, it seems that you have never gotten beyond that stage.

 

 

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:07 | 5758256 Boubou
Boubou's picture

Bravo ! My story is similar.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 14:54 | 5758896 JoJoJo
JoJoJo's picture

A lot of us missed your sarcasm. I only noticed you were a fellow old gas bag after blowing up your Jerry Garcia.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:44 | 5758201 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

Wearing flip flops to a job interview is not a good start.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 15:26 | 5759055 venturen
venturen's picture

don't worry Obama is opening the borders to all....no one is going to offer them any job

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 03:50 | 5757777 trader1
trader1's picture

there's going to be a revolution.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 03:59 | 5757787 q99x2
q99x2's picture

We don't have Americans or dreams where I come from.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 06:12 | 5757902 Help Is Not Coming
Help Is Not Coming's picture

The reason that the over 65's are in the labor force more is because they are the only ones that know how to count change back to you.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:48 | 5758204 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

Or show up when they are supposed to. And they aren't on their cell phones when they are supposed to be working.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 06:41 | 5757920 B2u
B2u's picture

Who would want to hire a millenium with a BA in Fine Arts or Gender Studies?

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:05 | 5758248 Boubou
Boubou's picture

It's true. Watered down curricula and the multitude of soft degree topics has devalued the whole notion.

If the objective is for everyone to get a degree , it will be devalued to zero and no one will want to get their hands dirty.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 07:44 | 5757954 Chuck DeBongo
Chuck DeBongo's picture

I don't think we should be too hard on the millenials.

 

I know many who are bright, hard working young people who just want the opportunity to work hard. Unfortunately, employers are more interested in either:

 

1. Hiring foreigners who aren't as qualified for less money.

2. Are more dazzled by people who can talk sh*t rather than do the job in question.

3. Your "personality" rather than your ability to do the job in question.

or 

4. Easily manipulated people.

 

The current system just simply doesn't work. How many times have you phoned a call centre, been greeted by someone who is CLEARLY not based in your country and you've ended the call either with your blood at boiling point or your issue unresolved? Now, normally, people this incompetent are sacked because they can't do the job. But because they'll work for lower money and crappier conditions, domestic staff won't get a look in. Oh, and don't think those less paid staff will equate to lower prices for you. That part of the equation doesn't happen. At work, you KNOW you have those members of staff who CLEARLY shoudn't be there! You know the people I'm talking about. They simply cannot do the job, but because the boss fancies them, likes them, they've been there for a long time or cry like little bitches whenever they feel "persecuted" (i.e been told to "get the frig on with it and be professional!"). But because they can't be gotten rid of, you've just got to suck it up and do their share of the work too otherwise the project fails and you ALL cop it!

 

The sooner this corrupt system crashes, the sooner we can build something better. We're ALL losing out...

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:03 | 5758121 yogibear
yogibear's picture

Many millennials want to go strait to the top because they think they deserve it. Many have neither the background or the work ethic.

Workers used to be loyal to corporations, then they were screwed. So now people aren't loyal to corporation. You have to think of all work as being temporary.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 10:51 | 5758185 blindman
blindman's picture

it appears the "close up" is an entirely different
data set. i guess that is fine since all the
data is made up bullshit anyway? yup, passes the test.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:48 | 5758348 Bob
Bob's picture

Good catch!  I hadn't noticed, since eyeballing them graphically they look close enough.  But looks like somebody fucked up on labeling the x axis on one or the other.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:58 | 5758371 blindman
blindman's picture

brian williams, its only information.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 11:42 | 5758330 Rentier88
Rentier88's picture

meh, more doom and gloom call me when it's 20% decline and the handout welfare programs have been killed off.  Then it might get interesting.

Sun, 02/08/2015 - 12:15 | 5758402 brucekeller
brucekeller's picture

It says MEN in the workforce. Could the chart be a little skewed by women entering the workforce and competing for some jobs?

Mon, 02/09/2015 - 09:11 | 5761321 dizzyfingers
dizzyfingers's picture

"Screw you to anyone who doesn't believe I earned every penny of MY Social Security..."

Good luck with that...tax receipts down, down, down. Dollars worth shit.

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