Oh, the naiveté of youth.

[Pacifist Patriot]

I remember the optimism I had when I was just a few months away from graduating from college. Then the government instituted a 24 month hiring freeze (I had recently taken the test to join the foreign service). The accounting firms my friends were interviewing for began laying off their new hires from the previous year. So I ended up working as an assistant manager at a book store for $14,500 a year. So much for that $60,000 starting salary I assumed I was entitled to.

Enjoy the bliss while it lasts kiddo.

At least you're right about one thing. You aren't part of the 99%....yet. Until you've dried off the wetness behind your ears and transferred it to your feet, you're just a kid.

[seabeyond]

1. 30hr at minimum, is gross 870, so about 700 a month. no way is he paying his own way.

saving for college at 17, lol lol... no way is he paying for the other 10% moderate university.

mommy, daddy, .... = no debt

[justiceischeap]

4. Where in the US can you find an apartment near a college

and live on $700 a month? I want to move there.

[seabeyond]

10. exactly. not to mention utilities, gas, food adn expense. nt

[FarLeftFist]

20. Hope this idiot doesn't plan on having kids, getting married, buying a house, etc.

He'll be living like a teenager his whole life. Oh, and when they raise your rent, it'll be back to mommy's house.

[txlibdem]

33. And they raise the rent every single year

Or most of them do.

This bull about individual responsibility sounds nice on the surface till you think about the thousands of factories being packed up and shipped overseas.

This kid is going to wake up in his 40s and say "Hey, what happened to those opportunities I was supposed to have so I could take individual responsibility?" And he better never get sick enough to have to stay in the hospital or emergency room. Young and inexperienced... ripe for the picking by the top 1%.

[FarLeftFist]

36. Exactly. This kid is one sick day away from moving back in with mommy.

[txlibdem]

52. What if mommy's already lost her job too?

Poor little fool.

[Lance_Boyle]

34. Pretty much anywhere - even NYC or San Francisco -

but you will not live there alone.

[Gari]

41. They do that here at A & M

Judging by the amount of vehicles around each of the mobile homes in the mobile home park down the road from us, I think they have 8 students per mobile home. I think they sleep in shifts, 4 to a bedroom.

We never seem to have aluminum cans on the roads anymore, so I'm guessing that somebody is supplementing their minimum wage job with recycling, about 1 cent per can in our area.

There is a mega church that serves free breakfast on Sunday, so that's one meal a week they don't have to pay for. They'll even send a bus around so you don't have to use your gas.

So, it's possible, if you want all college students living under horrible mental and physical duress. Their GPA's have to be in the toilet. It is quiet because they have no time or energy to ever party. Good practice for when they will be corporate drones doing the work of 3, if they are lucky enough to get a job.

[Maraya1969]

44. delete

[Avalux]

2. A future leader of the GOP!

I don't think this person is naive at all, just narrow-minded and lacking empathy. I doubt age and experience will change that much. Some day he/she will be standing at a podium saying "if you're not rich or don't have a job, it's your own fault."

[Ship of Fools]

3. Yep -- youth is wasted on the young ...

[closeupready]

16. Have always subscribed to that Oscar Wilde quip.

Truer words, etc. :hi:

[ThomWV]

5. You know , I have read those exact words before - its all bullshit

Seriously, with just a few words of difference I've seen exactly that same thing before. Its just Republican talking points, its propaganda, its being fed to you in what seems to be a plausible situation. Don't be fooled by it.

[trackfan]

42. Exactly. It's about as real as the Brooks Brothers Rioters. n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

6. "decent" grades in high school...

no longer translate into scholarships. Even awesome grades and a great transcript don't translate into great scholarships any more, as the funds are drying up.

There are exceptions, of course.

[seabeyond]

12. i was wondering about these scholarships that paid 90%, also. i have a child working on college

i have been paying attention to this shit.

[JoePhilly]

13. YUP ... dead giveaway that this is bullcrap ... "decent grades" will not ...

translate into 90% of tuition being paid by scholarships at any college or University.

Total and complete nonsense.

[Lance_Boyle]

38. Grades aren't everything for scholarships.

I got a national merit scholarship with a fairly middling HS GPA (I was allergic to homework) and a high standardized test score, then my University quadruple-matched it. Other scholarships are awarded based on the gender, racial or nationality preferences of the granting entity.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

35. Exactly

I graduated High School with a ridiculously high GPA (it wasn't perfect, but it was darn close). I was involved in an insane amount of extracurricular activities, played 3 sports, and was being recruited to play football in college (but since I went to a small school, I didn't receive an athletic scholarship). I applied for and received Pell Grants and any other grants I could find. I did "Work Study" which helped pay for a portion of my tuition. I lived on campus, had no car, and had almost no living expenses.

And after 4 years of college and 3 years of Law School, I still graduated owing $80,000 in student loans.

And this was in the '90s.

Whoever penned this little work of fiction isn't fooling anyone who's actually been there.

Oh, and speaking of Pell Grants (which I'm sure would constitute at least some small portion of that 90% tuition), those are government-funded grants (translation: paid for by TAXES). I wonder if this fictional Junior League Teabagger realizes that. There simply CANNOT BE a college student who is also a teabagger. Not one that has two brain cells to rub together, anyway. When I was in college, George Voinovich, who campaigned on the idea that he would be "the education governor" cut funding for student loans every year he was in office, which nearly made it impossible for me to get an education. If you find a college student who is also a teabagger, that student is either a wealthy trust-fund brat or that student is the biggest moron you'll ever meet. Turn and run the other direction.

[Amaya]

7. this is just crap

why post this?

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Never hurts to be reminded what we're up against.

Personally, it pains me to see a 21 (or thereabouts) year old drinking at the kool aid fountain. I know kids who have absorbed Fox from their parents like a sponge. The youth in our society or no more unified than any other generation.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Oh, and I should add, because I find the....

picture a) a little suspicious and b) amusing if it's fake. Shows a sense of desperation from those who oppose the OWS movement, wouldn't you think?

[EFerrari]

68. It is. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

9. Life hasn't kicked him in the shorts yet. He thinks he's got it all figured out--

we were all probably like that when we were in our last years of college.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. I know I was like that and I would hope most kids are.

Youth should be a time for optimism. I hope this particular kid gets over the holier than thou / bootstraps stuff though.

[ret5hd]

14. Well, I guess he's smart enough to not show his face. Have to give him that.

Otherwise, after life kicks his ass, his friends would laugh at him.

[FarLeftFist]

17. Congratulations idiot, you'll be working that minimum wage job your whole life!

Hope you don't plan on reproducing or getting married or buying a house or having a life. Yup, thats it. You will be living like a teenager your entire life. Figures you wouldn't show your face.

[FarLeftFist]

18. BULLSHIT! You're a fright-wing plant, just like at the Occupy Protests. Show your face Erick.

[one_voice]

19. I call BS...

I have a kid in college. We live in Delaware...he goes to University of Delaware. He works an internship at a bank making $10 an hour..he usually works 25 hours a week. There's no way he could pay tuition, rent, food/elec/phone/gas etc. and books. That's a bunch of crap. He lives at home and pays for the gas he uses...he doesn't have his own car he uses mine, he pays $30/month for his cell phones bill. He'll probably be lucky and get a full time gig at the bank when he graduates. But he's still saving money in case it doesn't work out.

Last year he got a few grants which helped...this year they were all cut.

http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/jul/tuition-rates-070511.html

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. I have a hard time believing it myself.

It generated emotions in me ranging from mirth to melancholy. It's a picture circulating out there so I thought I'd share it. People can make of it what they will. Whether the person is legitimate or faking it, a student or a middle-aged shill, I think it simply highlights how idiotic (and desperate) opposition to OWS can be.

[one_voice]

32. I agree...

I think there is a very mean spiritedness with the opposition of OWS. And a lot of hypocrisy as well, these are the same people that defended the baggers right to do what they did. Many of the OWS are in dire straights...and they're ridiculing them.

It's disgusting.

[coalition_unwilling]

62. I find it telling that he or she won't show his or her face. Given

how arrogant what he's holding sounds, you'd think he wouldn't be ashamed to show his face. Probly your typical chickenhawk young Repuke douche.

[IndyPragmatist]

53. It's completely possible. I was in a similar situation

I got about 75% of my tuition paid for through an Indiana scholarship program and a private scholarship through Eli Lilly. I lived with 3 other guys for the majority of my time in college, paying between $250 and $350 a month for rent. All the utilities were split between 4 people, so that was only 50/month. I lived near campus, so I only had to drive a few times a week (plus gas was much cheaper then anyways). And in college, it's so easy to have fun for cheap. Most parties offered beer for free, or at most asked for a few dollars from the men to cover the kegs.

I worked a few different jobs in college. One paid $9/hour and the other was bartending which averaged about $400-500 a week.

Yeah, I would have preferred to not have to work full time and go to school, but I managed. I fully believe that this kid is telling the truth. Maybe he isnt, but his situation is completely believable.

[riderinthestorm]

21. I'd like to know what minimum wage job allows you to make your own schedule so you can work 30+ hrs

AND go to school full time....

Virtually all minimum wage jobs require you to be at their scheduling mercy... they don't care if you are a student, they want you there on THEIR schedule.

Beyond that, there's no way this person is net $700/month and able to pay college costs, rent, food, utilities....

In RL, my daughter graduated high school with a 4.4 GPA (honors classes and AP classes), got outstanding SAT and ACT scores, and received the maximum scholarship her public university offered which covered 33% of her tuition only. She applied for many other scholarships but did not receive any other grant or scholarship aid.

[FarLeftFist]

22. He really is in the 1%. The 1% that graduates college debt-free. Go worship Hannity.

[myrna minx]

23. ""Decent grades" do not get you scholarships. Total astroturf BS. n/t

[seabeyond]

24. not a single person living in the real world is buying this shit, yet this supposed oh so bright

taking care of himself, youth can write this bullshit thinking it is plausible.

the irony hurts... lol

[FarLeftFist]

25. Hate to break it to this kid but he's not even in the 53%.

[FarLeftFist]

26. Idiots like this make me scared of America's future. Obviously he's ALL FOR living in poverty.

And he wants YOU to be living in poverty too.

[Zorra]

27. Well...

[Pacifist Patriot]

29. LOL! Best response so far.

[seabeyond]

30. hey... i used math.

;)

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. That would be where you lost me....

I'm one of those worthless liberal arts majors. ;-)

[seabeyond]

40. bah haha. lol. gotcha. nt

[Change has come]

77. LOL.

:hi:

[Scout]

31. i notice that these people don't show their faces behind their signs....

like that 14 year old girl with a similar sign.

wonder why they won't show their faces?

[Blue_Tires]

50. Showing face=recognized as being a fraud in 30 seconds

[SOS]

37. Ah, compassion

Junior is laid off at age 45.
Loses his health insurance.
His child gets sick.
Puts hospital bill on credit card.

Once life has kicked him around, our little Superman can write a new sign.

[ehrnst]

43. I would LOVE to know what 2 scholarships paid for 90% of tuition...

Um... if he goes to a state university, some of that tuition was covered by taxpayers.

Especially now that pell grants are impossible to find. Bully for him that he can go to a "moderately priced" in state public university.

And unless he's sharing that apartment with 3 other people - who may or may not move out on a moments' notice, he's not paying his own rent and "saving for the future".

And he'd better hope he doesn't get sick or injured - unless Mom or Dad is carrying him on their health insurance.

He'll learn what it is to be the 99% once he finds out that he's got to stay in this job indefinitely...

[Missy Vixen]

45. A female did the printing

Take a closer look at neatness, letter formation, etcetera.

It's held by a male. Bitten/unmanicured fingernails, button-down shirt sleeves.

Astroturf, anyone? The insistence on the "cheap apt", bla bla bla - my Spidey sense is tingling. Whomever wrote this hit all of the high points, and it's going viral in 3..2..1.

:woohoo:

[ehrnst]

60. Yep - I assumed it was a female because of handwriting and syntax.

But being held by a male.

This stinks of fake...

[NuttyFluffers]

46. ah, the courage of anonymity...

one of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same, which of these things is not like the other, let's play the game~!

[seabeyond]

48. doesnt want mommy to see him posting all this independence as she pays his way. lol. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

47. I'd give you odds - if he were to lower that sheet and let us see who he is

he'd be a 35 year old former College Republican.

And, despite all the lies and illusions, one thing stands out - he does not know what the 99% IS. He has yet to enter the workforce, and unless he has scads of money from Mommy and Daddy, he IS in the 99%. He merely assumes he won't be there for long.

Naive, indeed.

[JackDragna]

49. This all is fine and good..

..until said college student goes out into the working world and can't find a decent job to earn a middle-class living. Or is lucky enough to get a decent job, then has it yanked out from under them by a company/manager that wants to move their job overseas/hire someone who will work for less/eliminate the position entirely to save costs. At that time, our plucky college student will be out on their plucky ass, wondering when the hell all of their effort made them little more than a disposable cog in a system where cogs are cheap and plentiful.

I also wonder how much of their success was determined by a stable home life or public schools which gave them a strong educational foundation on which to build. Someday, this person will realize just how lucky they are.

[hifiguy]

51. You, child, are a liar, a chump or both.

Welcome to the 99% when you graduate. And those scholarships were, in fact, handed to you in a sense.

[white_wolf]

54. I call bullshit based on my own experince.

I got good grades and a high SAT score and all I got a lottery scholarship that pays for half of my tuition and if it wasn't for my parents being able to help me I would have to take student loans and I know I will for law school. Good grades are no guarantee of scholarships, especially with tuition rates going up every year. Hell UT raised tuition 12% last year and I'm betting they will do it again next semester. I think this guy is either 1. a fake right wing plant or 2. is on government grants and likely getting help from his parents, but is too proud to admit he is getting help.

[Arugula Latte]

55. "Moderately priced, in-state public university"

By the time my kids are ready for college in our state, the cost to attend the University of Oregon for a year will likely be about $30,000.

There's no money to lower tuition and fees in public universities, yet plenty of money to bail out Wall Street and pay the war profiteers.

Wake up, Young Numbnuts.

[EFerrari]

70. The other thing is that the higher ranked schools usually have MORE

financial aid available, so going to a school with higher tuition can be less expensive in the long run because here are more funds available there. That's why I went (had to go) to UC and not Cal State. UC had all kinds of things I could apply for, merit and need based.

[uncle ray]

56. take away those two scholarships and what do you have left?

that's socialism working for you, kiddo.

if he is in such total control over his destiny, i wonder why he just doesn't get a better job.

[Maven]

57. This is staged.

[Lyric]

58. I smell a Freeper.

[Evasporque]

59. Perfectly satisfied eating Ramen noodles and cream of mushroom soup...

everyday...

[bvar22]

61. There WAS a time when this was true,

back in the 60s and 70s.
In fact, THAT was The Norm.

We could have that again,
IF we had a Political party that represented the Working Class & The Poor.

FDR and the old "Democratic Party" believed that Universal Education was a Human Right,
not a privilege limited to the Wealthy Class.
(SEE: FDR Economic Bill of Rights)







You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[SomethingFishy]

63. Great two scholarships and still too stupid to want their

fucking bailout money back. Maybe someone should ask them if they are doing all this "hard work" to make enough money to pay for the crimes of Wall Street.

[Courtesy Flush]

64. I too could write a note like that

Except I'm 52 years old, debt free, and have saved for retirement.

I suppose you could call me a 53 percenter, except that I don't pretend that if I'm doing okay then all must be right with the world.

Nobody is claiming that 99% of the population is in debt or unemployed. Many people are doing as well as they ever did, and probably will continue to do so. How arrogant they would be to think the rest of the country is lazy if they have been hit by hard times.

We all see pictures of depression-era poverty, but even in those days there were many who kept their jobs and homes. I wonder if they pretended there was no depression too.

[renate]

65. you make a very, very good point

"...I don't pretend that if I'm doing okay then all must be right with the world."

Absolutely! I realize that this sign reflects the narcissism of youth, but someone this purportedly intelligent should know better.

If this sign were true (which I have some doubts about), most kids can't get 90% of their tuition paid for by scholarships. (And if it's a state school, that money is coming at least partly from taxpayers.) It's awesome for the few who can get scholarships and find a 30+-hour job, but the competition is fierce. It simply is not possible for everyone to achieve these things.

So, if this is true, I genuinely admire the can-do spirit, but I am repulsed by the F-U spirit.

[Pacifist Patriot]

67. Exactly

[EFerrari]

69. Nobody working 30 hrs a week at minimum wage is putting themselve through school

and saving anything. That is just cr@p. And there are plenty of 4.0s that don't get full scholarships so the likelihood of 3.8 getting one is remote.

[haele]

71. Yes, many people with jobs in the depression pretended there wasn't one -

But they were also secretly terrified that they might end up like the men in the soup lines, so they aggressively clung to what little they had and kept talking about those lazy bums that needed to be run out of town, or should be in jail because those men "were obviously drunks who wouldn't" go out and get a job like they did.
My father's grandfather was a hypocritical trickle-down proponent and would have loved Reagan. He hated Roosevelt, even though my g-grandfather's business directly benefited from Roosevelt's policies.
After all, who would regularly go to a barber for a shave and haircut - no matter how "good" the barber was - with no money or job prospects? Oh, and he really did love his social security...

Haele

[NYC Liberal]

79. 25% unemployment during the Great Depression? Pssh, 75% were NOT unemployed!

So everything was just fine and dandy!

[fishwax]

66. yeah, I'm skeptical n/t

[JuniperLea]

72. I'm thinking this person is leaving a lot out of that statement...

There's not a chance in hell this kid is putting his/herself through school without another revenue stream. I call bullshit.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

73. Easy.

[itsallhappening]

74. Bitter, bitter, bitter.

[Chimichurri]

75. There is no way this could be true. The math doesn't compute.

[Ignis]

76. K&R

This kid is one accident or serious illness away from bankruptcy, like most of us.

[Phentex]

78. Here's the original...

discussed in depth as you can see. :)