Tim_Arnold: The Real Weapons of Mass Destruction: America's 300 Million Guns

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On 9/11, Islam jihadists turned four U.S. airlines into weapons of mass destruction and killed almost 3,000 people. Within a month the George W. Bush administration had convinced themselves, and much of America, that Iraq, while not the source of the 9/11 attacks, nevertheless was holding "weapons of mass destruction" intended for America, and he launched the United States' first unprovoked war against a foreign nation in our history. Within weeks his administration established the Patriot Act, giving his government wide-ranging powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps (parts of which were recently extended under the Obama Administration).

Since then, trillions upon trillions of dollars have been spent on "counter-terrorism" efforts. An alphabet soup of governmental agencies have come (TSA, DNI, DHS, NCTC, CVE, NSI, ICE, NCC) and gone (TTIC, INS). NSA, the government's eavesdropping agency, is building a $2 billion facility in Utah capable of capturing trillions of emails, web searches and business transactions. A second, similar unit is to be built in San Antonio. Our defense budget has doubled in the last decade. And our government now deploys more tools than ever to monitor its citizens -- to prevent another attack.

U.S. air travelers are subjected to heightened security scrutiny -- required to remove belts, hats, jackets; discard water bottles; gather remaining 3-ounces-or-less containers of liquid into separate bags for screening; random full-body scans; required to place computers, cell phones, Kindles and iPads in separate trays, et al. A failed shoe bomber prompted an additional requirement to remove our shoes, pre-screening. It's a wonder the failed underwear bomber didn't provoke further scrutiny, because some of this has reached ridiculous stages: In Florida a couple of years ago, a gravely ill, 95-year-old woman was forced to remove her wet diaper before she could pass security.

Airplanes have been fitted with hardened, more secure cockpit doors. Thousands of air marshals are now assigned to random flights to guard against terrorists who might somehow manage to get through all of this intensified screening. The no-fly list has expanded exponentially; public buildings now have sign-in requirements and require deliveries to be left at the lobby desk; our borders have been made more secure; federal funds were set aside to enable the number of border patrol personnel to be tripled.

As a result of all of these pro-active measures, or in spite of it all, only four people have been killed by terrorists on U.S. soil since 9/11 -- the recent Boston Marathon victims. That same day, 11 Americans were murdered by guns. And by the time the manhunt for the Boston Marathon terrorists ended, 38 more Americans had died by gunfire. Not to minimize these unfortunate deaths, but according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more Americans will be crushed to death by falling televisions and furniture this year than die at the hand of terrorists

In the same span of time since 9/11, over 300,000 people have died in America as a result of gunfire: 300,000 versus four.

And yet not one single action has been taken in that same time to address gun violence in America.

What's wrong with this picture? Everything.

Despite the fact that fully one-half of all U.S. deaths by guns are suicide, our Congress recently failed to pass a modest background check law -- a procedure that could conceivably help identify potential victims. A recent New Hampshire study showed that nearly 10 percent of gun-related suicides in that state were committed with a gun purchased within a week of the suicide -- and yet our Congress refuses to consider a minimum waiting period to purchase a gun.

Despite the near-rabid claims of second amendment rights to own a gun -- for the purposes of self defense -- "a gun in the home a gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used to kill or injure in a domestic homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense. Most unintentional shooting deaths occur in the home (65 percent), based on data from 16 states. The most common context of the death (30 percent) was playing with the gun. According to USA Today, "in 2011, 14,675 people were wounded in an unintentional shooting but survived."

Enforce current laws? About 58 percent of federally licensed firearms dealers have not been inspected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the past five years, according to a report from the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General.

The number of U.S. gun dealers has increased by 16 percent since 2004 -- and now number a staggering 130,000 as of Aug. 1. No wonder. Gun sales are skyrocketing. ABC News notes: "According to ATF reports, in 2010 there were 5,459,240 new firearms manufactured in the United States, nearly all (95 percent) for the U.S. market. An additional 3,252,404 firearms were imported to the United States. That's nearly 8.5 million new firearms on the street in one year."

This is particularly true of the AR-15 -- the most popular gun in the United States, with an estimated four million of them in the hands of U.S. gun owners. A genuine weapon of mass destruction designed for one purpose: to inflict mass casualties. And yet Congress allowed the assault weapons ban to expire and shows no interest in reinstating it.

Not one single action to address the gun violence in America, Not one.

Here's a thought: Let's label gun deaths in America for what they really are -- domestic terrorism. And then let's address reasonable, constitutional, democratic measures to exercise some minimum restrictions on their sale.

300,000 versus four. No contest.

Follow Tim_Arnold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/possible20

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Richard (RJ) Eskow: Tick-Tick-Tick: Do 60 Minutes And America's Billionaires Want Us to Beg?

If you're a jobless person looking for food or a wounded vet who needs health care, 60 Minutes has a solution: Beg a billionaire for it. That was part of the powerful, if covert, message behind last Sunday's 60 Minutes broadcast.

The rest of Sunday night's message, which tracks closely with the right-wing agenda promoted by billionaires like Pete Peterson, goes like this: Keep downsizing government. Keep tolerating and promoting the hijacking of our national wealth by the rich, even as it suffocates the middle class and creates soaring poverty rates. Surrender democratic control over the social safety net to wealthy donors.

And whatever you do, keep stroking their insatiable egos.

The Agenda

Did the 60 Minutes staff sit around a table and choose this message? Probably not. Chances are we're just seeing more evidence of a herd mentality among our well-paid elites. But they might as well have.

This ideological bias agenda was glaringly evident in Lesley Stahl's "Counterinsurgency Cops" story. Viewers weren't informed that Stahl is on the board of anti-government billionaire Pete Peterson's Foundation, for example, or that her foundation works closely with the defense contractors of "Fix the Debt." Those contractors stand to make billions more in taxpayer-funded profits if America's cities buy into Stahl's premise and purchase even more military equipment -- including tanks, sniperscopes, full battle regalia, night vision goggles, and drones.

The Peterson anti-government vision dovetails nicely with a conservative fantasy world in which all government spending is bad - but military and police spending somehow isn't "government," or "big government," or whatever it is they're railing against today. We discussed "Counterinsurgency Cops" in Part 1 of this piece.

Sunday's broadcast also featured Scott Pelley's flattering portrait of a hedge fund billionaire's generosity, which failed to ask the fundamental question: Why do we need to depend on a hedge fund billionaire's generosity in the first place?

As they say on 60 Minutes: The answer might astonish you.

Say what?

The 60 Minutes website [1] tells us that "Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones' charity -- the Robin Hood Foundation -- fights poverty with the hardnosed, business sense of Wall Street." Say what?  The "hardnosed, business sense" of Wall Street? That "hardnosed business sense" was actually, by any objective measure, fiscal incompetence and gross managerial negligence.

Wall Street's "business sense" would have driven every single financial institution in the country into catastrophic collapse - that is, if the government (which presumably lacks such "sense") hadn't stepped in to rescue them. Not only did Wall Street's titans grievously mismanage their books.  There is now overwhelming evidence that executives at every major bank criminally and fraudulently deceived their customers.

You could call that latter trait "hardnosed," I suppose.

Mr. Jones

What about Paul Tudor Jones himself?  We don't hesitate to trash bankers and hedge funders, and there are plenty of them who deserve it. (See Robespierre of the Hedge Fund Revolution or any of our Jamie Dimon pieces.)  But as hedge fund managers go, Jones seems to be one of the smarter ones.

As hedge fund managers go, that is ... Jones' apparent talent doesn't change the fact that, based on current incentives, today's hedge fund industry is unethical by design. We remain unconvinced that hedge funds as they're currently structured are anything except economically and socially destructive.

That said, Jones the Trader seems to be an intelligent and effective business person. Jones the Political Donor is straight GOP, all the way, but that's not surprising. And Jones the Philanthropist seems to be well-intentioned enough. He deserves a lot of praise for devoting so much time and energy to good works.

So far, so good.

You Are What You Measure

Even Pelley's misguided "hardnosed" comment has a kernel of truth to it. There are new and smart initiatives which seek to apply better metrics to philanthropy. They're sometimes called "SROI" (for "Social Return on Investment"). But, as in business, the value of your measurements is determined by what you choose to measure. Those are the decisions which reflect your values. "Applying business metrics" is a meaningless notion in philanthropy, since profit - the proverbial "bottom line" -- is always paramount in business.

Profits are relatively easy to measure, compared to questions like: How many kids did we feed this year? Would they have eaten otherwise? Could we have fed more kids, and more needy kids, with different foods? Different advertising? A different location? There are thousands of questions like these for each charitable venture.

60 Minutes told us that Jones and his Board like to do a lot of measuring, but they didn't tell us how. The entire issue was glossed over after Jones said "we probably de-fund 5 percent to 10 percent of our grantees." There's nothing wrong with that percentage -- it's reasonable and, if anything, on the low side - but the important question was, "How do you decide?" Instead we're treated to the sight of a starry-eyed Pelley repeating with slack-jawed admiration: "You do that to 5 percent to 10 percent of your projects every year?"

We weren't told which projects are de-funded or why. Instead the very idea is treated as a novel concept, as if the ordinary concept of withdrawing support for less effective programs is some new visionary breakthrough from the "hardnosed geniuses" of Wall Street.

Government measures its results, and so do independent economists and researchers. Did Paul Tudor Jones and his people find better ways to measure social services? There's no way to know, because 60 Minutes didn't tell us. Apparently it was too dazzled to even ask.

The Unasked Question

About the question we asked earlier: Why would New York City need to rely on the generosity of billionaires? Pelley poses it in typically breathless fashion:

"Paul Tudor Jones wonders that if billionaires, like him, are such geniuses, then why do nearly two million people live in poverty [2] in New York City alone?"[3]

We'll skip lightly over the "geniuses" remark [4] to offer a better answer to that question than Jones and Pelley provide: One of the reasons is because hedge fund billionaires like Paul Tudor Jones don't pay enough in taxes. 

Paul Tudor Jones, Charity Recipient

When it comes to taxation, Paul Tudor Jones isn't a philanthropist. He's their beneficiary of everyone else's generosity. Let's do the math. Rather than a invade Jones' privacy, we'll run some rough estimates instead [5] for illustrative purposes: What if there had been no hedge fund loophole for people like Paul Tudor Jones and he had paid Obama's top tax rate of 39.5 percent? Our hypothetical Jones would have paid an additional $1 billion in taxes.  That's nearly as much as all the donors to the "Robin Hood Foundation," including Jones, have given in its entire history.

If the top rate were raised to 70 percent, as it was when Ronald Reagan took over, our presumptive Jones would have paid roughly $2.3 billion in additional taxes, nearly doubling the "Robin Hood" figure.

And if it were raised to the 92 percent level, as it was under Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower [6], our Mr. Jones would have paid an additional $3.2 billion in taxes.

Taxpayers Are Subsidizing "Robin Hood"

Of course, Paul Tudor Jones doesn't want to pay more taxes. That's undoubtedly one reason why he donated to the McCain and Romney campaigns. It's much more gratifying to give whatever you feel like giving, whenever you feel like it. And it must be way more fun to dictate terms to women running soup kitchens (as portrayed in 60 Minutes), give pseudo-evangelical speeches to adoring crowds, and be lionized on television under the adoring gaze of Scott Pelley.

Can't blame him for that, I suppose. But why should the rest of us subsidize it?

That's right. If the "Robin Hood Foundation" has collected $1.2 billion in tax-deductible contributions, that means the US government has given up nearly $200 million in tax income (perhaps much more) as a result. [7] The rest of us are picking up the slack - either with our taxes, or in the loss of needed services. We're subsidizing the generosity of billionaires.

That's no reason to end deductions for charitable giving, but here's a thought: If we're paying 15 to 40 percent of the pricetag, shouldn't taxpayers have a voice in how this massive foundation is run?

Robin Hood, My A**

Most Wall Street billionaires are Robin Hoods in reverse. The work of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, the Levin Senate Subcommittee, and other investigative bodies have shown that they earned much of their wealth through the duplicitous treatment of bank customers, homeowners, union pension funds, and the plundering of other middle-class financial resources. And over the past several decades leaders in both parties (although the Republicans are far more extreme) have presided over the most extreme upward transfer of wealth in modern history. 

"Robin Hood Foundation"? We admire his philanthropic instincts, but Jones should be ashamed of that name. It's a gesture of supreme arrogance. Robin Hood, as we all know, stole from the rich and gave to the poor.  Far too many of his foundation's benefactors have done precisely the opposite.

Jones says he wants to be "at the forefront of actually finding a way to kick poverty's ass." Gotta love that attitude. But that particular ass-kicking will require systemic change - and  genuine sacrifice from the likes of Paul Tudor Jones.

Nobody wants to steal from the ultra-wealthy class, a group which 60 Minutes shows celebrating itself at a Jones fundraiser. But we do want them to pay their fair share. It would be nice if they stopped stealing from others, too.

Handout Nation

The Jones/60 Minutes vision of America is of that of a nation in which the majority must tolerate the slow siphoning off of its wealth, while hoping against hope that some of the siphoners will then deign to rescue them from poverty. Is that the kind of society we want to become? A "Handout Nation"? A people who must rely on the kindness of strangers?

We'll close with a few words about the third and final story on last Sunday's 60 Minutes, entitled "The Invisible Wounds of War." The producers couldn't even cover that story without ladling out a thick gravy of anti-government ideology. Instead of covering the Veterans Administration, for example (it's done some impressive things), the story focuses on yet another private donor. Says host David Martin:

"Head of one of New York's most successful construction firms, (Art) Fisher offered to build a state of the art brain injury center. His foundation would raise the money. All he asked of the government was to stay out of his way." (Emphasis ours)

The story never asks why our government doesn't have the money or resources to treat brain-injured veterans, especially since we supposedly honor and respect their sacrifice. Again: One of the reasons is because people like Art Fisher don't pay enough in taxes.

The report doesn't even raise the issue. Instead it gives the floor to Fisher, who sneers that "we can build (a veterans' brain injury facility) in half the time, half the cost and twice the quality" (as the government can).

The numbers say otherwise. Government health care is more efficient, and more cost-efficient, than its private-sector counterparts. And its greatest cost limitations come from the restrictions which Republicans (beneficiaries of these donors' generosity) have placed on its ability to negotiate prices and manage its services.

The Kindness of Billionaires

"All he asked of the government was to stay out of his way."

That's Art Fisher's agenda, and it's Paul Tudor Jones' agenda too: If you're nice to us, and if you let us keep siphoning the nation's wealth, a few of us will help you - just as long as the a) flattery keeps flowing, b) you keep subsidizing our gifts, and c) you relinquish control over your destinies to us. It seems to be the 60 Minutes agenda, too. 

60 Minutes was once a shining light of independent journalism. Now it's a covert mouthpiece for the far-right, anti-government values of the Peterson crowd. Once it spoke to, and for, a majority whose interests it fought to defend. Now it represents an atavistically self-centered billionaire class which expects flattery from its subjects whenever it deigns to take notice of their misery. CBS News, I want my hour back. But then, I want my country back too.

Tick-tick-tick. They'll be back next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Curiously, the CBS web page which touts his work also tells us that "Bill Clinton tried to get Led Zeppelin back together." I don't get the connection between these stories. That group's bass player was John Paul Jones. Different guy altogether. Maybe the common thread is the Clintons, who have benefited mightily from the generosity of hedge funders. You're not likely to find them challenging the 60 Minutes narrative.

[2] Twenty percent of New Yorkers - one in five - live in poverty. Neither Pelley nor Jones seems curious about that - at least, not curious enough to investigate it.

[3] I don't know why the CBS News website uses so many commas in its sentences. It's distracting and hard to read, but that's how they transcribe their scripts.

[4] The money-making talent doesn't always equate with intelligence per se, although there are forms of intelligence that can be used to accumulate great wealth. Some billionaires are very gifted people. But sometimes average intelligence, when combined with rapacious greed, personality quirks, or character defects, can do the trick very effectively. And sometimes "idiot savant" is a better description of their gifts than "genius."

[5] Let's assume that Jones' wealth comes from income taxed at the "hedge fund loophole" rate of 15 percent. (That's generous, since he and his fellow billionaires often pay far less than that.) That would mean that he earned $4.235 billion and paid $635 million in taxes.

[6] Conservatives love to claim that the actual top tax rate under Eisenhower was much less than that. They base that argument on a simple math error, or deception, which has been explained elsewhere.

[7] Here's the math: Even if all the donors were hedge funders (which is unlikely), they were able to write $1.2 billion off at a 15 percent rate, which comes to $180 million. At the 35 percent Bush tax-cut rate, the figure comes to $420 million in lost tax revenue. (We're assuming these deductions came to less than 50 percent of donors' adjusted gross income, which is the limit for charitable deductions.)

Follow Richard (RJ) Eskow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rjeskow

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Atul Tandon: America's 'Melting Pot' Is Boiling Over

Atul Tandon: America's 'Melting Pot' Is Boiling Over HPFB.init();
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GET UPDATES FROM Atul Tandon   Like America's 'Melting Pot' Is Boiling Over Posted: 03/13/2013 3:59 pm Follow   Immigration , Congress Immigration , Immigration Reform , Minorities Non Profits , Non Profit Organizations , Non Profits , Non Profits Diversity , Impact News
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America has changed.

As Congress debates revisions to our nation's immigration laws, it does not take a political scientist or sociologist to recognize this. Readers of The Huffington Post just need to look around:

The cashier at mini-market where you buy gas was born in India. The cab driver you hailed emigrated from Ethiopia.The checker at the local grocery store is a third-generation American whose great-grandparents entered the U.S. from Mexico, long before barbed-wire fences sought to keep them out.

America, the so-called "melting pot of the world," is changing at an accelerated pace and, over the next 20 years, its population will become even more diverse. The U.S. Census last year confirmed that white births are no longer a majority. The New York Times noted, "the fact that a younger generation is being born in which minorities are the majority has broad implications for the country's economy, its political life and its identity."

Indeed, this is a tipping point for the philanthropic sector, especially local non-profit organizations.

There are nearly 80 ancestry groups -- from Afghan to Yugoslavian -- represented in the United States and nearly 50 different languages are spoken in American homes. As one might expect, California has most diverse population, with 43 percent of the state's residents speaking a primary language other than English. Among cities, however, it is not Los Angeles, but rather New York that tops this category, with nearly 48 percent non-English speakers.

Are local non-profit agencies seeking to adapt to this change in demographics? Or, are they leading the change, and ensuring their services are relevant to their clients, as well as demonstrating excellence in managing diversity and raising resources?

The answers are, quite simply, "no," and "not quickly enough."

The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a leading publication in the non-profit sector, reported in 2009 that, among the 400 largest charitable organizations in the U.S., only 14 leaders -- CEOs, executive directors and others -- less than 4 percent -- were black. Moreover, only 25 overall were non-white.

While more recent statistics are scarce, a 2011 report, "The Voice of Non-Profit Talent: The Perceptions of Diversity in the Workplace," by Commongood careers and the Level Playing Field Institute, found that membership of staff, leadership and board members fall far short of American demographics. While about 30 percent of Americans are people of color, more than 80 percent nonprofit employees and board members are Caucasian.

Interestingly, a recent study of non-profit employment trends totaling 18 pages devoted only seven lines to race and ethnicity, stating something that I, as an individual of Indian descent, have long observed: "It is also important to note that the percentage of non-white staff decreased as the position level increased."

A few key trends and statistics provide some clues to the challenges non-profit leaders are facing as they align and adapt their organizations to meet rapidly changing ethnic and racial demographics:

In 2010, more than 1 million people became new, legal, permanent residents in the United States, with Mexico, China, India, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic, being the top five nations represented. (SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau)

Racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive preventive care, more likely to suffer from serious illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, and lack access to quality health care; (SOURCE: Office of Minority Health, press release on "HHS Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities," April 8, 2011)

The dropout rates for 2009 among high school students and those age 24 and under who do not have a GED certificate include: American Indians at 13.2 percent, Blacks at 9.3 percent and Hispanics at 17.6 percent. (SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics, an office of the US Department of Education)

As a result, the need to expand and develop resources and professional practices to match the demands of minority beneficiaries is growing rapidly. This need, in turn, will have to be met by knowledgeable and trained social sector workers with cultural and linguistic skills to relate to minorities effectively.

"Growing diversity in the U.S. has prioritized social work's ethical obligation to develop specialized knowledge and understanding of culture and its function in human behavior and society," according to Kelly F. Jackson, an assistant professor at Arizona State University in her 2010 paper, "Ethical Considerations in Social Work Research with Multiracial Individuals. "

In a compelling example of the impact of cultural competence, the National Association of Social Workers, in a paper entitled, "Diversity & Culture Competence," states:

"It is no exaggeration to say that a culturally competent provider can mean the difference between a person 'making it' or 'falling through the cracks.' Here is an extreme example. Latina social worker Josie has a brother with schizophrenia who speaks only Spanish. When her brother failed to receive culturally competent care over a 20-year-period, he was hospitalized 162 times. When he finally did receive culturally competent care, he was hospitalized only once in 15 years."

The conclusion is obvious: Leaders of local non-profit agencies must be more intentional and more effective in recruiting people of color at all levels of their organizations and more savvy in their program delivery and fundraising efforts so their agencies can meet the increasing demands for services.

In addition to diversity in the workforce, non-profits must also more intentional about diversity among their donor bases. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported last year that giving among Hispanics, Blacks and Asian combined was over 36 percent of all charitable donations, which totaled $4.5 billion.

Gone is the belief that "one size fits all" is the foundation for creating programs and services for non-profit clients.

The American demographic reality has changed. No one can deny that the United States is an ethnically diverse nation. Non-profits need to catch up to this reality -- in their leadership and staffing, as well as in their programs and funding.

The stakes are high. Community, caring for each other, volunteerism and charity have defined American society since the Mayflower anchored nearly 400 years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Do we continue with our tradition, or risk redefining what it is to American?

Atul Tandon, a former executive at two of America's largest non-profits, is the founder and CEO of Tandon Institute, a Seattle-based firm that advises social sector organizations. Contact him at atandon@tandonsinstitute.com.

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Charges Of Financial Irregularities At Symphony Of The Americas

When joining the board of a nonprofit performing arts organization, most folks don’t assume the job will include a political battle fought in the public arena for doing nothing more than acting as a steward of public trust. But according to a report in the 6/4/2013 edition of WPLG’s Local10.com by Bob Norman, that appears to be the case at the Symphony of the Americas (SoA) where members of the organization’s executive board claim they were ousted for attempting to investigate questionable spending practices of SoA’s executive director, Renee LaBonte, and the long-time maestro, James Brooks-Bruzzese.

In question are sketchy internal oversight measures such as LaBonte reportedly barring the board treasurer from signing checks and keeping the organization’s financial records at her personal home, both of which violate SoA’s bylaws. When asked about that issue by Local 10's investigative reporter, LaBonte declined to answer other than to say the there are times when administrators sign checks and other times when the Treasurer signs.

Also in question are purportedly personal travel expenses by LaBonte and Brooks-Bruzzese that were paid for using SoA funds.

When former board president Beth Holland and Treasurer Raquel Cohen began an internal investigation and asking questions, they claim LaBonte and Brooks-Bruzzese organized a board coup by amending the bylaws and had both members removed. In response, more than ten additional board members resigned in protest as did the orchestra’s Symphony Society President.

Regardless of how the SoA debacle turns out, the situation is a representative example demonstrating just how much power and influence rests in the executive administrative and artistic leaders. It will be interesting to see if the situation continues to develop and the sort of transparent audit being called for by the ousted board members comes to pass.

Likewise, the situation brings to mind the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, which set into motion a series of enhanced accounting checks and balances to help prevent corporate executives from committing fraud along with providing added protections for corporate whistle blowers. Interestingly enough, Sarbanes-Oxley contains provisions that exempt nonprofit organizations from being subject to the accounting requirements due mostly to the unreasonable burden it would place on smaller and mid size budget organizations.

Following is a copy of the investigative report segment aired by WPLG and you can access the orchestra’s IRS form 990s at Guidestar.

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house. I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why. In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu. For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, and love a good coffee drink.

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Arianna Huffington: Millennials Come of Age as America's Most Stressed Generation

Arianna Huffington: Millennials Come of Age as America's Most Stressed Generation HPFB.init();
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Loading... iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More Log in Create Account Notifications Profile Settings Logout #topnav_margin_btm { margin:0 !important } February 19, 2013 Edition: U.S. CA Canada FR France IT Italia ES España US United States UK United Kingdom FRONT PAGE Women 8 Lessons We Learned From 'Life Is But A Dream'356 11 Things That Are Killing Your Sex Drive 10 Things I'd Do If I Were a Lady Billionaire20 Why Cutting My Hair Is About So Much More Than My Looks33 Husbands Who Extinguish Their Wives' Libidos226 Go to Women More in Women Love & Sex Career & Money Women's Health You might also like Style Weddings Divorce Parents Healthy Living Black Voices Latino Voices Taste James Beard Foundation Announces 2013 Restaurant And Chef Semifinalists21 The Childhood Snacks We Still Want To Eat28 How To Waste Less Food Every Week Go to Taste More in Taste Recipes Baking Entertaining Healthy Eating Taste Tests Thanksgiving You might also like Food Healthy Living Travel OWN Good News LOOK: Man Gets Dog Back After Stranger Takes Heartbreaking Photo336 WWII-Era Item Found In Laundry Room Sparks Revelation97 3 Men Jump On Subway Tracks In NYC To Help Stranger96 WATCH: Kitten Stuck In Tree Doesn't Need Mama's Help94 WATCH: Lil Bub Was Even More Adorable As A Kitten116 Go to Good News You might also like GPS for the Soul Weird News Comedy Impact Green Healthy Living Comedy Books Arts Parents Honest Toddler Wonders What Blue Ivy Is Doing Right Now15 Mom Gives Birth To Two Sets Of Identical Twins In One Day297 Two Words That Hit Home When We Got Rid Of The Baby Stuff33 The 7 Truths About Motherhood The Real Breastfeeding Scandal46 Go to Parents More in Parents Parentry Moms Dads Screen Sense You might also like Education Food Taste Arts Teen Post 50 Style PHOTOS: Kate Middleton Takes Her Baby Bump To Hope House338 PHOTOS: Sarah Jessica Parker Looks Strange On Her Harper's Bazaar China Cover289 PHOTOS: Selena Gomez Whips Out The Sideboob For 'Spring Breakers' Premiere119 Michelle Obama: Bangs Are The Result Of 'My Mid-Life Crisis'70 PHOTOS: Lena Dunham Totally Surprises Us In A Pretty Red Carpet Look580 Go to Style More in Style The Beauty Page Fashion Trends Celebrity Style You might also like Home Women Parents Weddings Travel Divorce Post 50 Post 50 6 Things You Didn't Know About This Actor On His Birthday289 Robin Roberts' Top 9 Career Moments As She Returns To 'GMA'22 What Has Michael Jordan Been Up To Since Retiring From Basketball?125 What Carrie Underwood Taught Me About Baring It All Google Hosts 'Take Your Parents To Work Day' Go to Post 50 More in Post 50 Reinvention Retirement Parenting Post50 Health Post50 Love Post50 You might also like Parents GPS for the Soul Women Money Healthy Living Religion Vatican Residency Ensures Benedict's Immunity From Abuse Prosecution3k Who Runs The Vatican After The Pope Steps Down?177 Atlanta Megachurch Pastor Sued Over Alleged Ponzi Scheme130 High-Profile Jesuit Magazine Writes Second Amendment Must Go109 Leaked Documents Reveal Vatican Torn Apart622 Go to Religion More in Religion Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism You might also like Arts World Healthy Living Impact GPS for the Soul Weddings PHOTOS: 9 Gorgeous Looks For A 'Great Gatsby' Wedding Simple Tricks For Cutting Your Wedding Budget 33 Romantic Hotels To Visit In 2013 Wedding Magazine Rejects Ad Featuring Lesbian Brides802 Go to Weddings More in Weddings Planning 101 Etiquette and Advice Indiebride Honeymoons Destination Weddings Weddings 2.0 After the Wedding You might also like Style Travel Food Divorce 6 Celebs Who Came Out After Divorce90 6 Ways To Avoid Infidelity316 5 Strategies for Divorcing A High-Conflict Personality18 Red Flags To Watch Out For When Dating After Divorce27 The Top 5 Mistakes People Make In Divorce43 Go to Divorce More in Divorce Celebrity Divorce Parenting Dating Divorce Laws Divorce Stats Divorce Advice You might also like Healthy Living Travel Women Recipes LIVE Now Shooting Spree Next IQ 70: Sentenced To Die Coming Up Dating Your Age Coming Up Gay Man Versus Preacher Coming Up The Pain Of Heartbreak Go to HuffPost Live ALL SECTIONS NewsPoliticsWorldBusinessSmall BusinessMoneyMediaSportsEducationCrimeWeird NewsGood NewsEntertainmentEntertainmentCelebrityComedyArts & CultureBooksTVLife & StyleHealthy LivingGPS for the SoulStyleHomeFoodTaste WeddingsTravelParentsDivorceHuff/Post 50Marlo ThomasOWNTech & ScienceTechScienceGreenTEDWeekendsVoicesWomenBlack VoicesLatino VoicesVoces (en español)Gay VoicesReligionCollegeTeenImpactLocalChicagoDCDenverDetroitMiamiNew YorkLos AngelesSan FranciscoOur Mobile Apps iPhoneiPadHuffPost Live iPadAndroid PhoneAndroid Tablet Healthy LivingHealth and FitnessGPS for the SoulHealth NewsSleepGeneration WhyHealthy Living VideosHoroscopesWinter Health
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Arianna Huffington GET UPDATES FROM Arianna Huffington   Millennials Come of Age as America's Most Stressed Generation Posted: 02/19/2013 6:07 pm Follow   State of the Union ,   Student Debt , Asking Y , Asking Y , Millennials Employment , Millennials Health , Millennials Stress , Stress , Stress Health Effects , Healthy Living News
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First came the "Baby Boomers," then came "Generation X." The branding of the subsequent generation, the one that came of age during the 2000s, was less definitive, ping-ponging between "Generation Y" and "The Millennials." I'd like to add a third name: "Generation Stress." According to Stress in America, a study commissioned by the American Psychological Association, Millennials are the most stressed demographic. And from what we heard out of Washington last week, the conditions creating that stress aren't going away anytime soon. But there's still cause for hope.

The study asked participants to rank their stress level on a scale of 1 ("little or no stress") to 10 ("a great deal of stress"). Millennials led the stress parade, with a 5.4 average. Boomers registered 4.7, and the group the study labeled the "Matures" gave themselves a 3.7.

The findings were consistent across almost every question. Nearly 40 percent of Millennials said their stress had increased last year, compared to 33 percent for Boomers and 29 percent for Matures. Over half of Milliennials said that stress had kept them awake at night during the last month, compared to 37 percent for Boomers and 25 percent for Matures. And only 29 percent of Millennials say they're getting enough sleep, compared to 46 percent of Matures.

These levels of stress are taking their toll. Irritability and anger from stress were reported by 44 percent of Millennials, 36 percent of Boomers and 15 percent of Matures. And 19 percent of Milliennials have been told they're suffering from depression, compared to 12 percent of Boomers and 11 percent of Matures. "Stress is a risk factor for both depression and anxiety," says Norman Anderson, psychologist and CEO of the APA. "We don't have data on the specific causes of depression and anxiety in this sample, but it does make sense scientifically that the Millennials who report higher levels of stress in their lives are also reporting higher levels of depression and anxiety."

In fact, it's reasonable to assume that higher levels of stress put the Millennials at higher risk for all sorts of destructive downstream consequences of stress. "Stress is a huge factor when we look at medical problems such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease," says Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC's chief medical editor.

Over 25 million Americans already suffer from diabetes, and almost 70 million have high blood pressure, making them four times as likely to die from strokes and three times as likely to contract heart disease. And yet only 17 percent of Millennials believe their health care providers give them "a lot or a great deal" of support in managing their stress.

Not surprisingly, work is one of the biggest causes of stress, with 76 percent of Millennials reporting it as a significant stressor, compared to 62 percent of Boomers and 39 percent of Matures. "Many of these young people have come out of college or graduate school with horrendous student debt into a job market where there are not very many jobs," said Katherine Nordal of the APA. "This has put their life plans, probably, on hiatus."

The job numbers are indeed grim. According to Generation Opportunity, the unemployment rate for Millennials rose to 13.1 percent in January, up nearly 2 points from December. Among young African-Americans, it's a whopping 22.1 percent. And if you count those 18-29 year-olds who have given up and dropped out of the labor force, the overall youth unemployment rate stands at 16.2 percent.

And even for the lucky ones who are working, the picture remains bleak. According to the Economic Policy Institute, between 2000 and 2011 wages adjusted for inflation fell by over 11 percent for young high school grads and by 5.4 percent for young college grads. It doesn't help that, as a study by the Center for College Affordability found, 48 percent of working college grads are in jobs that don't require a college degree and 38 percent are in jobs that don't require a high school diploma. The report concluded that from 2010 to 2020, while 19 million college grads will be hitting the job market, the economy will add fewer than 7 million jobs requiring a college degree. That's a pretty serious -- and stress-producing -- gap.

Those numbers add context to President Obama's push for colleges and universities to increase enrollment and the number of degrees they grant. That's a great goal, but it highlights the fact that, to the extent that we even talk about jobs in our political conversation, we tend to talk about them without mentioning what kind of jobs. Nearly all the conversation on the first Friday of each month when the previous month's jobs numbers come out is about whether the number went up or down. But when there's an uptick -- and don't get me wrong, an uptick is much better than a downtick -- nobody talks about the context and conditions that have far more impact on people's actual lives, such as the fact that putting heavily indebted young adults to work at half the salary they had four years ago isn't exactly a way to win the future.

And any of those heavily indebted, heavily stressed-out Millennials listening to President Obama's State of the Union speech would not have gotten much stress relief. He did acknowledge the increasingly untenable cost of higher education -- "Today, skyrocketing costs price too many young people out of a higher education, or saddle them with unsustainable debt" -- and declared that he would "ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid." That sounds promising. If it ever happens. But it's hard to imagine Washington wielding that stick strongly enough to truly make quality higher education affordable. Even if college tuition stopped increasing right now and just stayed exactly where it is for the next decade -- which we all know is not going to happen -- it's still a huge problem.

A more promising approach would be to take strong action on student debt, which last year hit a record $1 trillion. The disastrous 2005 bankruptcy "reform" bill, which excluded student debt from being discharged in a bankruptcy, has created a new form of indentured servitude, in which tens of thousands of college grads live their entire lives with a crushing debt burden. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head Richard Cordray seems open to reform, but actually doing it will take a sense of urgency. "It would be prudent to consider whether they [Congress] wish to modify the code," he told The Huffington Post in July.

Color me skeptical that, in the absence of being pushed, John Boehner is going to wake up one day with a burning urge to modify student debt regulations. It would be great to hear the president say something along the lines of: "If Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will." That's what he said about climate change during the State of the Union. That's certainly a vital issue, and so is "protecting future generations" from crushing student debt.

As for the perspective from the other side of the aisle? "Today, many graduates face massive student debt," acknowledged Senator Marco Rubio in his response to the State of the Union. So what's Rubio's solution to this massive student debt? "We must give students more information on the costs and benefits of the student loans they're taking out." Ah, yes, more information! Not exactly problem solved! All the more reason to include student debt in the president's "Things I Will Take Executive Action On" folder.

Even those lucky Millennials who land a decent job often face a workplace rife with destructive definitions of success. And, given how few jobs there are for them, it's the Millennials who have the least amount of leverage to push back. This is still a world in which, according to Tony Schwartz, author and CEO of The Energy Project, the prevailing work ethic is one in which "downtime is typically viewed as time wasted," and "rewards still accrue to those who push the hardest and most continuously over time." But, he adds, "that doesn't mean they're the most productive."

As Schwartz points out, more than one-third of American workers regularly eat lunch at their desks, and a recent study showed that an average of 9.2 vacation days were skipped last year. All this overwork inevitably leads to sleep deprivation, which costs American businesses over $63 billion a year -- even though studies show that for each 10 hours of additional time off, productivity increased by 8 percent. "Strategic renewal," Schwartz writes, "including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations, boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health."

But given the harsh job market they're entering, Millennials are incentivized to ignore the path to strategic renewal. Even so, we know they are looking for ways to lower their stress level. The APA study found that 62 percent of Millennials had tried to reduce their stress in the last five years. But only 29 percent of them, compared to 38 percent of Boomers and 50 percent of Matures, reported that they were doing a good or excellent job of it.

Amidst all this gloom, there is a sliver of sunshine: a recent Gallup poll that found that, even given the battered economy they're entering, 80 percent of Millennials were optimistic about their standard of living getting better.

Yes, as the cliché goes, the next generation is the future, etc. etc. etc. And, without fail, at some point, the future will be theirs. So here's hoping that as they advance through the ranks of the workplace, Millennials will channel that optimism to do themselves -- and the generation after them (Generation Z?) -- a favor by redefining success. Perhaps the mountain of stress they are currently scaling will give them the perspective to change what my generation has handed off to them.

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Post to Facebook. Post to Blogger. Post to Twitter. Post to WordPress. Post to TypePad. Post to Tumblr. Post to Yahoo! Blogger login: Blogger password: Select blog: refresh list Remember me: Wordpress host: Wordpress login: Wordpress password: Remember me: TypePad host: TypePad login: TypePad password: Select blog: refresh list Remember me: Tumblr login: Tumblr password: Remember me: Community Notice:  We've made some changes to our badge program, including the addition
of our newest badge: Community Curator. View AllFavoritesBloggers Recency |  Popularity Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total) pseawrightb29 Fans   8 minutes ago ( 9:07 PM)I just attended an academic conference teeming with early twenty-something grad students, almost all of whom seemed to be studying themselves in one way or another. All I could think was, "What an incredibly self-involved group of people." Considering that most of their parents are baby-boomers, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.pseawrightb: I just attended an academic conference teeming with early twenty-somethinghttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/pseawrightb/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231214603.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program sillyfrogPastafarian and UU student2454 Fans 20 minutes ago ( 8:55 PM)It is difficult to live up to people that had a higher IQ. The US IQ keeps dropping. :((sillyfrog: It is difficult to live up to people that hadhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/sillyfrog/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231212182.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USERThomas VonBergeMinnesotan before American.315 Fans 26 minutes ago ( 8:49 PM)I am disgusted by most of my generation. The vast majority of them have been spoiled by their boomer parents and expect that everything in life you should be handed to them. On top of that we are consistently the most disrespectful group I've ever seen. Especially those on the younger end of the generation.Thomas_VonBerge: I am disgusted by most of my generation. The vasthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Thomas_VonBerge/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231210935.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USERStewart Goss341 Fans 5 minutes ago ( 9:09 PM)Bravo. Us baby boomers were a rather spoiled lot as well though some of us appreciated our parents depression era mentality of being frugal.Stewart_Goss: Bravo. Us baby boomers were a rather spoiled lot ashttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Stewart_Goss/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231215042.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… ReedMore10 Fans 1 hour ago ( 8:11 PM)I don't want to minimize the difficulties Gen Y face, but in the mid-80's we had 7.6% unemployment, home interest rates were over 20%. Because the previous generation weren't paying their student loans due to the '81-82 recession, origination fees for student loans doubled and the interest rate was over 12%. I too had to work two crappy jobs and go to school at night.

People just 5 years older than I was paid 1/2 the tuition costs and they still had recruiters coming to campuses. It sucked then and it sucks now. This isn't something new.

I imagine it was harder for my Grandmother during the depression.ReedMore: I don't want to minimize the difficulties Gen Y face,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/ReedMore/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231202418.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… bigmahiKeeping the conversation going...200 Fans   1 hour ago ( 8:06 PM)I think I read this stressful story elsewhere last week. What about us boomers who have had to deal with our own stress. I think the obsession with social media may be adding to the stress of constantly keeping up. The Jones's are live and well this generation as wellbigmahi: I think I read this stressful story elsewhere last week.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/bigmahi/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231201328.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Matt Morava27 Fans 1 hour ago ( 8:01 PM)I work closely with Generation Y. I've come to deeply appreciate their gifts/flaws and the challenges they face. I see a generation that can team, focus on solutions and not get bogged down in polarity like the Boomers (which thrives in conflict), and are accepting/utilizing of diversity. Their weaknesses are a fear of conflict and standing out, which kills creativity and promotes group think, and a dependency on systems (schools, parents,coaches, government, etc.) which results in a lack of independence and dulls critical thinking. They face a job market that is in major transition: what is the American Dream? You've got high unemployment, crooked CEOs, and sports/media elite on the one hand and a desire to make a real difference on the other. There's a tremendous pressure on them to succeed by the time they're 23 yo, because if you're not in the band, or created the ap, or landed with a Fortune 500 then it's -- Game Over. But the Boomers will die eventually and my generation, Generation X, is too small, only about 40 million, so our future depends upon them. The greatest problem I see is a university system that seems hell bent on hiring PhDs who have no work experience outside of academia, which is great if you want knowledge, but it is not serving this generation well in terms of preparing them for a life at work... both in how to find work they love and love the work they find.Matt_Morava: I work closely with Generation Y. I've come to deeplyhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Matt_Morava/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231200344.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… kara085 Fans 1 hour ago ( 8:00 PM)Of course they are more stressed ...as a teacher for over 30 years...I have seen if first hand....they are signaling that our society is f'd up....us olders...we have another context we remember a different way....but these young people dont.....more technology taking the place of personal communication, causing more social isolation....their anxiety is so high they can't put down their cell phones to listen or interact....bombarded with advertising, sexual and violent images like no generation before...they are the canaries in the cole mine...measuring the personal pollution....we have created in the name of progress and making money........So what to do.......I have found a couple of things that help....programs that connect children to nature....(has a greater affect than drugs on hyperactive) and teaching mindfulness.....training their minds, their attention, just like any other muscle...to stay in the moment...or at least to discover the moment exists...because their anxiety is because they are never in it....disconnected moving thinking in the future and past..never silent...never resting...never alone....they are in agony...and lashing out....who can blame them....nature...mindfulness....and giving up on the relentless pursuit of possessions as a purpose in life....see a new documentary of young people discovering what it means to do that...www.thrivewithless.comkara08: Of course they are more stressed ...as a teacher forhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/kara08/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231200174.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USERintranauttThe evolution of history continues138 Fans   1 hour ago ( 8:00 PM)As history moves forward, generations will be borne. Those Millennials who have their sights on politics first take a look at the current political situation. Congress averages the boomer age with some X'ers thrown in. Observe. When your time comes, you will know what not to do.intranautt: As history moves forward, generations will be borne. Those Millennialshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/intranautt/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231200136.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST BLOGGERJohn FriedmanHelping companies live their values and tell their455 Fans   1 hour ago ( 7:59 PM)It is a perfect storm of exaggerated expectations combined with a particularly brutal economic reality. Studies have shown (www.jasondorsey.com) that this generation that was raised with constant validation from helicopter parents who rewarded 'participation' and insisted schools stop grading because it would damage self-esteem are ill prepared to come of age and are doing so at a particularly hard time.

The economy is weak, so companies aren't falling over themselves to hire (although parents have called HR departments demanding to know why their child didn't get hired). Student loans are coming due. And fewer parents are welcoming them back home as boomerang kids because the loss of their own savings has stretched their budgets and ability to do so.hp_blogger_John Friedman: It is a perfect storm of exaggerated expectations combined withhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/hp_blogger_John Friedman/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231199877.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… terryf91253 Fans 1 hour ago ( 7:55 PM)Since when did going to college guarantee you job and and a sarisfying career? It may help you and give you personal satisfaction, but assuring you of acheiving your goals really isn't altogether realistic. And, God forbid, that you may have to succumb to working at a skilled trade and get your hands dirty, sweat a little bit and ache some at the end of the day, but potentially make a good living and even have satisfaction at producing or creating something, or even be in danger on a daily basis, oh no! All of my family, except for myself, were able to attain a college education, they paid their own way, and didn't expect any guarantees because of their sucess. And next time you have to pay your mechanic $100.00 an hour to fix your Lexus, figure it out.terryf9125: Since when did going to college guarantee you job andhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/terryf9125/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231198888.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it bananaspider4 Fans 7 minutes ago ( 9:08 PM)Many millennials would agree with you. Most of us were raised to think uneducated was basically the same as being immoral. We were told an education is priceless and those really nice banks were happy to give us 40,000, 50,000, or 100,000 dollars to get that education. Remember, this is all being told to a teenager who just wants to do the right thing. I'm happy your family got to work their way through college and get out with no debt but that is rare. I suspect that's why you wrote that. Of course life has no guarantees but that's not what gen y was told growing up.bananaspider: Many millennials would agree with you. Most of us werehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/bananaspider/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231214825.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Max Fendt11 Fans 1 hour ago ( 7:54 PM)We are also the most narcissistic generation our country has every seen.Max_Fendt: We are also the most narcissistic generation our country hashttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Max_Fendt/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231198774.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it anonymous0201607 Fans   1 hour ago ( 8:01 PM)Has a lot to do with the media, the young are extremely influenceable.anonymous020160: Has a lot to do with the media, the younghttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/anonymous020160/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231200400.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… supersonicaxe27 Fans 1 hour ago ( 7:46 PM)What could they be stressed about? Maybe that their lives aren't as fabulous as they make it seem on Facebook?supersonicaxe: What could they be stressed about? Maybe that their liveshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/supersonicaxe/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231196672.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it anonymous0201607 Fans   1 hour ago ( 8:03 PM)Or maybe it has something to do with the fact it costs $40,000 a year to go to a premiere college.anonymous020160: Or maybe it has something to do with the facthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/anonymous020160/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231200762.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… pedernalesfutile815 Fans 2 hours ago ( 7:38 PM)Walk through a grocery store and read the labels on the dead and toxic ingredients that laden the mass of foodstuffs in the United States, not to mention the latest reports out of Europe on our ubiquitous GMO and Roundup Ready foods promoted by the Obama Administration and the prognoses of their cancerous consequences for humans and animals. Of course, the privatized vile thing that is Washington and our politicized media could care less.pedernales: Walk through a grocery store and read the labels onhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/pedernales/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231194945.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Observer963663 Fans 2 hours ago ( 7:35 PM)So, what's the definition of the Millennial generation? I was thinking that would be the ones born in this millennium as in 2000+?Observer963: So, what's the definition of the Millennial generation? I washttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Observer963/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231194200.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it anonymous0201607 Fans   2 hours ago ( 7:44 PM)It has been said that it starts in 1982 and ends in 2004. A little too broad if you ask me...anonymous020160: It has been said that it starts in 1982 andhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/anonymous020160/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231196166.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… Max Fendt11 Fans 1 hour ago ( 7:57 PM)Agreed there is a few important differences between the people born in the early eighties versus people in the mid-nineties. I suppose the greatest one is that the former was able to grow up somewhat before the advent of the internet.Max_Fendt: Agreed there is a few important differences between the peoplehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Max_Fendt/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231199416.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments… HUFFPOST SUPER USERchemguyLiberal, but not Democrat491 Fans 2 hours ago ( 7:23 PM)Simple solution: student loans should be based on the expected income of the field of study. $30k loan to study engineering? No problem. $250k loan to study performing arts? Get a scholarship or change your major.chemguy: Simple solution: student loans should be based on the expectedhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/chemguy/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231191344.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it HUFFPOST SUPER USERsoli11Stop mass incarceration. End the phony drug war.109 Fans 1 hour ago ( 7:58 PM)Student loans tend to match tuition,and not "expected" income streams. Another "free-market" fail.soli11: Student loans tend to match tuition,and not "expected" income streams.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/soli11/millennials-stress_b_2718986_231199736.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share itThis comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. Loading comments…This comment has been down-ranked into oblivion. View comment You have not right to carry out this operation or Error this operation. 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