The American Dream ... Or is it The American Nightmare?

Two articles today highlight the worsening prospects for American youth, even those with a college degree. First, an analysis done for the Associated Press found that over 50% of those under 25 are either unemployed or underemployed: Slate. That translates to roughly 1.5 million youth who are evenly split between working part-time or not at all. Many are now waitresses, bartenders, clerks or in other relatively menial jobs with little prospects to turn their education into a well-paying job that actually uses the skill and knowledge they acquired in accruing large debts. The situation is particularly bleak for those in the arts and humanities. In the other piece, the Chicago Sun Times (Sun) reports that 1 in 5 men between their mid-20s and mid-30s are back living at home, the highest percentage since the 1960s. As we continue to tout the importance of education, even as its costs rise, one wonders if the American Dream really exists except for those few who get Wall Street jobs or find their way to fame, or maybe more likely infamy. It does make you wonder if Romney has a shot in hell. Fox News remains undaunted however, and is now redacting Obama quotes to drum up news: TPM. Understandable really, given that the GOP has nothing to offer the average American except fewer jobs and increased debt.