I have had three father figures in my life. My dad, my sister’s significant other, and a surrogate father. They all have something in common. They grew up during the Great Depression and they served in World War two. Two of them in the Pacific Theater and one in the Italian Theater.
They also all displayed similar characteristics. Fugality and self reliance. They did not feel they were entitled to anything. What they had they earned. I think that this is the great difference between the "Greatest Generation" and today. Today people think they are entitled to free health care, housing and education. Today people feel that someone else is responsible for whatever situation they are in. They are the last ones responsible, if at all.
I think the Jefferson had it right. We have the right to pursue happiness. Happiness is not an entitlement. We have the right to find a job, work hard to pay for an education, take our earnings and buy a home we can afford. But the bottom line is that our condition is, and should be, our responsibility. Government aid should be applied in a manner that helps us, if needed, in our pursuit. Rather than trying to guarentee the goal of our pursuit.
Neither my mother or father graduated from college. I was the first. I worked, I briefly had food stamps, I got help from my mother. I went to a state school, and one of the less expensive ones at that. I graduated and went to work. I saved money. When I was laid off from my job I had saved enough money to go to grad school and get an MBA. It was my responsibility, not yours or the government.
I think if more people took personal responsibility for their life we could once again talk about a "greatest generation". As long as we believe we are entitled I don’t think we can.