The Money-Printing That Made Millennials Wealthy Can Bankrupt Them Too

The Federal Reserve should move as far away as possible from the money-printing policies that have defined the last two decades.

Blaze News original: 7 conservative values Gen Z should embrace for a happy, purpose-driven life

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/blaze-news-original-7-conservative-values-gen-z-should-embrace-for-a-happy-purpose-driven-life.jpg?id=52180250&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0,0,0,223 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//www.theblaze.com/media-library/blaze-news-original-7-conservative-values-gen-z-should-embrace-for-a-happy-purpose-driven-life.jpg%3Fid%3D52180250%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C223%22%7D" expand=1]

In the cacophony of culture war rhetoric, Gen Z members must trailblaze their own path in the labyrinth of life's choices. However, Generation Z faces a barrage of pernicious indoctrination from the government, media, and academic regimes. Gen Z are the torchbearers of tomorrow, and it is necessary that they contribute in a productive and meaningful manner. The future leaders of the country should look to the past for traditional conservative values to achieve fulfilling, happy, and purpose-driven lives.

Generation Z are classified as those born between 1997 and 2012. Gen Z currently composes 30% of the world's population and is estimated to account for 27% of the worldwide workforce by 2025.

Gen Z is poised to be an influential voice in the upcoming presidential election. Nearly 41 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to vote in November.

Gen Z members skew heavily toward being liberal Democrats. According to the nonprofit, nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, 43% of Gen Z adults identify as liberal. In addition, 36% of Gen Zers are Democrats, while only 21% are Republican, the poll released in January found.

However, 28% of post-Millennials are not happy in their lives, according to a Gallup poll from April. An additional 27% of Gen Z do not consistently feel like their lives matter. Roughly half often feel anxious, and approximately one in five often feel depressed.

Gen Z should embrace these seven conservative values to discover that they can lead a meaningful existence, live more fulfilling lives, and improve their communities.

Individual liberty

The birth of our exceptional country was deeply influenced by the recognition of individual liberties as fundamental to forging a great nation. Individual liberties are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These critical documents vow that Americans will undoubtedly receive certain unalienable rights, such as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Several provisions protect the rights and freedoms of individuals.

Individual liberty continues to be a cornerstone of American democracy – and it is widely considered to be a conservative value.

However, individual liberty is also critical for young people, as it fosters personal growth, encourages self-expression, cultivates creativity, and provides a sense of fulfillment.

Fiscal prudence

True conservatives preach financial responsibility for numerous reasons that are not only beneficial for government, but also for individuals. Cultivating habits of individual fiscal prudence enables young people to get ahead of the game with responsible financial planning.

Personal fiscal prudence provides protection during emergencies or when there is an economic downturn.

Practicing financial discipline offers opportunities, while those who make waste-penny missteps may find themselves in jeopardy. Responsible financial behaviors substantially lead to a positive credit history and credit score.

Gen Z members with impressive credit scores will be able to attain more impressive long-term goals with favorable loans and mortgages. Those with financial independence are also ahead of the pack in education, career advancement, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Individuals practicing fiscal prudence will also have less stress in their lives, and it will put them on a path toward financial freedom and self-reliance. Individuals living within their means enjoy a far greater peace of mind than those dealing with debt.

Critical thinking and intellectual diversity

Critical thinking and intellectual diversity are pivotal aspects of conservative values, including delivering a nurturing environment of open-mindedness, reasoned discourse, and intellectual curiosity.

Critical thinking cultivates analytical skills, which in turn empower young adults to effectively assess information, evaluate arguments, and make reasoned judgments. Critical thinking provides critical problem-solving abilities to analyze real-world challenges and navigate life's turbulent times.

Intellectual diversity instills tolerance of differing opinions and engages in respectful communication and active listening.

Having intellectual diversity allows young individuals to contribute meaningful and constructive dialogue, even when confronted by others with completely different perspectives and ideologies. Being open-minded and intellectually diverse will enable individuals to break out of ideological prisons and navigate complex situations successfully.

Respect for tradition and heritage

Conservatives value tradition and heritage to ensure inter-generational cultural continuity. For young people, tradition and heritage offer a deep connection to the past and ground them in a rich tapestry of shared history, values, and customs that serve as guiding lights in a volatile world.

Tradition enables stability, familiarity within a society, and communal cohesion. Respect for tradition places value in the accumulated wisdom of elders and preserves tried and true practices that have worked for generations.

Conservatives value tradition for its role in preserving cultural norms, establishing familial bonds, revering knowledge passed down for generations, and fostering a sense of continuity. Tradition reduces uncertainty and supports institutional frameworks that nurture stability.

Heritage serves as a foundational pillar in conservative ideology that anchors critical values and principles across generations.

Heritage functions as a conduit for the transmission of values from one generation to the succeeding one. Shared cultural roots provide a sense of belonging, connection, solidarity, and appreciation for a common belief system. Values passed down from generation to generation foster a sentiment of inclusion, develop a sense of pride, and celebrate ancestry with a shared history.

Heritage aids in preventing societal fragmentation by upholding a collective sense of identity and purpose.

Rule of law and civic duty

Appreciation of upholding the rule of law is a conservative value that emphasizes protecting a just and orderly society. Revering law and order safeguards fundamental rights and liberties.

The rule of law establishes a framework for resolving disputes peacefully and with order. It helps promote stability by establishing clear rules and procedures for governance, which consequently decreases the probability of societal unrest and chaos.

Young people engaging in civic duties instill a sense of responsibility, connection, and pride in the community.

Participating in civic engagements – such as volunteering, voting in elections, serving on juries, engaging in community service, and participating in community events – helps build stronger and more cohesive communities.

Being active in your community exposes young people to complex social issues and challenges facing their communities. The participation in civic engagements fosters empathy and compassion for societal issues impacting your neighborhood. Taking an interest in their community gives Gen Z members a voice in making a difference in shaping the future of their society.

Strong family structure

Adapting a strong family structure provides young people with the benefits, such as unwavering support, stability, and emotional wellness.

Being a member of a positive family environment provides young people with emotional advantages, such as encouragement, comfort, unconditional love, steadfast support, and promoting mental well-being and resilience.

A strong family structure provides crucial stability, especially during tumultuous times, which in turn can improve mental health.

Families offer young people with critical role models who boast values and morals to strive for.

A strong family structure provides a sense of belonging, everlasting social bonds, cultural identity, and the importance of heritage.

Self-reliance and self-determination

A Gen Z member possessing self-reliance and self-determination is better equipped to make difficult decisions and take independent actions that would lead to more freedom in their lives.

Self-reliant individuals are generally more confident than those who are paralyzingly dependent on assistance from others. Those with self-determination and personal agency have the conviction to tackle challenges and achieve their life goals.

Self-reliant and self-determined individuals are more resilient in the face of adversity, as they channel their inner strength to overcome obstacles. Taking accountability places the responsibility for your decisions squarely on oneself, avoiding the pitfalls of victimhood.

Having autonomy and faith in your own decisions leads to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Independent individuals who challenge themselves without seeking help from others are more able to reach their full potential and reach their destiny.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Why Gen Z Conservatives Are Drawn To Unorthodox Political Outsiders

The emerging right-wing political ethos among Gen Z largely manifests as a response to the dominance of liberal ideals across nearly every facet of life.

Want to know the reality of Gen Z entering the workforce? These viral videos tell all

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=50404500&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0,0,0,0 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg%3Fid%3D50404500%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%22%7D" expand=1]

Generation Z, or “Zoomers,” are all grown up now.

Well, they’re grown up in the literal sense; as far as maturity goes, many of them are lagging far behind.

Lauren Chen examines several videos that have gone viral of Zoomers in the workforce, and let’s just say that some will make you cringe while others will make you sad.

The first video captures a Gen Z employee meeting with a superior over the issue of “wearing [her] earphones or airpods repeatedly after several coaching conversations.”

“I'm just not going to say anything or sign anything without a lawyer, and I'm very, very, very, very appalled that you're attacking me again because of my race. … This is all because I'm black, and it's really, really sad that you guys are doing this to me,” the employee says, before she starts wailing uncontrollably.

The manager, exercising admirable restraint, responds with, “I’m so sorry that you feel that way. That’s not our intention.”

“I can't work the rest of today; I need to go home,” she sobs.

Lauren calls the situation one of the “most entitled and sensitive workplace Zoomer reactions" she's ever seen.

“This woman wastes no time in playing the race card while simultaneously just deflecting throughout the whole thing, and it's like, oh my goodness, you are why older generations make fun of Gen Z,” she sighs.

The second video features another Gen Z woman who Lauren says “reeks of entitlement” explaining her frustrations with her serving job.

“I have my literal business marketing degree that put me in a cute $80,000 in debt,” she complains, before explaining that she makes “more money serving sushi rolls” than what she could earn in an entry-level marketing position.

“The jobs that are like a cute $150-$200,000 a year – I'm not getting those,” she rants. “I'm … going against, you know, corporate a** America people with so much experience, [and] all I got is my degree. You know people say, ‘Get your degree,’ but then they don't talk about how you need experience – the degree was the experience!”

“I don't think it's wrong for young people to complain about the high costs of tuition because that is a problem,” says Lauren.

“But also it sounds like this woman does have the opportunity to get experience – to get an entry-level job in her field – but she simply doesn't want to.”

“The idea is you get experience, you get training, you work your way up, and eventually, you are eligible for those jobs that pay $150-$200,000,” she explains, but that concept is clearly lost on this Zoomer.

The last video features another young Gen Z woman airing her grievances about her job, but this time, Lauren thinks her complaints are “pretty reasonable” and perhaps shine a light on the toxicity of the traditional workplace.

“This is my first job, like my first 9-to-5 job after college, and I'm in person, and I'm commuting in the city, and it takes me forever to get there” because “there's no way I'm going to be able to afford living in the city right now,” she cries, admitting that her complaints have “nothing to do with [her] job” but are solely tied to the “9-to-5 schedule.”

“I don’t have time to do anything … I don’t have time or energy to cook dinner, I don’t have energy to work out,” she explains. “How do you have friends? … How do you have time for, like, dating? I don't have time for anything.”

“I don't think it makes someone a sheltered snowflake to like their job, to want their job, to enjoy their field, but to also simultaneously say that ‘Hey, these aren't very good working conditions,'" says Lauren.

“I think there's also a toxic element to the attitude that some older generations had for work, where it's like, you literally have to live to work [and] you are loyal to your company, who at the same time would probably be more than happy to throw you under the bus or outsource you to India,” she continues.

“What older generations need to understand is that the world is different than when they were younger, the workplace is different, the economy is different.”

Regardless of how you feel about these specific Gen Z reactions to the workforce, the videos are well worth watching. Check them out for yourself below.


Want more from Lauren Chen?

To enjoy more of Lauren’s pro-liberty, pro-logic, and pro-market commentary on social and political issues, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Viral ‘9 to 5’ Video Is A Plea For A Meaningful Life, Not An Excuse For Laziness

This an opportunity for those of us who have found purpose through faith, community, and family to show youngsters an escape route.

Pro-Hamas sentiment among young Americans is a big problem

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/pro-hamas-sentiment-among-young-americans-is-a-big-problem.jpg?id=50311611&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0,107,0,0 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//www.theblaze.com/media-library/pro-hamas-sentiment-among-young-americans-is-a-big-problem.jpg%3Fid%3D50311611%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%2C107%2C0%2C0%22%7D" expand=1]

The pandemic taught us that a stunning number of Americans would deprive their fellow citizens of their rights or even consign them to their deaths if they disagreed with the prevailing “scientific” narrative. To refuse the so-called vaccine was to invite all manner of vitriol and abuse — “Denier!” “Grandma killer!” — even if the accusers had availed themselves of such amazing protection. If that weren’t bad enough, some Democrats even called for murder charges against those who refused to wear a mask.

Now we learn that a stunning number of Americans — not foreign students, Americans — would gladly celebrate the massacre of Jews for simply existing in their biblical homeland.

The generation coming of age may be the most gullible in our history. In an age of geopolitical lies, from the lies of COVID to control our bodies and the lies surrounding the death of George Floyd to demonize whites and criminalize police work to the lie of January 6 to criminalize political dissent, young Americans have accepted all of those lies as truths.

They believed those lies with a level of zeal matched only by the zeal of jihad itself. Now comes their support for that very jihad.

We’ve seen some very troubling polling data about the sentiments of many Muslims living in America. According to Cygnal, 57% say the Hamas massacre of October 7 was justified. But more disturbing are the results of a comprehensive Harvard-Harris poll showing that young Americans have no sense of morality or history regarding the Middle East. Asked whether they thought Hamas was justified in killing over 1,200 civilians because of its “grievances,” 76% of Americans of all ages said they believed the killings were not justified. That’s the good news.

But the overwhelming majority of the people representing that supermajority are getting older. The trajectory of the generations is shocking:

As you can see, a slim majority of Americans under 25, and nearly a majority of those under 35, believed Hamas was justified in carrying out the massacre. Something went seriously wrong with our education system and our churches after Generation X. A majority of Generation Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2013, appears to believe that the mass torture, rape, and mutilation of Israelis, most of whom were largely peaceniks and pro-Gaza activists, was justified!

How is it that the younger generation can be so immoral? Their secular worldview allows them to blindly champion every media blood libel imaginable. The same people who believed the unmasked harmed those who were masked, that George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis cop, and that January 6 was a planned coup to overthrow the government also believe the blood libels against Israel. Shockingly, even after the Gaza hospital story was thoroughly disproven — the hospital is still standing; an Islamic Jihad rocket failed and exploded in an adjacent parking lot — the overwhelming majority of Gen Z, and even the majority of Americans under 45, continued to believe the hospital was hit by an Israeli airstrike.

No wonder why so many Palestinian rallies are full of people wearing masks. They believe everything put out by the media. It is this same dangerous naïveté that leads nearly half of young Americans to believe Hamas is seeking peace rather than the destruction of Israel.

One would expect all Americans to share the sentiments of those over 65, but we are not America any more. War is peace and peace is war.

These polling numbers harmonize with the findings of a CNN poll taken immediately after the Hamas massacre, which found that just 27% of Gen Z believed Israel’s military actions were justified, compared to 81% of seniors who said the same.

We are facing a grave crisis of values among our youth, and the trajectory will only get worse with time. Baby Boomers came of age in the 1960s under the banner of “question authority.” There isn’t an authority Gen Z would question. They worship technology, and the information on their phones is their new Bible. Social media is their new church, and universities are their new training camp.

Gen X parents are now spending a fortune sending their kids to universities so they can become pro-Hamas activists. Just how deep does the dogma reside in the hearts of those educating our youth? This week, 1,700 sociology professors signed an open letter accusing Israel of “genocide” and saying Hamas terror must be “contextualized” as a response to “75 years of settler colonial occupation and European empire.”

We are funding the suicide of our civilization via student loans to the tune of $1.8 trillion. It’s long past time federal funding of universities came to an end. Red-state legislatures would do well to follow Florida’s path and make their public university systems comport with the values of the majority of parents and voters. Leftist professors will howl about violations of their academic freedom. They can exercise their academic freedom by teaching elsewhere.

Thanks to social media and compulsory miseducation, if our younger generation were its own country, it would be as communist as the most far-left European country. The scary thing is that one day it will be its own country — ours.

Report: Key Democratic Cohort Has Moved To The Right

The trend of millennials shifting right as they age is part of a larger pattern

Biden’s Hemorrhaging Support In Key Voting Bloc A Huge Threat To Dems

'Not acting with the urgency this moment demands'