The world in which we live(d)

'Young'uns have it so easy'

I'm sure many of you have heard someone of the 'older' generation say this or something similar. I feel at 24 that I am one of these fore mentioned 'young'uns', and therefore I should defend youth and argue that infact

'Young'uns in 1940 had it so easy.'

The following research has been carried out through the respectable resources which are my own brain and thoughts and the world wide web.

House Prices

1940's
Average Income - £3.90 p/w
Average house price - £500

2010's
Average Income - £499 p/w
Average house price - £168000

One of the biggest but most important purchases we make is that of a house.  Looking at the above figures we can see that, on average, it would take 128 weeks wages in 1940 to save for the full price of a house.  In 2010 it would take a massive 336 weeks. Hmmm, I wonder who has it harder??

Unemployment

1940 - 3.5%
2010 - 7.7%

Hmmmm

So, looking at house prices and unemployment figures I think we could say that actually youngsters of 1940's had it easier.  I'm not saying that life was easy in the 1940's, I mean, they had WWII. No one would wish to live through that. But then again, look at all the wars and conflict the British Army are involved with today. Neither situation can be described as easy.

I think where we have it easier in present day is in certain careers. Professional sportsmen and women earn ridiculous amounts of money. Gone are the days where professional footballers would have jobs as well as playing football for a living. Also now, anybody can become a celebrity. The press go wild for 'gossip' relating to celebrities. Sleep with a married famous person and 15 minutes of fame is almost guaranteed now.  Also, politicians have it so much easier in present day. They seem to be given a free run to fiddle taxes and generally act like grade A knobs.

One thing that amazes me now is how easy it is to obtain a MBE or OBE. Recently these things seem to be getting handed out willy nilly. I heard a report that an Olympic HOPEFUL was given an MBE. A hopeful? Not even a winner. Are you kidding me. It's disgusting that people like this can be handed such an honour. They should turn it down. Before you know it Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney will receive MBE's for their contribution to the sex industry.

The argument will never be ended and I'm sure in 50 years I will be of the opinion that the youth of the day it so easy.  We are a nation where we like to share our problems with others and like others to know how much we struggle in life.  I think people will always argue they have it tougher than others. We live in a great nation where we all have our difficulties but at the end of the day, we could be so much worse off.