Knights in shining armor

The frustration level in today's world has risen far above what I remember in my earlier years.

People seem to be trying to live up to television standards of success, forgetting that stories are generally made about exceptions because humdrum doesn't interest too many people.

Instead of the cautionary tales of our past like Hansel and Gretal, or Goldilocks, told to us by loving papas and grandmas, we have super heroes in living color, blasting across fifty inch screens with stereo sound.

The idea of apprenticing into some useful trade or following in the footsteps of mom and dad is now obliterated by thoughts of being the new Donald in a shiny tower somewhere. It doesn't seem to matter what he does, he's rich, so people wander off into the world oblivious of their own personal abilities to try and replicate rich in any way they can.

A new generation of grifters, climbers, distraught, unhappy people reach the age of maturity trying to be something they aren't. Our new knights in shining armor sit on top whittling down the workforce beneath them, hiring as few people at as low a wage as possible to do just enough to amass millions.

The underneath people know they are not super heroes, so they feel little pride in their jobs and even though they can barely put food on their tables and clothes on their children, they go out buying "stuff" to make them, at least, look successful.

For every successful magnate I imagine there are thousands of un-super, unhappy, unsatisfied, frustrated, people -- and these include people working in factories, teachers working in school systems, and doctors working for amalgamated groups.

Where has the simple joy of living gone?  The rat race is no longer just a concept. It is an accepted way of life for too many people.

A life where there is enough to eat, a decent place to live, a purpose for being and a hand in the future should not be considered a loser's dream.