5 Reasons For The Great Resignation (Part 6)

Rising cost of living to the death of the American Dream

The Death Of The American Dream

This is the final post on the six-part series on The Great Resignation.

The Rising Cost Of Living

People, especially younger generations, recognize that job security is no longer a thing, and they can’t work their way up the traditional route in companies like previous generations. The cost of living only increases, and young people continue to see themselves being priced out of the housing market. With the rising cost of gas and food, even more of the money young people make must go to necessities rather than trying to save, invest, and work to buy a house of their own. According to Zillow, the average home price in the United States is now $337,560. Rent also continues to go up as well across the US. The cost of gas also rises, so if you have to drive to work, that cuts into what you make as you go to and from work.

The average energy cost went up an additional $1,000 in 2021 for American households. Americans continue to go into credit card debt, and that trend only grew in 2021. According to Study Finds, nearly 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. They struggle to make ends meet in their lives. The rising cost of living is only making it more difficult for Americans who live paycheck to paycheck. Combine already working Americans living paycheck to paycheck with rising costs due to inflation, and things are not looking good. The middle class is being systematically destroyed. The Federal Reserve and government policies are destroying the middle class.

Broken Social Contract

The social contract is a theory in political philosophy that there is a contract between individuals and their government. It has also been applied to individuals and society. The social contract theory has also been applied to the employer and employee relationship in the workplace. If you follow the social contract theory, all three are breaking or have been broken.

The government has not protected the rights of its citizens. It has infringed on and taken away their rights. This is particularly evident with the pandemic and goes back even further with the agencies created after 9/11, further restricting people from traveling.

The social contract between individuals and society has been broken by the various institutions no longer doing their jobs. The mainstream media is the most prominent example of this, on the left with CNN and on the right with Fox News. They are not the Fourth Estate, as people are told to keep politicians and the government in check. The mainstream media is propaganda, and more people are going to alternative, independent news sources online.

The social contract has been broken between employers and employees. In the West, especially in the United States, the average worker’s wage cannot keep up with inflation. More employers are moving from part-time or full-time employees who traditionally provided benefits to contractors, such as freelancers because they can be paid less and don’t need to provide them with benefits. Employees are looking for new ways to make money to make ends meet and move up the social ladder.

A vital question must first be asked about the social contract. Do you remember signing it? If so, when and where? What exactly did you agree to? What were the terms and conditions?

Job Security Is A Thing Of The Past

Job security is now a thing of the past. Employees can no longer expect to receive the benefits, 401K, and pensions that traditionally came with a full-time job from an employer. People are starting to recognize that job security is no longer the case. They are working to find other ways to make money and an income outside the traditional workforce. Freelancing, becoming a content creator, and starting an online business are three options for those who recognize that job security is now a broken social contract.

Work To Make Multiple Streams Of Income

While job security is now a thing of the past, the Internet and online businesses allow people to create multiple income streams. The Internet provides many different ways to do that. People can start a website and get revenue from advertising, affiliate programs, selling digital courses and products, and being a coach or consultants. A YouTube Channel is another way to reach people and make money from ads while reaching an audience to sell the products or services within your niche and sub-niche. It is also easier to write a book to self-publish today so that you don’t have to deal with a publishing house to keep more money from your book. There are many other options, from drop shipping to selling products on Etsy. It requires more creativity, thinking outside the box, and knowing that there are options outside a regular job.

The American Dream Is Dead

In brief, the American Dream is dead unless you can find ways to make it in the Age of the Internet. Entry-level jobs like fast food, retail, and even tech jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence and robots. The rise of inflation and the rising cost of real estate makes it difficult, if not impossible, for regular people to buy a house.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for The Great Resignation, The Big Quit, The Great Reshuffle, or The Great Retirement. No matter what you may call it, these are only thirty reasons for The Great Resignation. You may be able to think of other reasons causing people to leave the traditional workforce.

What do you think about The Great Resignation? Are you taking part in it? Do you believe that there is a social contract? Let us know in the comments below!

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