I'm not going to disagree with what you have posted. Obama has harmed our economy and he still will not own it. Of course there have been longer term trends such as free trade that have hurt us as well.

The economic situation varies with location. In central Arkansas jobs aren't hard to get, especially jobs suitable for the young (entry level jobs). There are also plenty of professional jobs, but they're going to people with experience. College educations are good, but experience often trumps education. Education plus experience is even better.

To the young people I say that you need to find a job and work there for a couple of years. Not McDonalds either. At least get a warehouse or factory job or anything that can be considered a real job. No employer is going to give a good job away to some 24 year old that has never kept a real job for more than 6 months. If you're a college graduate and if you want to work in your field then your sacrifice may not be over yet. You simply MUST stay involved in your field because in six years your degree will be almost worthless for that if you have not yet gained experience in your field.

Do internships, volunteer, take a BS job that is related to your field even if only marginally. Sociology degree? Try receptionist at a free clinic or anything that involves the downtrodden. That may not seem like a match but it can be spun much much better than a job at McDonalds or some factory. Biology degree? Something as remotely related as working at a medical laboratory supply house can keep you in the game.

The point is that you have to work in some job that is marginally related in some way. In doing so you may find one day that you have inadvertently carved yourself a niche. Just because you got a degree doesn't mean you're guaranteed a job with a $30k+ entry level pay. This has always been true and it is more true today than ever before.

Yes, the economy sucks and there will be more hardship and more losers today than in the past. Still though, for the ambitious and competitive young people there is still opportunity if they just don't give up and keep their eye on the ball.