My father-in-law graduated from the University of Connecticut on the GI Bill, not needing to pay for his education.

My husband graduated from UConn with no debt. He worked summers, vacations and while in school.

My daughter graduated from UConn with $50,000 in debt. She also worked summers, vacations and during school.

The purchasing power of my father-in-law’s income increased steadily. Ours has been stagnant for years, and my daughter hasn’t been able to find a job in her field.

Our country has changed vastly between these generations.

My father-in-law benefited from a time when the highest-income citizens paid more than three times the tax rate they are now.

The country invested heavily in transportation, universities and setting aside beautiful land. These investments benefited all of America. He could count on Social Security and Medicare. My daughter’s life will be much different.

She will be paying for our health care because we don’t want to pay taxes for it ourselves. She will be paying the equivalent of a mortgage every month for her loans. Her monthly premiums for a high-deductible health insurance policy are ridiculous.

Meanwhile, there is less and less investment in the country that benefits all of us. The super-rich keep on getting richer, while everyone else falls further and further behind.

That’s what the Occupy movement is about. Disparity. It’s not whining. It’s reality.

Jacqueline Peters is a resident of Kennebunk.

 

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