Luc Frieden's State of the Nation revealed the mindset of a generation born into abundance. Affordable housing, rising living standards, growing life expectancy and every resource and all the time in the world to address looming problems. So what did they decide to do with this cornucopia, gifted to them for being born at the right time? Take it, of course. And keep it. Even if it means strip-mining the next generation.
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Why, oh why, are young people sceptical of democracy? Whatever could be the cause? Evil algorithms boiling their impressionable brains? Extremist influences twisting their perception? Their own blindness to the Herculean efforts of politicians trying their best? Or could it be this: that their country's political leader offers them a single promise: you are a resource to be used and depleted, just as we've depleted every other resource before you.
His announcements on pension reform overshadowed something else, that can only be described as a flat-out denial of reality. Luc Frieden is now declaring the construction crisis "solved, " while entirely ignoring the housing crisis, implicitly declaring it a non-issue. Likely on account of it being unsolvable for a government hellbent on keeping the rich and powerful warm and cosy. In the same breath, he tells everyone born after him they’ll have to work longer – to keep our house of cards standing just a little while more.
Meanwhile, reality is staring the youth in the face: Little of this matters, because if you do not own a house or flat in Luxembourg as you retire, you will live in poverty. You will be at the mercy of your modern-day feudal lord. You will continue to be drained of everything you own. Upward social mobility is a thing of the past. For almost the entirety of human history, every generation aimed to improve the lives of their children. Up until now.
It’s not just housing. The "everything-as-a-subscription" economy – often dressed up as sustainability – is designed to bleed the population dry. Transportation (people increasingly lease cars, and even if you take out a loan to buy one, they still come with subscriptions for once basic features), food, household items, media, clothing – nearly everything is either rented or designed to be discarded. Circular economy remains a pipe-dream, Shein and Temu are king. All of it surgically balanced to keep your bank balance at zero – if you're lucky. There is only the grind. There will always only be the grind.
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