Letters

Meet the Twixters

"Every mama bird knows to do what my parents did: kick young adults out of the comfy nest and make them learn to fly on their own."

JOANNE BOYD

Albany, N.Y.

As A 24-year old, I want to thank you for your fair and accurate portrayal of young adults in the U.S. [Jan. 24]. I graduated from college with honors in three years but could not find a job that allowed me to become financially independent. So I moved back home to save money. I was surprised to find that the majority of my high school class had done the same thing. Living at home has enabled me to save for law school. (I start in the fall.) I realize that some people might view my generation as spoiled by our parents. I am glad TIME showed that we are not lazy. We want to work and make our way in the world. I believe our parents deserve a lot of credit for being so supportive. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

TRICIA ENGELHARDT

Northborough, Mass.

I suppose I can make room in my heart for another "downtrodden" minority, the twixters. Poor babies. If only their parents had cut the golden apron strings and left them to their own devices, they would have learned to be more independent. I will immediately write to Congress and demand that these pitiful innocents obtain protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the meantime, I'm launching a support group for these WIMPS (whining immature professional slackers).

BRIAN O'NEIL

Alameda, Calif.

As somewhat of a twixter myself, I assure you that our situation is hardly grave. In fact, our parents could perhaps look to us for guidance. Half our parents are divorced, have financial problems or are stuck in jobs they loathe. Instead of making it seem as if we twixters are spoiled brats, why not praise us as a generation that refuses to fall into the same archaic conventions that have led to so many dysfunctional families? My contemporaries and I don't feel compelled to marry by age 25 and bear children by 27, and we shouldn't have to.

HALEY RUBINSON

New York City

Why do we need to come up with a new label for kids who stay at home with their parents while figuring out what they want to do? We've had a name for that for years: moocher.

JOSEPH MARSHALL

Honolulu

Here's some advice to the twixters from a geezer who joined the military at 17, was raising a family at 21, worked hard days, studied hard nights and built a gratifying life: self-absorption keeps one a child, and commitment to something greater than oneself leads to adulthood. A person has too many choices only if they become excuses for failing to choose, commit and grow. Select a path, and follow it diligently. Then you won't have to seek fulfillment; it will find you.

JOHN J. MOLLICK

Fayetteville, Pa.

There's not a single thing wrong with the young adults who live off their parents that a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps couldn't fix.

JIMMY VERNER

DeSoto, Texas

I have a first-class college degree, lots of internships and job experience on my resume, but at 23 I am back home with my parents, living rent free. I'm sleeping in my old bed with my favorite stuffed animal. I spend my days running errands, doing laundry and making dinner. I have become my parents' "desperate housewife." Young adults my age are overwhelmed by indecision. We have the necessary tools, but we have too many options and not enough options at the same time. We are stuck.

ASHLEY RICHARD

Mequon, Wis.

Glory and Grief

I Was dismayed by the title of Charles Krauthammer's essay "Shock and Awe" [Jan. 24]. That was the name used by the U.S. military for massive bombings and missile attacks on Iraq at the start of the invasion. Krauthammer referred to the shock of the tsunami and marveled at humanity's overwhelming generosity in response to the disaster, but using a phrase associated with the Iraq war was unfortunate. His commentary ignored the misery and destruction of war. The tsunami was a natural disaster; the Iraqi tragedy was man-made.

RENEE ARAZIE

Aventura, Fla.

Krauthammer said, "The Tsunami that destroyed thousands of lives from Sumatra to Somalia engendered an instant, near universal outpouring of concern, shared grief and charitable giving." In the case of the U.S., however, it was hardly instant. President Bush took three days to personally acknowledge the disaster, and when he did, the amount he initially pledged--$15 million--was less than half what his supporters paid for his Inaugural festivities.

GAIL MILLER

Leslie, Mich.

Bush's New Campaign

Columnist Joe Klein discussed why President Bush is taking the controversial position in favor of reforming Social Security [Jan. 24]. Although I usually agree with Klein, I take issue with his endorsement of private investment accounts for Social Security. Over the past quarter-century, most Americans have moved from traditional pension plans into retirement savings plans funded by employer and employee contributions. Those are private investment accounts, and all involve risk. Individuals own those accounts and manage them. At one time, the employer bore the risk and responsibility in a pension plan, but now the employee does. There are no guarantees of good investment outcomes. I find comfort in having Social Security as a defined benefit, a sure amount not dependent on the whims of the market.

ERIC SAUNDERS

Philadelphia

Bush misled our country into going to war when he claimed that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Now he is trying to mislead us into thinking that Social Security is in crisis and needs a drastic overhaul. When he tells young people that Social Security won't be there for them when they reach retirement age, he just might be right, but if so, it will be only because he has sabotaged a successful program that merely needed a few adjustments.

LINDA MCLENNAN

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

The Social Security system needs to change. Are we going to wait until everyone agrees there is a crisis? A majority of Americans oppose private investment accounts, but that's because their retirement is already financially secure. Why should they care? I am a young working American and proud to have a President willing to address this issue.

MATT CRISP

Radford, Va.

Who really benefits from Bush's proposals for reform? Follow the money. The financial-services industry will make billions of dollars in fees for investment. Private retirement accounts are a gift from Bush to his financial-industry supporters. We little guys will end up working longer, retiring later and getting smaller benefits.

CATHY MESSINGER

Englishtown, N.J.

t Read other stories on Social Security in TIME's archives at time.com/social

Share the Warmth

Kudos to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for donating unwanted fur coats to the homeless [Jan. 24]. I wish I could say I have never worn fur, but I have a rabbit-fur coat hanging in the back of my closet from my more selfish days. I'm going to send it to PETA. I can't bring the animals back, but I can help provide a little warmth to people in desperate need.

ANGIE MOORE

Virginia Beach, Va.