The recession changed things because thousands of people did what they were told and got screwed for it. It was get good grades in high school -> graduate college -> start at the bottom of a company related to your major -> work your way up and start a family along the way -> retire.

College graduates with honors or degrees that were in "high demand" couldn't find jobs. Companies stopped rewarding loyalty, often using outside hires to avoid giving raises. People who thought they took the right steps had their homes stolen out from under them. People who worked at companies for decades were laid off or lost their pensions. Then the so-called progressives and liberals did fuck all to help anyone but the 1% of the 1%.

Kinda hard to believe in American capitalism when it just destroys every life you know.