Ah, Generation Z, the group that brought us viral TikTok dances and avocado toast, now finds itself in the throes of a good old-fashioned identity crisis. With many young people reportedly embracing socialism with all the zeal that one might reserve for the season finale of their favorite Netflix series, one can’t help but wonder if they’ve truly considered the plot twists that history has to offer. Yes, flying free offers its thrills, but pesky details like ‘freedom isn’t free’ seem to have slipped the curriculum.

Indeed, the economic woes of Gen Z are louder than an electric guitar at a punk rock concert. Complaints about the inability to afford homes or the struggle to find well-paying jobs are fairly common. But let’s rewind the mixtape for a moment—consider the baby boomers, who had ‘free love’ and Woodstock, and contrast it with the leaner times experienced by previous generations who survived wars and Great Depressions. Sure, the ’08 crash put a dent in financial confidence, but, as many boomers would attest, it was merely a speed bump on a well-paved highway.

Yet, to mellow out and lean into socialism and its promises of ubiquitous freebies means ignoring the glaring failures documented by history. In the heartfelt words of the infamous dokey tale, “Your money or your life?” comes to mind, except in this tale, the protagonist willingly hands both over in pursuit of the so-called ‘free’. One can audibly hear the irony crash like cymbals in a high school band—free isn’t free when it comes at the cost of individual liberty and self-agency.

Now, let’s shift focus from broad brushstrokes of gloom to the tiny brushlines of hope in the painting of Gen Z. Some young folks are looking back at the cultural relics of yore—where traditional values, family unity, and personal responsibility reigned supreme—and are feeling a strange pang of nostalgia. They’re realizing that maybe, just maybe, the allure of the ‘traditional lifestyle’ wasn’t just an episode in the anthology of history—it had its own merits of harmony and order which beckon us today.

In the midst of all this, there’s chatter of a return to those swanky 50s values, replete with their promises of prosperity and productivity. Alas, they come sans the retro stereos and poodle skirts, and are instead packaged with lessons, like the ones borrowed from Victorian times, where societal advancements and personal discipline worked in tandem. Such a revelation suggests that perhaps we do have a generation capable of learning, adapting, and making informed decisions.

So, whether the kitchen table discussions lean right or left, one thing remains true—Gen Z is a tapestry in creation. Patterns of wisdom, tradition, and new-age innovation blend, might just craft an evolving scene where, despite their tender age, they steer clear of vapid ideologies and towards a narrative that embraces reality, warts, and all. As the past whispers its cautionary tales, let’s hope the latte-drinking, smartphone-sporting youth heed them before their perspective goes viral in the form of culture shock.