A 'Lost' generation

The highest ever unemployment rates for graduates is giving birth to a lost generation.

A survey released this week shows that up there with politics, bankers bonuses and job interviews, people find that the most confusing thing in their life is the television series 'Lost'.

In the last few years, record unemployment rates, nationalisation of the banks and the whole politician expense scandal has led to complete disillusionment of today's youngsters.

Some 100,000 young adults aged between 16 and 24 are living on state handouts claiming they are too ill to work.

Merseyside Police statistics show that recreational drug offences during July this year have almost trebled since back in 2004.

While nationally, numbers for benefit claimants have rocketed, the vote turnout for England is the third worst since records began.

Blame the rolemodels

Youngsters' role models are people like Paris Hilton, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

While I would gladly trade in my right foot for Wayne Rooney's or my physique for that of Steven Gerrard and maybe my party-reputation for Paris Hilton's.

I wouldn't want Gerrard's ego, Rooney's bad temper nor Paris Hilton's cringeworthy personality.

We are supposed to be one of the most civilised societies in the world yet our youngsters have no money, have no say in how the country is governed and lust over millionaires behaving badly.

A lot of my friends are coming out of university with degrees, some £20,000 in debt to the country and are signing straight on the dole.

But you can not attribute this to the generation that gave us the ASBO, Jeremy Kyle and Jedward. There is simply not enough jobs out there for them.

Gone are the days when you could swing from job-to-job.

In 2008 a friend of mine worked for British Aerospace and has had a number of successful jobs before spending a few years touring abroad.

He returned to England earlier this year finding himself with no qualifications and claims to have recently applied or enquired about more than 75 jobs to no avail.

Many unemployed indie kids, moshers, chavs, emos and skaters are stranded in an identity struggle caused by current and previous governments.

And from record youth employment to record youth enjoyment, with the world wide web and a staggering variety of satellite channels.

Millions of people can afford to spend their time mulling over the complicated plot of Lost.

Many unemployed people are now refusing to move away from their parents homes until they have their own children, spawning yet another 'Lost generation'.

TOP 10 MOST CONFUSING (confused.com)

1. Bankers' bonuses

2. Policies of political parties

3. Global warming/carbon emission policies

4. Pensions, share prices and interest rates

5. The term 'smart/casual'

6. Job interviews

7. Fuel bills

8. Twitter/predictive texts

9. US TV drama Lost

10. Flat pack furniture

Prescription pills - Jacko, Heath Ledger and now Brittany Murphy

By David Raven

It sounds like a tasteless joke.

But what do Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Brittany Murphy all have in common?

For a start they were all influencial legends of the 21st century whose work inspired millions.

However they also shared a darker side.

They abused dangerous prescription drugs which they took to escape personal issues that ultimately resulted in their deaths.

It is well documented that Jacko suffered abuse as a child and Heath Ledger was an alleged insomniac.

And Brittany Murphy also had issues with bi-polar disorder and depression.

All three were found to be taking powerful drugs that are used to combat depression and anxiety.

The jury is still out on whether the stars needed the drugs that ultimately resulted in their deaths.

In the glossy celebrity obsessed culture we live in - it is just a harsh reminder that celebrities are people too.

People that behind the glamorous lifestyle, have a huge workload that they struggle to cope with.

Jacko has been touring and moonwalking on our TV screens for nearly 40 years.

Heath Ledger appeared in 19 hit films and was also a music video director and producer.

And Brittany starred in seven box office hits and had both a successful music and modelling career.

It would be fair to say it was their admirable work rate and ambition which made them famous.

But that ultimately also resulted in their deaths.