My generation tends to see a lot of criticism lately. Generation Y, which includes everyone born between 1980 and 2000, is often described as self-absorbed, lazy and lacking in basic knowledge.

Now as a Gen Y-er myself, I rarely see my peers consumed by these qualities. Sure, there are a few bad eggs in the basket that give the rest of us a bad name, but what generation doesn’t experience that (cough, cough the ’60s)?

We frequently hear comments made by baby boomers (who are actually frequently classified as selfish and demanding) about how our country will be in dire straits when Generation Y takes over, but really, who got us into the current national messes, anyway?

Let’s take a look at Social Security and Medicare. With the 72 million baby boomers now reaching retirement age, Social Security will be paying out much more than the program makes. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 10 years, the system will begin to fall apart.

Tom Firey, managing editor of the Cato Institute magazine, Regulation, and who was also born into Generation X (between the boomers and Gen Y-ers), wrote: “Ever since we Gen-X/Y-ers began working, we’ve paid 12.4 percent of our earnings to Social Security. In contrast, the boomers will get a bargain. When they entered the workforce in the late 1960s, they paid only 6.5 percent of their earnings to Social Security. They’ve paid less of their earnings into Social Security than we Gen-X/Y-ers, yet they’ll receive more in benefits than we will and we’ll pick up the tab.”

Don’t get me wrong, I am not just a “whiny Gen Y-er.” I am merely questioning why a generation that started the mess would criticize those who have to figure it out.

And as for the criticisms that our generation is immature and constantly seeking amusement, I think this is unfair. We really have not been given much time to grow up, considering that most of us have not reached our thirties yet.

I have also heard generalizations made about increased underage drinking among Gen Y-ers, but research has shown that since underage drinking peaked in the 1970s, it’s been decreasing steadily since then, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Another complaint about Gen Y-ers is our lack of knowledge. But IQ scores in every country that measures them, including the United States, have been rising since the 1930s.

In her article, “The Dumbest Generation? Don’t be Dumb,” Newsweek’s Sharon Begley defends Gen Y-ers by saying they are actually strong in “fundamental cognitive capacities such as the ability to think critically and logically, to analyze an argument, to learn and remember, to see analogies and to distinguish fact from opinion.”

Just because we do not know the capital of Bhutan or how to spell, let alone pronounce, the president of Iran’s name does not mean we are stupid or lazy.

Not everything about our generation is sunshine and roses. Our lack of knowledge about international news could be described as despicable. However, the consumption of news across generations is down, so this could be attributed to our society as a whole.

And yes, we do constantly seem to be “plugged in” on our phones, laptops, iPods, you name it. But I know many moms and even grandmas who text more than I do. Just saying.

We do have the world’s best interests at heart and we are trying to create solutions for the future. We are asking for a little support and encouragement, instead of criticism and lack of confidence.

Maggie Clemensen can be reached at clem0427@stthomas.edu.