more money, more problems

I don't know if it's because (and I am so sick of hearing this…) “the economy's in the dumps” or what, but of late, I've been hearing way more people saying that they don't like their jobs, "but the money's great," so they stay there. What's up with this? Think of your friends who began law school with a plan to work in child advocacy or environmental law, but who, after passing the bar, plunge into well-compensated corporate counsel positions “just until I pay back my loans.” That was seven years ago. They’re still doing doc review for Exxon. And when you call them on this, they slightly blush and repeat the above quote.

Since when is it okay for the Entitled Generation to compromise their values and justify working for evil companies or meaningless retail shops with large (or in my case, merely mediocre) paychecks?
This is totally contrary to the American dream, by golly. Yes, we still want to have the white picket fence someday. And yes, it costs a LOT to have that on either coast. But America—and, by default, capitalism—encourages life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Financial security can contribute to happiness, obvs, but does working long hours at a job you despise and feel wretched about? That, of course, is the false allure of the free market—the notion that wads of cash equate to happiness. In true hypocrite form, I'm currently working for a large oil and gas company. I'm not exactly on board with their environmental policy, nee old man corporate bureaucracy, so I am clearly projecting this issue. Am I ultimately being far too idealistic? Naïve? I refuse to believe so. At least until the system crushes my soul a little more.