Baby boomers ruined America

[Anonymous]

Millenials are the worst screwed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Millenials are the worst screwed.

Agree

glad i graduated college pre-9/11

[Anonymous]

I certainly worry for any kid coming out of college today and even more for the kids just graduating from high school and not going on to college. Hope things are in better shape by the time my kid graduates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Millenials are the worst screwed.

As a whole yes, but at the right tail of the demographic distribution...no.

I come from a family with lots of siblings where the gap between oldest and youngest child is 16 years.

The youngest of us is in college now and in 9 months will land a six figure tech job that you get to work 55-60 hours (much less than crazy ibanker/consultant hours)...this summer gets paid almost 25k all-in comp for an internship (crazy).

Starting Biglaw is like 160 in base.....

Just like the rest of our society, it is morphing into winner-take-all and millennials with elite skills, branding, networks probably never have had it better than generations before.

[Anonymous]

After the coming economic meltdown the boomers will be separated from wealth and in the reset their age will put them on the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After the coming economic meltdown the boomers will be separated from wealth and in the reset their age will put them on the bottom.

Wow, you managed to squeeze a bad prediction and a really hateful thought in the same paragraph. Twofer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The baby boomers never retire, thereby keeping the labor force stuck in more ways than one - by not letting younger generations fill their spots and encouraging new employment, and by keeping old ideas and attitudes clogging up the present & future.

Or retire, get a full pension, and AND a consulting/teaching/.... job.

[Anonymous]

How dare they earn a living! The nerve! Why won't they die??!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:38 poster here.

Let me clarify, I don't hate Boomers. My parents are Boomers, and they have had their share of hardship.

That said, my parents are the first to say that a lot has gone wrong on their generation's watch. For example, the whole McMansion thing was primarily *started* under the Boomers.

I would also say that many Boomers have suffered from the elimination of pensions, but it's also primarily Boomers who did the eliminating (i.e. Boomers started the move toward 401(k)s and eliminating defined-benefit pensions as well as breaking unions).

I know I'm not explaining this well, but my point is that resentment is directed at Boomers because a lot of these big changes happened under their watch. That's not to say that those changes didn't and don't also hurt Boomers.

And yes, even the housing bubble. Boomers were in the leadership positions and in charge of the big banks when all of this started in the early 2000s. That's not to solely responsible. My point was a lot happened under their watch. No GenXer or younger was in charge of a lending institution in 2003. No GenXer or younger was in a position of power to determine housing policy in 2003. But of course, as real estate agents, loan officers, et cetera, GenXers and younger were still involved. But they weren't at the top.

In fact, most GenXers and younger were buying when housing prices were already inflated. They weren't/aren't the ones who came out on top of that pyramid. That's my point.

Wow. You really need a good course in research methods. You argue that the variable that explains all these problems is the generation to which various people belonged?!!!?? That's like me saying that Gen Xers and Millenials are responsible for all the mass school shootings because it is younger men who have committed them.

Seriously, pp, I usually try to avoid harsh judgments of people who seem to be trying to sort things out but you really have a problem understanding the difference between causation and correlation. And as I mentioned earlier, while you're trying to pin the blame on a whole generation, the financial industry will go on trying to avoid regulation so they can rake in the profits during the next bubble and laugh all the way to the bank. And by that time your generation will be in charge! And you know who I'll blame? Greedy people in the financial industry because they will be the ones to blame. Maybe lots of them will happen to be from your generation but I am smart enough to know that that is not the thing that explains their behavior.

BTW, I never had a McMansion, never wanted one, and I know lots of boomers who feel the same way. But go on, just assign blame to a whole generation. You'll make the financial industry very happy.

You know, while you say I need a course in research methods, you need a course in reading comprehension. I NEVER said that the Boomers are to BLAME for it. I said it happened under their watch (while they were the ones in positions of power).

To follow your example, no Generation X and the Millenial generation is not to blame for mass shootings BUT it is primarily GenX and Millenials who make up the people committing them! The cause is more complex.

And my post, by the way, was trying to explain why people have the resentment toward Boomers (the appearance of it -- that these problems emerged when Boomers were at their peak).

But obviously, you didn't read my posts carefully or my point went over your head. You seem extremely reactive and over defensive.

My parents (Boomers) never had a McMansion either. But they'll admit that the McMansion fad began with their generation. It's not to say there aren't other factors that set the scene for that or that every Boomer is to blame and every Boomer had/wanted a McMansion. The 2-car family also emerged while the Boomers were at their peak. But there are tons of reasons why (more women working, et cetera). An unintended consequence was that what happened is as more families had dual incomes, the cost of housing and everything else rose to a level that now all of that seems to require dual incomes. It's not necessarily the Boomers' fault. But the change happened with the Boomer generation, and there are consequences for families today (i.e. with my mother's generation, for most -- not all -- middle class women, they had a choice to stay at home to raise their kids or work, but really, now, most middle class -- truly middle class, not DC middle class -- families *need* two incomes in order to afford a house.)

Again, none of this stuff is solely the fault of the Boomers. But a lot of these changes happened with the Boomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How dare they earn a living! The nerve! Why won't they die??!!

I don't think anyone is saying Boomers shouldn't earn a living. But there are many Boomers who *could* retire (i.e. have the pension/savings/et cetera) comfortably, but instead they remain in positions in order to ride the wave (i.e. do minimal work but stay employed a few more years to get an even greater retirement).

No, not every Boomer does this. Probably not even most.

But most people I know (including myself) know some Boomers who are doing this (especially in govt.). I don't know if it's only the Boomer generation. Maybe it's just among that age group, you're going to have a certain percentage of people who do that.

[Anonymous]

FYI, I was the poster at 11:38 and 16:59, and no, I'm not the OP and I'm not agreeing with the OP. I don't think the Boomers "ruined" America.

I'm just trying to explain, I can see where the resentment comes from, because a lot of huge shifts happened with that generation. That isn't to say those shifts are the *fault* of that generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:38 poster here.

Let me clarify, I don't hate Boomers. My parents are Boomers, and they have had their share of hardship.

That said, my parents are the first to say that a lot has gone wrong on their generation's watch. For example, the whole McMansion thing was primarily *started* under the Boomers.

I would also say that many Boomers have suffered from the elimination of pensions, but it's also primarily Boomers who did the eliminating (i.e. Boomers started the move toward 401(k)s and eliminating defined-benefit pensions as well as breaking unions).

I know I'm not explaining this well, but my point is that resentment is directed at Boomers because a lot of these big changes happened under their watch. That's not to say that those changes didn't and don't also hurt Boomers.

And yes, even the housing bubble. Boomers were in the leadership positions and in charge of the big banks when all of this started in the early 2000s. That's not to solely responsible. My point was a lot happened under their watch. No GenXer or younger was in charge of a lending institution in 2003. No GenXer or younger was in a position of power to determine housing policy in 2003. But of course, as real estate agents, loan officers, et cetera, GenXers and younger were still involved. But they weren't at the top.

In fact, most GenXers and younger were buying when housing prices were already inflated. They weren't/aren't the ones who came out on top of that pyramid. That's my point.

Wow. You really need a good course in research methods. You argue that the variable that explains all these problems is the generation to which various people belonged?!!!?? That's like me saying that Gen Xers and Millenials are responsible for all the mass school shootings because it is younger men who have committed them.

Seriously, pp, I usually try to avoid harsh judgments of people who seem to be trying to sort things out but you really have a problem understanding the difference between causation and correlation. And as I mentioned earlier, while you're trying to pin the blame on a whole generation, the financial industry will go on trying to avoid regulation so they can rake in the profits during the next bubble and laugh all the way to the bank. And by that time your generation will be in charge! And you know who I'll blame? Greedy people in the financial industry because they will be the ones to blame. Maybe lots of them will happen to be from your generation but I am smart enough to know that that is not the thing that explains their behavior.

BTW, I never had a McMansion, never wanted one, and I know lots of boomers who feel the same way. But go on, just assign blame to a whole generation. You'll make the financial industry very happy.

You know, while you say I need a course in research methods, you need a course in reading comprehension. I NEVER said that the Boomers are to BLAME for it. I said it happened under their watch (while they were the ones in positions of power).

To follow your example, no Generation X and the Millenial generation is not to blame for mass shootings BUT it is primarily GenX and Millenials who make up the people committing them! The cause is more complex.

And my post, by the way, was trying to explain why people have the resentment toward Boomers (the appearance of it -- that these problems emerged when Boomers were at their peak).

But obviously, you didn't read my posts carefully or my point went over your head. You seem extremely reactive and over defensive.

My parents (Boomers) never had a McMansion either. But they'll admit that the McMansion fad began with their generation. It's not to say there aren't other factors that set the scene for that or that every Boomer is to blame and every Boomer had/wanted a McMansion. The 2-car family also emerged while the Boomers were at their peak. But there are tons of reasons why (more women working, et cetera). An unintended consequence was that what happened is as more families had dual incomes, the cost of housing and everything else rose to a level that now all of that seems to require dual incomes. It's not necessarily the Boomers' fault. But the change happened with the Boomer generation, and there are consequences for families today (i.e. with my mother's generation, for most -- not all -- middle class women, they had a choice to stay at home to raise their kids or work, but really, now, most middle class -- truly middle class, not DC middle class -- families *need* two incomes in order to afford a house.)

Again, none of this stuff is solely the fault of the Boomers. But a lot of these changes happened with the Boomers.

"Under their watch" means "while they were responsible". You did blame them. Either that or you do not understand the term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How dare they earn a living! The nerve! Why won't they die??!!

I don't think anyone is saying Boomers shouldn't earn a living. But there are many Boomers who *could* retire (i.e. have the pension/savings/et cetera) comfortably, but instead they remain in positions in order to ride the wave (i.e. do minimal work but stay employed a few more years to get an even greater retirement).

No, not every Boomer does this. Probably not even most.

But most people I know (including myself) know some Boomers who are doing this (especially in govt.). I don't know if it's only the Boomer generation. Maybe it's just among that age group, you're going to have a certain percentage of people who do that.

Really? Since when has it become un-American to work? "Waaah, my boss won't voluntarily put himself out to pasture so that I can get promoted!!!!"

You can judge people for a lot of things, but I'm sorry this just takes the cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The baby boom hater is back! Where ya been, dude?! Been a while!

NP (not OP) but there are many boomer-haters. I cannot stand them and am responsible for the thread suggesting we cut Social Security and Medicare for them by 10%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:38 poster here.

Let me clarify, I don't hate Boomers. My parents are Boomers, and they have had their share of hardship.

That said, my parents are the first to say that a lot has gone wrong on their generation's watch. For example, the whole McMansion thing was primarily *started* under the Boomers.

I would also say that many Boomers have suffered from the elimination of pensions, but it's also primarily Boomers who did the eliminating (i.e. Boomers started the move toward 401(k)s and eliminating defined-benefit pensions as well as breaking unions).

I know I'm not explaining this well, but my point is that resentment is directed at Boomers because a lot of these big changes happened under their watch. That's not to say that those changes didn't and don't also hurt Boomers.

And yes, even the housing bubble. Boomers were in the leadership positions and in charge of the big banks when all of this started in the early 2000s. That's not to solely responsible. My point was a lot happened under their watch. No GenXer or younger was in charge of a lending institution in 2003. No GenXer or younger was in a position of power to determine housing policy in 2003. But of course, as real estate agents, loan officers, et cetera, GenXers and younger were still involved. But they weren't at the top.

In fact, most GenXers and younger were buying when housing prices were already inflated. They weren't/aren't the ones who came out on top of that pyramid. That's my point.

Wow. You really need a good course in research methods. You argue that the variable that explains all these problems is the generation to which various people belonged?!!!?? That's like me saying that Gen Xers and Millenials are responsible for all the mass school shootings because it is younger men who have committed them.

Seriously, pp, I usually try to avoid harsh judgments of people who seem to be trying to sort things out but you really have a problem understanding the difference between causation and correlation. And as I mentioned earlier, while you're trying to pin the blame on a whole generation, the financial industry will go on trying to avoid regulation so they can rake in the profits during the next bubble and laugh all the way to the bank. And by that time your generation will be in charge! And you know who I'll blame? Greedy people in the financial industry because they will be the ones to blame. Maybe lots of them will happen to be from your generation but I am smart enough to know that that is not the thing that explains their behavior.

BTW, I never had a McMansion, never wanted one, and I know lots of boomers who feel the same way. But go on, just assign blame to a whole generation. You'll make the financial industry very happy.

You know, while you say I need a course in research methods, you need a course in reading comprehension. I NEVER said that the Boomers are to BLAME for it. I said it happened under their watch (while they were the ones in positions of power).

To follow your example, no Generation X and the Millenial generation is not to blame for mass shootings BUT it is primarily GenX and Millenials who make up the people committing them! The cause is more complex.

And my post, by the way, was trying to explain why people have the resentment toward Boomers (the appearance of it -- that these problems emerged when Boomers were at their peak).

But obviously, you didn't read my posts carefully or my point went over your head. You seem extremely reactive and over defensive.

My parents (Boomers) never had a McMansion either. But they'll admit that the McMansion fad began with their generation. It's not to say there aren't other factors that set the scene for that or that every Boomer is to blame and every Boomer had/wanted a McMansion. The 2-car family also emerged while the Boomers were at their peak. But there are tons of reasons why (more women working, et cetera). An unintended consequence was that what happened is as more families had dual incomes, the cost of housing and everything else rose to a level that now all of that seems to require dual incomes. It's not necessarily the Boomers' fault. But the change happened with the Boomer generation, and there are consequences for families today (i.e. with my mother's generation, for most -- not all -- middle class women, they had a choice to stay at home to raise their kids or work, but really, now, most middle class -- truly middle class, not DC middle class -- families *need* two incomes in order to afford a house.)

Again, none of this stuff is solely the fault of the Boomers. But a lot of these changes happened with the Boomers.

Much better statement of the point I hope you were trying to make originally. It wasn't as clear before. Thank you.