America’s Worst Generation

Magic City Morning Star ^ | 12/26/05 | Paul Streitz

[AZRepublican]

The valiant generation of Americans that fought World War II to preserve our liberty and western civilization was followed by the worst generation in the history of the country: the Baby Boomer generation born from 1946-1964.

The elite Baby Boomers turned the United States from the most prosperous countries on the planet to a country heading toward bankruptcy. It acquired a massive foreign trade deficit that will take generations to pay off. It deconstructed U.S. industries and the invited the invasion of millions of illegal aliens.

The Baby Boomers declared the Constitution to be a worthless piece of paper. It derided the notion that United States was unique place among the nations of the world and declared that it was only the equal of other countries, if not worse. The Baby Boomers mocked the nation’s Christian heritage and forced ordinary citizens to fight to keep Christmas in public places.

In David McClelland’s 1961 opus, “The Achieving Society,” McClelland shows that rises or declines in the “need for achievement” precede the economic rise or decline of a society. For him growing societies have a great deal of “need for achievement” This need for achievement plateaus as the society becomes wealthier and eventually declines. This precedes the eventual dissolution of the society. He notes that the wealth of the society prevents parents from developing self-reliance in their children. This lack of self-reliance leads to the children having a reduced need for achievement. Describing Athenian society, McClelland says,

[snoringbear]

Moonman, you've nailed it for sure!

While having good intentions, the WWII/Depression era generation certainly spoiled their children, fostered a false sense of entitlement within them, passed legislation to ensure that "their children" would not have to serve in the military (Vietnam)and nurtured the evolution of the now referred to "me generation". What a bunch of self centered brats - now self centered brat/adults the WWII's created!!!

[labette]

Says he's a Goldwater fan. I'll hear him out.

[DoughtyOne]

The topic of the valient generation comes up quite often. I generally give it a pass, but there is something that does pertain to this topic, and I'll mention it.

It is true that the group who fought in WWII, was a valient group. That should be recognized and is. What isn't so recognized is that this same group didn't band together to take down the likes of Clinton.

I don't like what's going on today, but it isn't just the doing of the baby boomers. A lot of people who should have known better have been perfectly content to watch what was taking place without so much as a whimper, baby boomers included to be sure.

[Moonman62]

There are great people in every generation.

[dakine]

Yep, the no-good baby boomers...

[brytlea]

Actually no, their kids are (not that they aren't to blame).
susie

[freedumb2003]

You kids are soo cute.

I just want to put syrup all over you and eat you up.

The way little goo goo and gaa gaa sounds come out of your mouths is adorable.

[durasell]

Naw, it's the Jazz Age generation, with their short dresses and fancy dances, bath tub gin and bobbed hair. Disgraceful!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The WWII generation brought us the New Deal, Great Society and Stagflation. The Baby Boomers brought us the Leveraged Buyout, the longest period of economic growth in decades, and REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF CONGRESS!

Wrong. That was the "Silent" Generation, those born in the late 1800s/early 1900s (who were too old to fight in WWII)

[Brilliant]

I'm a member of the baby boom generation, and I agree. I'm not sure I'd CALL it the "Worst Generation," though. Maybe call it the "Gimmee Generation."

[brytlea]

I always have to disagree that the WW2 generation was the greatest generation. I'm not sure you can really call an entire generation the best or the worst, but I think the ones who started this country were equal to the so called Greatest Generation. I'm not negating what they did, but many others have done as much.
susie

[bvw]

Bunk, bunkum, bunkiaum.

[tertiary01]

The so called Valiant Greatest generation, by this author fought in WWII and managed the Vietnam War. The REAL GREATEST generation are their parents who fought in WWI and managed WWII and the destruction of the worst despot on earth to that time.

[andyandval]

bump to my boomer self (1960) for a later read.

You kids be nice to your elders.

[Melas]

Forget the article. Worry about the FReepers who're intent on stirring up all this generational animosity.

[Fenris6]

Why is that so often, grandchildren of very successful people are usually worthless?

[Ohioan from Florida]

My parents were from the Greatest Generation and they read Spock, but threw his advice out the window. The rod wasn't spared, and I wasn't spoiled. I guess there are exceptions to every rule.

[saganite]

I can't disagree with this and I'm a baby boomer.

[Wormwood]

My thoughts exactly. The greatest generation birthed the nation. All other generations stand on their shoulders.

[brytlea]

My husband often quotes an old saying, "Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in 3 generations" (I think that's how it goes) meaning, first generation starts with nothing, works hard and ends up doing well, they pass it on to their kids who live well, but don't do as well, and either don't have it to pass on to their kids, or their kids lose it. Something like that.
susie