Gen X Plus 15 Is Like, Rich, But Reality Still Bites, Bro

New York Observer ^ | 21 November 2006 | Christine Smallwood

[shrinkermd]

In 1991, Douglas Coupland wrote the best-selling novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term, well, Generation X. Gen Xers are roughly defined as those born between 1965 and 1980. At the time of Mr. Coupland’s breakthrough, they were in their early 20’s, fresh out of college, hanging onto the bottom rung of the company ladder. Now, 15 years later, they are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, more likely to be buying up market share than using dad’s gas card at the mini-mart....

...Generation X” has come to mean more than just a specific group of post-boomers, more even than a marketing demographic—people who will go see Last Days one evening and drop $5 on a pumpkin-spice latte the next morning. It has also come to serve as a marketing model, in this post–Reality Bites world, for how all young Americans should live out their 20’s. Now we are all Generation X.

According to OnPoint Marketing and Promotions (whose clients include Ford, Microsoft and Pepsi), Gen Xers are 50 million strong, make up 17 percent of the population and spend $125 billion on consumer goods each year. Whereas Mr. Coupland’s characters removed themselves from families, schools and potential career paths to tend bar and dwell in bungalows in Palm Springs, grown-up Gen Xers retreat into gated communities, planned developments and luxury loft condominiums. They used to be obsessed with other people’s money; now, they obsess over their own.

[RockinRight]

Headbanger's Ball...those were the days...

[Sloth]

Gen Xers are 50 million strong, make up 17 percent of the population and spend $125 billion on consumer goods each year.

$2,500 per person annually? That's really not that much. A couple hundred dollars a month. Depends what you consider "consumer goods" I guess.

[philled]

Their tattoos are getting a little dated

I resemble that remark!

About a dozen years ago, I came to the realization that the "edgy" tattoos I got almost two dozen years ago are really pretty silly. Now, looking back at the end of my thirties, a tattoo parental permission slip for a sixteen year old kid probably isn't too much to require!

Thankfully, they only appear when I have my shirt off so it won't be too long until my kids are old enough to be embarassed by their dad at the beach!

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

And this was perceived as grossly unfair and unprecendented.

There was a perception that it would remain that way ad nauseum thanks to boomer slackers clogging up the promotion paths with sheer numbers and seniority. Not saying it was an accurate perception--just saying that it was there.

Nowadays, the best and brightest GenX folks--and a lot of the not-so-best-and-brightest--have leapfrogged their way past their former bosses. Why do you think that "age discrimination" has become the new buzzword over the last decade?

[thinkthenpost]

I can't stand the idea of a tax increase, (and yes IMO Social Security and Medicare payments ARE taxes) but I don't see anyway of these programs surviving. I believe that an increase from 15.3% combined SS and Medicare, employer and employee contribution to 20%. I also believe that to start with 1% of each should go to a personal account, and as older generations die off ( a bit morbid I know) that the percentage going to personal accounts should increase unit a very small amount goes to a general administrative fee and maybe some kind of disability assistance, (NOT A DISABILITY SUBSIDIZED RETIREMENT for younger folks), and last transferable to your descendants. It may be pie in the sky, but the current system is pouring good money after bad and I don't think there will be any money when I get to 67

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'd think the earning cap will be raised or eliminated before the rate is raised. That will be spun as the rich "doing their share."

[thinkthenpost]

I think you are right, I believe that has already been announced as on the agenda for the next Congress and since our President is adverse to the veto it will probably get through. I also think it is a band aid, might push insolvency back a few years, but doesn't fix anything (not sure my thought fix anything either).

I know one thing though, lot's of folks who make ~$100,000.00 and higher are going to be mighty angry.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I know one thing though, lot's of folks who make ~$100,000.00 and higher are going to be mighty angry.

I don't make near that much, but I sure chaps my butt.

[Dick Vomer]

I'd like to take credit my friend but a guy .....Tyler Durden actually came up with it and as you know....he came up with a couple of good tag lines....

On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

Listen up maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

...

The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club. -
The second rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club.
-Third rule of Fight Club, someone yells 'stop', goes limp, taps out, the fight is over.
- Fourth rule, only two guys to a fight.
Fifth rule, one fight at a time, fellas.
Sixth rule, no shirt, no shoes.
Seventh rule, fights will go on as long as they have to.

And the eighth and final rule, if this is your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.

[CompSciGuy]

Soc'es versus the Greasers?

[The SISU kid]

Ah yes....Now I know where I've heard that before!

Thanks again!

[Marie]

They are a bunch of babies...with credit cards....

... and property and 401K's and mutual funds...

See, we have to pay for *our* retirement. (Thanks Dems for not allowing the administration to save Social Security for our children and us.)

[Marie]

When Gen Xers start winning elections, maybe we'll be able to ween the country off the government teat

I'd like to think so, but I'm doubtful. I hate to admit it, but the liberal boomers did their damage to my generation. Lots of commie idiots here.

[BunnySlippers]

I hate Boomer bashing threads ... and I hate Gen-x bashing threads. All generations add some and screw up some.

Why the sense of superiority?

[Cogadh na Sith]

They are a bunch of babies...with credit cards....

They are also the Senior Major, Lt Colonel and Senior NCO combat leaders in Iraq--y'know, the guys who want to stay and fight while the babyboomers in congress sell them out too....

15 years in myself. I'm 38. Pure Gen-X

[Cogadh na Sith]

There is still a definite grey cieling. Most mid and higher level jobs are held by Boomers.

Especially in engineering--they're not passing the torch. We're going to have to stomp the torch out of their grasping liver-spotted clutches.

[Billthedrill]

At least Gen-X didn't spit on or throw dog-crap at US soldiers when they came home from Vietnam...

Uh, Vinny? Those soldiers were Boomers too. Not aimed at you at all, but I'm sometimes surprised at how many people forget that.

[Cogadh na Sith]

On the other hand, I still catch hell from the old baby-boomer women in LA, Seattle and San Jose when I wear my 'US ARMY' Polo shirt.

You know--the ones with the dog-chewed-on-it haircuts who hate America; Jesus; Daddy and Apple Pie.

Has any country ever had an open rebellion of middle-aged women? It's bizarre. They're very, very angry....

[Vinny]

Yea you're right, I admit I failed to realize that. Let me rephrase that: it's the crap-throwing, name-calling Boomers I don't like.

Good point.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, yeah, I know 'em well. Feminism isn't based on anger necessarily but Women's Liberation absolutely is. That was one real cultural problem with the onset of leftism in the 70's - every political grievance was couched in terms of an oppressed class to whom the world owed something, hence the proliferation of the misnomer "liberation" and the sense that eternal class enmity was the only political force worth cultivating.

You will never, absolutely never convince someone whose entire world outlook is based on being aggrieved that he or she has it better than 99% of the other people populating the planet. Might as well not even try.

Heck, I may have dated some of those women way back when. Maybe it's my fault.