Posted on 11/05/2007 7:32:06 AM PST by American Quilter
O rend thy garments, America! Heap ashes upon thy head. We, the generation of generations--triumphant in our multitudes, invincible, indomitable, insufferable--have come into our inheritance. Hereby we claim our birthright. Give us all your money.
The pittance that is a current Social Security payment was intended to maintain the doddering retirees of yore in their accustomed condition of thin gruel and single-car garages. Such chump change will hardly suffice for today's vigorous sexagenarians intent on (among other things) vigorous sex, in places like Paris, St. Bart's, and Phuket.
How can present Social Security allotments be expected to fund our sky-diving, bungee-jumping, hang gliding and white-water rafting, our skiing, golf and scuba excursions, our photo safaris to Africa, bike tours of Tuscany and sojourns at Indian ashrams, our tennis clinics, spa treatments, gym memberships and personal fitness training, our luxury cruises to the Galapagos and Antarctica, the vacation homes in Hilton Head and Vail, the lap pools, Jacuzzis, and clay courts being built thereat and the his and hers Harley Davidsons?
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
The greatest generation begat the worst generation.
The boomers gave us self indulgence, me first, multicultural, anti American, self loathing. All in one nasty package.
I am one of the boomers who didn’t drink the kool-aid. I don’t have much use for those that did.
Same here. I plan to leave as much money as possible to my heirs in an effort to make up for the damage the BB generation has done to our country. Of course, since the government (except for W.) refuses to address the looming Social Security crisis, my "benefits" will probably come to $1.84 per month.
I remember being a kid hearing the “Greatest Generation” emphatically exclaim that that wanted better for their kids then they had. While a noble proclamation, it has turned out to be a curse for the rest of us. Be careful what you wish for.
With all do respect to Baby Boomers....
“What can I do for you next, Dad?”
—a great column-—(pre-boomer-1940)
“Of course, since the government (except for W.) refuses to address the looming Social Security crisis, my “benefits” will probably come to $1.84 per month.”
Those of us who have made any money, and planned, we are the ones who will be screwed. The unrest that would come from not providing for those who spent every last dime they ever got their hands on would be huge. Old people going homeless, working families taking on penniless parents... that would lead to real problems in the voting booth, and perhaps beyond.
So, they’ll provide for the people who didn’t provide for themselves. How? My SS benefits will be reduced to zero because I have a house, and money in the bank. This irritates me beyond words, but it will happen.
Not too humorous, I'd say.
“I am one of the boomers who didn’t drink the kool-aid. I don’t have much use for those that did.”
Here too. The family car has never had its own house either.
We boomers will bust the federal budget (Mulshine)
It wasn’t the baby boomers who put us on the train to hell. It was the so called greatest generation. They’re the ones who voted for the pie in the sky crook politicians that started the whole New Deal-Great Society-cradle to grave socialistic Ponzi scheme that is getting ready to crash. I was born in 1946 and had no opportunity to vote against Roosevelt or LBJ. furthermore, I plan to take care of myself ‘til I die, which is a lot more than the slack jawed and slack pantsed kids are likely to be able to do. It’s gonna’ be interesting if not much fun for a couple of decades.
My father has often stated the same thing. I was going to post something to this effect, but I am a Gen-xer (early 30s) and I was also taught to "respect" my elders. :o)
My father is ashamed that his generation has contributed nothing for future generations of Americans. He is working hard to try and give his kids (me) something for our troubles.
“While a noble proclamation, it has turned out to be a curse for the rest of us. Be careful what you wish for.”
The biggest curse is those boomers that chose politics. There was a time where American politicians were Americans. Sure they were corrupt, and still politicians, but they used to have a sense that America was important. The current crop has one thing in mind, themselves. And if they hurt America, that’s ok.
That is the thing I find most distressing about America today. Our politicians have no sense of honor, or nobility. No sense that America is something special that should be cared for with the greatest of devotion. No, they only thing they care about is power, and enriching their bank accounts.
Actually, P.J.’s wit is normally much sharper. He must be getting old.
I plan to take care of myself ‘til I die, which is a lot more than the slack jawed and slack pantsed kids are likely to be able to do. It’s gonna’ be interesting if not much fun for a couple of decades.
I think you would be well served to actually go and look what Gen-Xers are doing for their retirement. Most are investing in 401K's, Buying IRAs, etc. Like me, we do not believe that SS is for us. It was for you. We have to figure our own way to save and most are.
There’s one thing the boomers are going to do that will benefit the country—we’ll end Social Security by making it go bankrupt. And as we pass over into the next life, the younger generations will acquire the majority of voting power and will force the politicians to end this particular trough.
Be careful. I got lambasted and flamed to a char on here for expressing those sentiments. The baby boomers brought all those things you mentioned and will leave us broke, corrupt and no chance of enjoying the things they had at birth. I’ll be all right though. I noticed their values and morays when i was a teenager and i knew they would break the treasury and destroy American culture. So i have prepared for no Social Security, no chance of living in a moral and respectable society and in a country where there will be little economic opportunity when it comes to production and manufacturing. Oh yeah, we will probably need to learn to speak Spanish or Arabic soon also.
am one of the boomers who didn’t drink the kool-aid. I don’t have much use for those that did.
I don’t know if I am considered a bomer or not (1944) but I’m with you.
Thanks for posting . . . good to know P.J. O’Rourke is still “making contact with the ball.”
I agree. (another pre-boomer here, also 1940)
Say, that was a pretty good year, huh?
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