STEYN: Sticking it to the young

The Washington Times ^ | March 16, 2009 | Mark Steyn

[Scanian]

Just between you, me, and the old, the late middle-aged and the early middle-aged - isn't it terrific to be able to stick it to the young? I mean, imagine how bad all this economic-type stuff would be if our kids and grandkids hadn't offered to pick up the tab.

Well, OK, they didn't exactly “offer” but they did stand around behind Barack Obama at all those campaign rallies helping him look dynamic and telegenic and earnestly chanting hopey-hopey-changey-changey. And “Yes, we can!” Which is a pretty open-ended commitment.

Are you sure you young folks will be able to pay off this massive Mount Spendmore of multi-trillion-dollar debts we've piled up on you?”Yes, we can!”

We thought you would say that! God bless the youth of America! We of the Greatest Generation, the boomers and Generation X salute you, the plucky members of the Brokest Generation, the Gloomers and Generation Y, as in “Why the hell did you old coots do this to us?”

Because, as politicians like to say, it's about “the future of all our children.” And the future of all our children is that they'll be paying off the past of all their grandparents. At 12 percent of gross domestic product, this year's deficit is the highest since World War II, and prioritizes not economic vitality but massive expansion of government. But hey, it's not our problem. As John Maynard Keynes observed, “In the long run we're all dead.”

Well, most of us will be. But not you youngsters, not for a while. So we've figured it out: You're the ultimate credit market, and the rest of us are all pre-approved!

[Diogenesis]

[beaversmom]

Ping

[beaversmom]

He does it with such great humor, but he’s all too dead serious.

[Jaxter]

I've been trying to remember where I've seen that arrogant look before..

[Vinnie]

Il Douche

(stolen from another freeper)

[chuck_the_tv_out]

[mylife]

I wonder how long it will be before the yute of America realize how bad the screwed up?

[mylife]

I had the pleasure of talking to the students of Hillsdale College last week, and endeavored to explain what it is they're being lined up for in a 21st century America of more government, more regulation, less opportunity and less prosperity: When you come to take your seat at the American table (to use another phrase politicians are fond of), you'll find the geezers, boomers and X-ers have all gone to the men's room, and you're the only one sitting there when the waiter presents the check. That's you: Generation Checks.

[Mrs. P]

Steyn ping

[samtheman]

The problem with blaming this all on the Democrats is that George Bush felt it was “urgent” to push through a prescription drug bill, and felt it was “prudent” to spend the first six years of his presidency never vetoing a single spending bill and he thought it was “critical” that he get the “bailout package” in October 2008.

When the Republicans have absolutely no principles in regard to spending, how can you expect the Democrats to have any.

Now of course, The Big Giant Zero is going crazy with debt, but George Bush led the way.

[ChetNavVet]

Nice, I admire Mr. Steyn’s writings, he “apparently”
overlooks the very real possibility that the young will not work to pay off the massive debt of thier predecessors, and “overlooks” the very real threat of revolt.

I love it, it’s like “wake up stupid”. I sincely hope that the NEA (AKA the brainwasher) gets overthrown by the very youth its job is to corrupt.

I’ll be optomistic in the sense that 20 years from now we will have a nation that either pays its debts, fulfills its commitments, and when “pay to play” happens, it means at least 50 years in jail, or they will all live in despair.

[Katarina]

Great commentary by Steyn, thank you.

[hershey]

Absolutely wonderful column by Steyn. The youthful dolts who voted for Obama won’t ‘get it’ until they have to pony up, and for college kids, that’s when they start paying their own bills, or in other words, join the work force. And won’t they be offended. Imagine the response at this Hillsdale college speech. Well, those kids ‘got it’, and I imagine few if any voted for the big O. I can’t picture Yale or Berkeley asking Steyn to speak; they’d be protesting him as a racist and hate monger.

[Raycpa]

Perhaps the pressure we put on our politicians to spend is too great. Do we as a whole, send the message “spend or else we will find someone who will”?

[autumnraine]

All those really cool 18-30 year olds who were so cool to vote for someone cool on the TV instead of some old white geezer will be feeling the effect of this all their lives.

I hope at the least they recognize their vote means a little something and pay more attention.

[PGalt]

They’re selling the rights to collect on our labor, like we were slaves on the auction block. They’re selling our children and grandchildren as futures contracts.

5 posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 4:36:45 AM by JerseyHighlander

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2204017/posts

[thomas16]

McCain wasn't that different from Obama, the money would have been spent either way

[Thermalseeker]

Now of course, The Big Giant Zero is going crazy with debt, but George Bush led the way.

Don't forget Congress. The President can't spend a dime without a willing Congress.....

[SouthDixie]

“Why the hell did you old coots do this to us?”

Quite frankly, I'm surmising the little dears would be voting for Obama anyway.
His "O"ness is priming them to be the obedient socialists of the next generation.