Posted on 09/02/2003 6:17:04 AM PDT by tcostell
They had their childhood in the 50's and remembered it as a time of unambiguous innocence.
They had their adolescence in the 60's when they decided that their parents view of hard work and respect for family were "antiquated" ideas that no longer should apply in this age of social awareness. They preached free love while they spouted hate and burned the symbol of their country and called those who were risking their lives for them "baby killers". "Private property" became dirty words to them. Crime soared, many fathers were replaced by the government.
In the 70's they left college and got jobs, but the adolescence continued. They now had more money to buy stronger drugs, and indulge in more exotic means of gratification. Those that did marry gave up on the idea, and divorce rates climbed. They called it a journey to "find themselves" but they were already utterly devoted to their own egos. They even went so far as to name themselves the "me" generation. They replaced the minister with the psychologist, and the community with cultural awareness groups.
In the 80's the myth of socialism finally died, and with it also, their already threadbare pretense of caring about anyone but themselves. The ideas of family and community had been trampled under the feet of the proletariat. In the 80's it became about obtaining wealth, and the rules be damned. Excess was still the preferred flavor, but with age beginning to take it's toll it became external excesses rather than the sex and drugs of the last 2 decades. Conspicuous consumption was the new trend and exercise became the fashion in an attempt to hold back the tide of time.
In the 90's they elected their king, and filled the corridors of power with their number, but it turned out that the emperor's new robe was a stained blue dress. They told each other lies about the "new business cycle" and picked each others pockets. They put off till tomorrow everything they could so they could have one last moment of ego gratification. The band played as the new millennium rolled in. But then there came a day when everyone knew that the party was over. The markets stopped pretending everything would go on forever, and the World Trade Center came crashing down.
I'm a part of the generation that has followed along behind the baby boomers paying the bill. No one asked me if I wanted to, (in fact they still never ask me) they simply present the bill and await payment. I was bussed to public school as a child, turned down from ivy league colleges while my friends with worse performance were accepted in deference to affirmative action. I was taught to fear aids and other diseases when I was laid off in the 80's, and watched my savings and stock options turn to so much wallpaper in the 90's. Worst of all, I lost lifelong friends in the World Trade Center, and my wife still has nightmares about how close I came to being there myself. I've grown accustomed to the idea that although I've paid vast sums into social security, it won't be there for me. It was never "for me" anyway. And now that age is upon them they would like me to pay for their medical care as well. Even if it costs me everything I have. Even if it's long gone but still being paid for by my 3 year old daughter.
I know it will probably happen. The baby boomers are arguable the most short sighted and self interested generation that America has ever seen but they are in the majority so there is no-one to stop them. I'm even certain they will come up with some grand rationalization about why I should be thrilled to pay the bill for them one more time. But it won't really be for me... it never is.
In the meantime I'll care for my family with whatever is left. The schools have failed so my wife and I will teach our daughter ourselves in our own home if we have to. We'll make room for both my parents and my in-laws when they can't afford the property taxes needed to live alone anymore. We'll make our family the center of our universe because the family works better than all the government run pipe dreams that the die hards keep trying to sell. They can take everything I have but my self reliance.
We were landless peasants once, and may well be again before the "most spoiled generation" is through, but we'll survive it. And when they finally leave, we'll build the country again. Not as a collective "workers utopia", but as a place where no man is saddled with the burden of another, that he does not willingly take upon himself. Family is the best reason to shoulder a burden. Even community can be a good reason sometimes ...if the links are close enough. But it should be asked for not ordered. And the government can only order.
I don't ever need to be on the receiving end of government largess. I would just like to see the generation that precedes me to pay their own way for once. I'll carry my own water... and I think they should do the same.
I seriously think you should go to a doctor because you aren't well. No wonder your kids won't speak to you. No wonder you've become so isolated. I've never met you and I already can see how difficult you must be to deal with.
I don't really agree with any of the things you say I do with the exception of thinking that you "doth protest to much" and they are therefore probably true of you.
you are clearly not a well man.
Now I would aprreciate it if you would go away.
I thought this would be about the generations before the Baby Boomers who are demanding more and more senior entitlements as they have become the wealthiest demographic group. That bunch is the leading cause of the massive growth of the federal government...
I want you to tell me why. To what end?
What was the purpose of your rant?
No pretending, no word games, no psycho-babble. You spoke plainly in your "rant". There was bravery in your clarity. No more back-peddling. Be brave now....speak clearly again.
Why?
Were you serious when you apologized to all those people for being offensive, or when you denied offending anyone except me?
Seriously.....when?
I don't doubt it.
Responsible adults stand by their deeds, and words.
Standing up for myself, & my generation strikes you as absurd, foreign, and needing professional help.
Standing by your own words, has you denying them, issuing hollow apologies, and just wanting to take your ball & go home.
Before your deign stand in judgement of responsble adults, try being one.
All right....I'll let you go. You are rightly ashamed of your "rant", and should not have to be called on to explain yourself. That's for grown-ups. Cowards have been blaming mommy & daddy since the beginning.(no offense)
My parents are baby boomers and are as you describe. Totally self centred. I often wonder why they had kids. I have lived with the fact that they are absentee parents and now are following suit by becoming absentee grandparents as well. They will leave this world being able to count the wealth they have acquired but cannot lay claim to being an involved part of our lives or our kids lives. I hope they are proud of themselves. In fact they should be ashamed. Way to go baby boomers.
I’m considered a baby boomer because of my birth year 1960 but I do not share the traits of that generation. I know how you feel, many of us my age had to deal with their decisions all of our lives. When we were 10 it became cool for parents to divorce and our familes were torn apart. When we were young teens we were introduced to many things we weren’t well equiped to deal with yet but since there was no parent watching us....
That's a heartbreaking story. I'm so sorry.
Surely, though, you can somewhat empathize with them. Like yourself, they've spent their whole lives blaming everything on their previous generation. Actually, you have far more in common with smelly hippies than most 'boomers' do.
As an aside; I offered no description of 'boomers' in post #50.
But hey; thanks for the insults and please write again.
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