Posted on 11/17/2003 7:11:58 PM PST by qam1
As the first of 78 million people from the post World War II baby boom generation -- those born between 1946 and 1964 -- approach retirement age, their legacy has already impacted society more than any other generation. But not necessarily in a good way. The latest examples of profound irresponsibility are former president Bill Clinton and current president George W. Bush, both leaders of the generation. Clinton did all he could to help dig a monetary grave for taxpayers with a giant tax increase and a grab for national health care with Hillary Clinton at the helm. Bush is shoveling dirt in the grave with yet another massive entitlement expansion in the form of prescription-drug benefits for seniors. Why? For the enormous senior voting block, and the votes of fellow boomers on the cusp of retirement, in his 2004 presidential bid for re-election.
The irony is not lost on many coming-of-age boomers who began their legacy by rejecting their parents -- belatedly recognized as the greatest generation -- and revolting against the social, political, education and corporate establishment. Elements of the generation decided they were self-ordained to change the world, so they embarked on missions of good intentions: Civil rights, equal rights for women, growing government, revising the education system, controlling corporate America and re-defining society. Much of what the generation accomplished was good. However, they were driven by extremists, including deeply disturbed social gurus from their parents' generation.
It took little more than three decades for the 60's generation to ruin public education by dumbing down the system and replacing it with feel-good social promotion, the indoctrination of moral relativism, rejection of truth, and the reconstruction of history to reflect their ideology. The overall problem was that academics, progressives, civil rights activists, pandering politicians, government bureaucrats, environmentalists and radical feminists simply went too far. They turned America into a stressed-out society steeped in uncertainty, relentlessly assaulted by selfish interests, hyper commercialism, junk psychology, political and environmental terrorism, and legal anarchy. The results are clearly a litigious society of political correctness, demonization of classes, social aggression, punishing taxation and media-driven chaos, which created cultures of unrelenting political rancor, censorship, tyranny of the minority, separatist diversity, war against whites, war against males, devastated families, confused children, hopelessly frustrated relationships, cheaters, and all manner of other social and economic extremes.
Radical elements of the boomer generation vowed to change everything, and they did. They spread their ilk like communicable diseases. They asaulted society with the proliferation of ignorance and battered society with the failures of good intentions. In the process, they created the new establishment: An academic system that robs students of their education; inept, intrusive government replete with repressive regulations; stock market madness, corporate thieves and Wall Street bandits; dishonest politicians and arrogant bureaucrats; mind-numbing drivel disguised as art and entertainment; and last but not least, biased news media and deceitful journalists of both political persuasions who abdicated their responsibility as defenders of the people and the watchdogs for democracy.
Lest we forget, rebellious boomers launched the drug culture, free love and personal irresponsibility that have become corrosive plagues on society. Those who drove our nation into this unconscionable quagmire know who they are and they certainly aren't the best of us. Alas, the 'Me' generation are in charge of things now. They betrayed democracy and the meaning of America and replaced it with cultures of animosity, selfish interests, victims, government dependants and entitlements. Indeed, it's certainly going get tougher on everyone else when the largest block of voters want more of everything for themselves, and the AARP becomes the most powerful organization in the country. Question is, can society survive the crippling effects of what has undoubtedly become the worst generation?
This is not to say that the entire generation is bad. Far from it. Many boomers are working hard to reverse the tide. But it's too late and there aren't enough of them. Yet with a lot of help from younger generations, and those from the small pre-1946, 'silent' generation who quietly witnessed the erosion of society with little resistance, maybe the generational war that will surely begin when self-absorbed boomers demand more and more tribute, Social Security and Medicare at the unbearable expense of others, including their own children, can be avoided.
Rather than continuing on the boomer's implosive course of social, political and economic vandalism, selective democracy and demagoguery convenience, common sense tells us that the shredded state of society leads to the inescapable conclusion that our survival rests with getting real, and a lot of mending. It's going to take mutual understanding, a truthfully informed electorate, real education and real democracy to sew this badly torn society back together.
We will have nationalized health care within ten years, mark my words. And, it will be because health care costs will force it.
It describes some baby boomers to a tee. before sterotyping please consult bush country map. Xer's are hopelessly out numbered at the poles, and you need to consider that before alienating 100 million boomers that mostly agree with your position.
Ironically, these self-absorbed, delusional Boomers will likely meet their fate at the hands of their own children. The "abortion survivors" (Generation X) will repay the kindness of their parents by euthanizing them.
America could not have picked two worse examples to lead our nation and maybe, one day, boomers will realize just how much damage, as a generation, they have caused.
Actually I don't have one, I was just pinging people I discussed similar articles before.
But I guess why not, now is a good as anytime to start one up. I can do a Gen-X, Gen Y ping list. Since generational releated articles are kind of rare here it will probably be a low volume ping list. If I get enough people I do it, If not I will keep you in mind if I see similar articles and ping me if you see one
Anyone else interesting in being on the Gen-X, Gen-Y ping list please respond to this post or Freepmail me
Yes they could, There is a whole pool of equally self absorbed babyboomers they could have picked through.
and maybe, one day, boomers will realize just how much damage, as a generation, they have caused.
Nah! They will go to the grave believing they were the greatest, most enlightened generation ever to walk the earth and all the other generations were just not smart enough to listen to them.
The Legacy of the Baby Boomers
The ACLU, Activist Judges, Junk Science, Tune in, Turn on and drop out, Health and Safety Nazis, RINOS, Destruction of the Nuclear Family, Destruction of the Black Extended family, Smoking Bans in bars, Frivolous lawsuit, The Constitution as a living document, The Welfare State, The Nanny State, It it feels good do it, The Liberal Media elite, The founding fathers were nothing more than evil slave owners, Sound bites over substance or facts, Abortion on demand, The Clintons, Seatbelt laws, Feminism, Tree Huggers, Criminals that have more rights than the victim, Meathead, Blame America First, Latch key kids, Kids being raised by their grandparents and/or strangers, Helmet laws for Motorcycles, Helmet laws for freaking Bicycles, Cradle to grave entitlements, War on Fat, 21 year old drinking age, Yuppies, Careers over your children, Hatred of the Military, Reporters who think they are not only part of but bigger than the story they are covering, Focus groups, Weekend dads, Single moms, Prisoner rights groups, Prozac, Ritilin, Viagra, ½ our income going for taxes, America owes me, Living past failed dreams through your children, Pychobabble, Cocktail Parties with the likes of Micheal Bloomberg, Turning an educational system that once was the best in the world to S!@, The 2nd Amendment doesn't mean the Right to bear arms, Peacekeepers instead of soldiers, The weakening of the CIA, Power Couples, Soccer Moms, Stage Moms, NPR, Eradication of Dodge Ball, It's all society's fault type excuses and made up syndromes instead of personal responsibility, and so many more but I will close with.
And an Obscene $6,000,000,000,000 Nation Debt that WE have to pay off.
Boomers are largely responsible for any economic advantage you now enjoy, bulldog-breath. I suppose you criticize Bush's indulgences from a monk's cell where you have no vices, but, then, I could be wrong.
You can piss on a generation if you wish, but I prefer to see the good things we boomers have done.
More people are eating because of us, and enjoying economic benefits heretofore undreamed of.
This article is likely written by a navel-gazing Xer, a generation which does nothing but gripe and complain.
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