I have a strong feeling that the generation X’ers have seen this coming from so far away that they adapt to changing circumstances.
To start with, the baby boomers got suckered into believing that they would get out of LBJ’s “Great Society” what they paid into it, or at least those who followed them would do what the boomers did, which would support the boomers.
However, as soon as the government got their money, it not only spent it on other things, but spent even more, going into debt.
So truthfully, the cupboard has long been bare, or rather, filled to overflowing with IOUs. But government was even sneakier and greedier. So for many years now, the generation X’ers don’t even get started without huge debts, the government exploiting them first.
So the generation X’ers will be lucky to just feed themselves, much less pay retirement luxury for the boomers. And the instant the “float” money runs out, and it will, it’s going to be “sorry boomers, but nobody is going to give you a dime.”
And boomers will stomp their aged feet and curse, but that is not going to get blood from a turnip. Meanwhile, the generation X’ers will be quietly building up their own, *non-monetary* semi-retirement.
Carefully squirreling away what the government would take if it could. And while they won’t have a luxurious retirement, they calculate they won’t have to work, either, mostly because they know their isn’t going to be any work for them anyway.
The government figures it will get out of this by offering easy suicide to the boomers, figuring that since they’ve already been fooled several times, might as well fool them out of the picture entirely.
BINGO. I have NEVER EVER expected Social Security since I was a little kid...I grew up in the 80s with all the debt talk. We KNEW we weren't getting anything.
Meanwhile, the generation X’ers will be quietly building up their own, *non-monetary* semi-retirement.
Double bingo. Marketable skills. Survival skills. Side businesses. Seeds. Land. Fruit trees. Plenty of kids.
If you're not Gen X yourself, my hat is off to you. You've really nailed what is going on.