Why the baby boomers shouldn't feel guilty

ILW

I think the main difference between the boomers and the current generation, is that that did not whinge and just got on with life without the massive sense of entitlement holding them back.

the_flying_pig

ILW wrote: »

I think the main difference between the boomers and the current generation, is that that did not whinge and just got on with life without the massive sense of entitlement holding them back.

what exactly would they "whinge" about? i struggle to imagine them sat round together at a fondue party or whatever:

'sigh, our living standards are by far the highest afforded to any generation'

'sigh, you're right'

'etc'.

the_flying_pig

DaisyWheel wrote: »

...Why should my parents feel guilty...

"guilty" is perhaps the wrong word because guilt isn't particularly helpful. a moral baby boomer generation should, i suppose:

1 - recognise their luck in the opportunities they had & being born in the intergenerational sweet spot; and
2 - not try to block [recognising that market forces probably won't allow decent pensions, free higher education, & whatnot] similar opportunities for the young [e.g. through homebuilding] where only political will is needed to push them through.

seven-day-weekend

meg72 wrote: »

I am a baby boomer (1945) and who the hell said we should feel guilty anyway.

Another one here -1950 - and I have never felt guilty and still see no reason to do so.

seven-day-weekend

[QUOTE=the_flying_pig;49623621]what exactly would they "whinge" about? i struggle to imagine them sat round together at a fondue party or whatever:



'etc'.[/QUOTE]

No minimum wage
No equal pay
Hardly any maternity rights until the 1980s
Unequal treatment for Pensions
Ditto..mortgages
Ditto...taxes


There's a few things we COULD have whinged about but didn't. We jsut got on with changing them.

ruggedtoast

If ever there was a generation that managed to have their cake and eat it, its the boomers. Its Christmas today, but for a typical boomer compared to the young, it is Christmas every day.

property.advert

What if we hadn't had the loony left and out of control inflation back in the 1970s then people would never have had so much "wealth" today because house prices would be nowhere near their current levels. People haven't earned or created wealth, it was just an accident.

I have a relative retired at just over 50 and now in their 80s, looks like they will be collecting for another decade or more at least. After working perhaps 30 years, they could spend 50 years taking out !

Even if those baby boomers believe they are not at fault, they are guilty in part because they are the ones consuming without having put enough in and worse, they made the decisions such as pension fund holidays and are today making decisions which affect those who come after them whilst desiring to take ever more out of a bankrupt system.

ruggedtoast

property.advert wrote: »

What if we hadn't had the loony left and out of control inflation back in the 1970s then people would never have had so much "wealth" today because house prices would be nowhere near their current levels. People haven't earned or created wealth, it was just an accident.

I have a relative retired at just over 50 and now in their 80s, looks like they will be collecting for another decade or more at least. After working perhaps 30 years, they could spend 50 years taking out !

Even if those baby boomers believe they are not at fault, they are guilty in part because they are the ones consuming without having put enough in and worse, they made the decisions such as pension fund holidays and are today making decisions which affect those who come after them whilst desiring to take ever more out of a bankrupt system.

They truly are the generation that takes from the young, then puts a fiver in their birthday card and calls it even.

wymondham

ruggedtoast wrote: »

If ever there was a generation that managed to have their cake and eat it, its the boomers. Its Christmas today, but for a typical boomer compared to the young, it is Christmas every day.

wow, you really are bitter. I'm not a boomer having been born in the late 60's, but your views are of pure entitlement. I think you need to get yourself a good job, save then you'll be able to buy the things you obviously feel are rightfully yours and you deserve....

Happy Christmas!

ruggedtoast

Boomers have been living high on the hog for years, and they haven't even left behind a mangy trotter.