Baby Boomers: Generation Theft?

Graham_Devon

BBC Magazine Article....

Rising wages and low house prices helped the baby boom generation to prosper. Today's young face high unemployment, expensive education, and a lifetime of renting. Have they never had it so bad?

Got a nice little picture slideshow of just how good the boomers had / have it.

Got nice graphs too.

And stuff like this, solely it seems to annoy some

Baby boomers born in the 1940s to mid 60s bought their first home when prices were low and watched property prices shoot up as house-building slowed while the population rose. There was relatively low unemployment up to the 1980s and again in the 1990s and 2000s.

Wages rose. Low inflation and globalisation kept prices down. They got generous pensions.

There was poverty too, but those middle and top earners flourished. They are the lucky generation. So goes the theory.

Anyway, the conclusion is....yes, it has never been better for this group of people, and continues to be that way. Whether it's getting a job, or government bolsters for this group, the boomers always come out high on top.

As the article says....it comes down to fairness. Government debt is stacking up for the young, meanwhile the boomers have lived through times of unprecedented plenty.

"If you think about the baby boom generation they lived through peace and unparalleled prosperity. You'd struggle to explain why that generation should be able to leave huge debts to the next generation."

Have fun. And yes, don't worry, the article does note that we do have access to ipads.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21302065

StevieJ

ess0two

This gonna be the next cause you champion?

Now that things are slowly turning round.

grizzly1911

Quote from the article GD chose to hilight:-

bought their first home when prices were low

I am a tail end boomer according to that definition.

We brought our first house in a rising market.You had to offer the asking price or more to get on the ladder. Gazumping was prevalent.

So at that particular point in life they weren't low.in price, they were the highest they had ever been.

I could look back and say my parents first house, brought after formative years living in "rooms" and then a 1 bed flat, was dirt cheap, but at that point in time to them they were practically penniless when they took over the keys.

It is all relative.

moneyinmypocket

Boomers deserve respect, they have done so much for this country. We must not allow jealousy to consume

ukcarper

Graham I'm surprised you are regurgitating this same old drivel.

Conrad

It's not quite as painted in the OP. Look at vids of the 1970's where whole areas such as Nottinghill were a sespit of slumlord existence for the masses.

Typically only one wage to manage on.
Threat of WW3 an ever present concern.
The red menance an omni present threat.
Unsettling union battles.
3 day weeks.
Shortages and blackouts.
Hidden abuse.

Talking to older people it rarely comes accross they had it easy.

Graham_Devon

I posted it as it's new, not old. And I enjoy the froth. Plus it keeps you lot active.

But hey, let's look at my final quote. I'll take you to task, instead of stating the same old tired repsonses....

Argue it...All the responses so far ignoring these sorts of issues and just having a pop at the messenger conviniently ignore this truth.

"If you think about the baby boom generation they lived through peace and unparalleled prosperity. You'd struggle to explain why that generation should be able to leave huge debts to the next generation."

kabayiri

If you are a benign beneficiary of fortunate timing, are you culpable ?

Does the current generation feel guilty about being able to buy an iPad or a plasma tv for less than a week's wages? Guilty when they consider Chinese factory workers will be spending a dozen hours a day working to make these products for a few hundred dollars a month tops.

The answer to this fortune is surely 'no' isn't it?

So why should an older generation feel bad about fortune regards purchasing property at an advantageous time?

thorsoak

Graham_Devon wrote: »

BBC Magazine Article....

Got a nice little picture slideshow of just how good the boomers had / have it.

Got nice graphs too.

And stuff like this, solely it seems to annoy some

Anyway, the conclusion is....yes, it has never been better for this group of people, and continues to be that way. Whether it's getting a job, or government bolsters for this group, the boomers always come out high on top.

As the article says....it comes down to fairness. Government debt is stacking up for the young, meanwhile the boomers have lived through times of unprecedented plenty.

Have fun. And yes, don't worry, the article does note that we do have access to ipads.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21302065

OK - I apologise - but I had absolutely nothing to do with the dates of my conception/birth and the fact that I have lived through times of "unprecedented plenty" - so as far as I'm concerned, you'll have to blame my parents :eek:.

GeorgeHowell

Trust the BBC to perpetuate this ageist claptrap.