Posted on 12/11/2003 10:48:56 AM PST by luckydevi
However, despite the fact that my birth was in a certain 'era' that doesn't diminish what I, and most parents, truly hope for their children:
a life better than they[the parents] had
Though I am around fifty and was lucky enough to have had a talent that enabled me to earn a fairly large sum of money in the eighties, which has since grown considerably, I am continuing to work though I could 'retire'.
There are a couple of reasons for this.
First, the output of the trust funds that I had to participate in, virtually all track and field athletes of that time had to, is paying the room, board and costs of my kid's graduate and post-graduate degree in college. Also, I want to work...although the field I'm in currently is boring and distasteful (corporate in nature and cya in practice).
But not all boomers are bad, evil, greedy people who deserve to be put to death as soon as legally possible.
So, get a grip!
This is the dirty little secret - I've heard that most retirees run through everything they put into Social Security within 7-8 years. After that it is just welfare.
My thoughts exactly. There are many BB who are hard-working, good parents, and living decent lives and paying their bills as well as paying taxes and ss.
There are also many "old geezers" whose homes have become refuges for their adult children who are divorced (often w/children of their own), or who are unemployed and can't afford rent/food/etc., or who have dumped THEIR child/children (often "illegitimate") and left grandparents to raise a second generation of children, or who are "helping out" w/ their own children's "economic shortfalls" or w/their grandchildren's college expenses.
Painting either generation w/a broad brush is both inaccurate and dishonorable.
Wow, that's an uncomfortable truth.
I would be hard pressed to give a better recommendation than this. We forget, though, I think, that it IS up to us.
The arrogance of baby boomer never ceases to amaze me. Yeah you are right Gen-X and Y are nothing but slacker, Screw ups and the previous WWII generation is full of nothing but a bunch of uneducated simpletons.
mmmm. Let's see we have a whole generation that will probably leave us with a more than $10,000,000,000,000 deficit by the end of the decade that with the interest just to service it along with Social Security, medicare, and God knows what other entitlement coming down the pike you baby boomers are going to demand I am going to be stuck paying at least 65% of my income in taxes just to cover those things, Never mind other important things like defense. I suppose you agree with this guy that we should be thanking you for that. Plus throw because a bunch of baby boomer elitist decided they can live my life better than I can so now I can't smoke in a bar in some places, I can't ride my bike without being mandated to first put on body armour and I can't drive down the block without being stopped at a checkpoint to see if I am wearing a seatbelt and everyday it seems like some Boomer politician or judge alters/ignores the Constitution to fit their needs.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg, All and all we've got a generation who has and continues to attempt to undo the Constitution and freedoms and institutions that made this country great and people of my and younger generations are not supposed to be a little ticked off about it?
Please enlighten me, Tell me why us Xs & Ys should be grateful of you? In 100 years when we are all gone do you really believe history is going to look kindly on the baby boomers (Especially since they will probably still being paying off the debt you've run up).
Even though you say that your sense of victimhood is common for your age group I don't believe it. I know too many in their 20s and 30s who are real adults and are focused on living like adults and moving forward. Maybe it's just you and your circle who are effed up and looking for someone to blame.
No, I am not running around all day with a big chip on my shoulder and I am living life the best I can. I am just venting and I am eternally optimistic. Our Founding Fathers put in a great system and despite your fellow baby boomers attempt to tear it all down it will survive. I know despite what baby boomers think they aren't going to live forever (Especially in light of the fact that instead of finding cures for deadly diseases Boomer scientist spent their time coming up with things like Viagra, Ritlin, Prozac and kooky studies like how french fries are addictive) and once you are all gone things will get better, It may take 20 years afterwards to clean up the mess you made but things will get better.
f I knew your parents I would feel as embarassed for them as I do sorry for you. Or, maybe I'd feel they got exactly the kind of kids they deserved. Either way, good luck working things out.
Well I know your parents the WWII generation and your kids the Xers and Ys and I even know a little bit about our Founding Father's generation, Your generation has failed and disappointed them all.
I couldn't agree more!
My parents (and grandparents) taught me two important lessons when I was growing up. First, nobody owes you anything. Second, if you want it, you go get it yourself. Third, see lesson #1 a second time.
The people who enable their children or grandchildren to adopt an entitlement mentality are a large part of the problem. Bad parenting is a huge problem in this country.
When I see people whining about their kids, I look at what I'm doing and I don't understand how they can let their kids get away with some of this stuff. I used to drive my Grandmother back and forth to my mom's house when I was in high school. Then I'd take a weekend a quarter and head up there after I left home and take care of things for her before she died. I never asked for a handout; I paid for everything including college myself.
Fast-forwarding to today, for the last six years, I've been trying to get my mom to let me pay off her mortgage, but she won't let me. I got a transfer back home, she insists I live with her until I find "the right house" and won't let me pay rent. Oookie. So I find other ways to compensate (sneaking in groceries, paying utility bills, taking her to the doctor, etc) -- the latest argument I'm embroiled in is over an inheritance. She's set to retire, I've asked her to just spend the money. I'm fine. She won't do it.
So, I just don't understand how people who raise their kids to be greedy little bastards can complain about it. They have created their own problem.
Carolyn
Thanks for your unneeded advice - LOL!
But as for SS not being demanded by the voters, nonsense. Meeting voter demands and "buying votes" are just different views of the same horse's rear end. Do you think there was no voter demand for government-financed prescription drugs? I grow increasingly tired of the old "We, the poor put-upon voters" song and dance. We allow the s.o.b.'s to be elected. Let's start putting some of the blame on our own apathy and ignorance of public policy.
The same people we call "the greatest generation" happily tucked napkins into their collars and bellied up to a government-financed feast of historic proportions after WW II. They also produced the most indulged, self-involved, greedy generation of kids in American history. They were more than happy to get rid of Eisenhower's modest fiscal restraints in favor of Kennedy's and Johnson's gluttonous welfare statism in the Roosevelt tradition. Who elected those presidents and the Congresses that enacted their proposals into law? Were the voters simply "bought?" Not in my opinion, unless getting what you demand is being "bought."
Died before you were born? How old are you? 2?
You may consider them corrupt. Millions of Americans would disagree. They have as much right to their opinions as you or I do.
As I've stated on other such threads, I am in favor of providing prescription coverage to needy elderly. You may not agree. :::shrug:::
Then do it. Don't tell Big Stupid Republican Government to put a gun to your neighbor's head, steal their money, and give it away to make you feel better about yourself.
That's what democRATs, and many RepublicRATs, do.
LOL I'm sure you were aware I meant federally provided prescription drug benefits for needy elderly.
I provided for my elderly mother for 20 years before she passed away. If she hadn't had us, she would have had to make a choice between medicine or food or heat. Or maybe a little bit of each, but not sufficient quantities of all three.
I am also involved with/donate to a number of charities. I know of none that have any type of prescription assistance offering. If you are aware of any, please let me know.
In the meantime, I hope that you, too, are caring for your elderly parents and assisting charities that help the indigent.
Yes, I was very much aware of that. That's theft. At least a trillion dollars worth of theft, which will distort the medical market yet again and raise the price of drugs because nobody will have an incentive to conserve their use. It's stealing money from your neighbors, and you, by force and giving it away to buy votes. That's stealing.
And don't give me this "needy" nonsense. Are you arguing that it's perfectly OK to steal from somebody else to help yourself if you're "needy"? Quite a rationalization. And who defines "needy", anyway? Bill Gates, Janet Reno and Rush Limbaugh will get these "free" pills (via money stolen from others).
It's theft. It's wrong. It's not my copy of the Constitution anywhere either.
And yes, I help my family and others. That's how it should work in a theoretically-free country.
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