A little Rant about the "Most Selfish Generation" (Vanity)

FreeRepublic ^ | 09/02/2003 | ME

[tcostell]

They had their childhood in the 50's and remembered it as a time of unambiguous innocence.

They had their adolescence in the 60's when they decided that their parents view of hard work and respect for family were "antiquated" ideas that no longer should apply in this age of social awareness. They preached free love while they spouted hate and burned the symbol of their country and called those who were risking their lives for them "baby killers". "Private property" became dirty words to them. Crime soared, many fathers were replaced by the government.

In the 70's they left college and got jobs, but the adolescence continued. They now had more money to buy stronger drugs, and indulge in more exotic means of gratification. Those that did marry gave up on the idea, and divorce rates climbed. They called it a journey to "find themselves" but they were already utterly devoted to their own egos. They even went so far as to name themselves the "me" generation. They replaced the minister with the psychologist, and the community with cultural awareness groups.

In the 80's the myth of socialism finally died, and with it also, their already threadbare pretense of caring about anyone but themselves. The ideas of family and community had been trampled under the feet of the proletariat. In the 80's it became about obtaining wealth, and the rules be damned. Excess was still the preferred flavor, but with age beginning to take it's toll it became external excesses rather than the sex and drugs of the last 2 decades. Conspicuous consumption was the new trend and exercise became the fashion in an attempt to hold back the tide of time.

In the 90's they elected their king, and filled the corridors of power with their number, but it turned out that the emperor's new robe was a stained blue dress. They told each other lies about the "new business cycle" and picked each others pockets. They put off till tomorrow everything they could so they could have one last moment of ego gratification. The band played as the new millennium rolled in. But then there came a day when everyone knew that the party was over. The markets stopped pretending everything would go on forever, and the World Trade Center came crashing down.

I'm a part of the generation that has followed along behind the baby boomers paying the bill. No one asked me if I wanted to, (in fact they still never ask me) they simply present the bill and await payment. I was bussed to public school as a child, turned down from ivy league colleges while my friends with worse performance were accepted in deference to affirmative action. I was taught to fear aids and other diseases when I was laid off in the 80's, and watched my savings and stock options turn to so much wallpaper in the 90's. Worst of all, I lost lifelong friends in the World Trade Center, and my wife still has nightmares about how close I came to being there myself. I've grown accustomed to the idea that although I've paid vast sums into social security, it won't be there for me. It was never "for me" anyway. And now that age is upon them they would like me to pay for their medical care as well. Even if it costs me everything I have. Even if it's long gone but still being paid for by my 3 year old daughter.

I know it will probably happen. The baby boomers are arguable the most short sighted and self interested generation that America has ever seen but they are in the majority so there is no-one to stop them. I'm even certain they will come up with some grand rationalization about why I should be thrilled to pay the bill for them one more time. But it won't really be for me... it never is.

In the meantime I'll care for my family with whatever is left. The schools have failed so my wife and I will teach our daughter ourselves in our own home if we have to. We'll make room for both my parents and my in-laws when they can't afford the property taxes needed to live alone anymore. We'll make our family the center of our universe because the family works better than all the government run pipe dreams that the die hards keep trying to sell. They can take everything I have but my self reliance.

We were landless peasants once, and may well be again before the "most spoiled generation" is through, but we'll survive it. And when they finally leave, we'll build the country again. Not as a collective "workers utopia", but as a place where no man is saddled with the burden of another, that he does not willingly take upon himself. Family is the best reason to shoulder a burden. Even community can be a good reason sometimes ...if the links are close enough. But it should be asked for not ordered. And the government can only order.

I don't ever need to be on the receiving end of government largess. I would just like to see the generation that precedes me to pay their own way for once. I'll carry my own water... and I think they should do the same.

[chris1]

You are in denial. Victim??? You don't know me. I ask for no handouts, I am in my own business and started with absolutely nothing. All I want is for the govt and other freeloading people to get out of the way and stop placing impediments in my way to trying to scratch out a living.

[johnb838]

Many boomers were (and still are) communist dupes.

[Paulus Invictus]

Yeah! The ranter got the 60's, 70's, 80', and 90's right, but he he fails to understand the fifties. A large number of men of that generation came back from the service with a desire to get an education. Many did, by sacrificing and struggling. Then we got good jobs, married, had families (the 60's and 70's generations) and did what we had to do to make a life after the disastrous 40's. We do not look back on our generation as unambiguously innocent, however. As vets, we had been around, seen a lot and learned much more.

It is difficult for us to understand what happened to the following generations, but I put it down to the malevolent influence of the socialists/commies that infested higher education, and still do. Our grandkids are still being served up socialist ideology in grade school, high school and college. The result has been the "stained blue dress generation" (what an appropriate symbol for the clintinoids out there!) and political, economic and societal chaos.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

Brilliant post...you listed all the points that I wanted to make but couldn't think of.

I'm sorry for the frustration of Gen Xers who think their problems are all baby boomers' fault. I love being a baby boomer, it's been a fantastic ride, and even if you hate us, you have to admit, our story has had one hell of a soundtrack.

[KantianBurke]

[Paulus Invictus]

The Boomers are the children of the 40's generation (and please don't call it the FDR generation! Millions were not followers of that confirmed socialist!). The majority were born after the boys came home after WW II. The real baby "boom" really began about 1946 and many larger families were created until the next generation took over, 20 years later.

[KantianBurke]

www.socialsecurity.org

Read it and weep. Wanna raise a family? Own a house? Put kids through college? HA! Granny needs FREE PILLS!!! No money for you.

[BA63]

Well said!

[dmz]

You are absolutely right, I don't know you. I concede that point easily. What I do know about you is that you very much dislike being stereotyped, yet have no problem doing so to others. Another character trait of youth.

and you absolutely do have the victim mentality.

"All I want is for the govt and other freeloading people to get out of the way and stop placing impediments in my way to trying to scratch out a living."

It's [insert group name here] fault that you are having difficulties scratching out a living, you say so yourself. And yet you say I'm the one in denial.

Get over it. No one owes you anything, certainly not an easy ride to a good living. You're not even 30 yet, but you seem to be whining that you're not rich yet. You'll start coming into your own a few years down the line (another character trait of youth - I want it now!)

[Cogadh na Sith]

This'll rile up the baby-boomers!

Good rant, dude. Makes me proud to be a member of Gen-X.

[Cogadh na Sith]

The baby-boomers aren't our parents. By and large, our parents were pre 1945.

My dad was a Korean War Era Vet--Army Signal Corp 1952.

[chris1]

First of all, I don't think that not being happy about confiscation of income and silly regulations that hamper the productive and entrprenurial spirit of people is being a "victim." Second, I don't think that your charge agasinst me is even close to fair as you probably have never ever run a business and have no idea whatsoever it is all about. Victim - I am a warrior! I have taken the bull by the horns in life and decided not to wait on some company or gov't agency to provide me with a job.

[BBT]

"Perhaps it's not the generational factor that is the common denominator for selfishness; it could just be the old liberal thought pattern that is the root of the problem."

Deserves repeating.

[Cogadh na Sith]

(read: shut up and learn something first, maybe as you get older you'll have an opinion worth airing out).

Hmmm. I've served on the DMZ in Korea; been laid off 5 times from engineering jobs and got back up on my feet every time. I'm 35 years old ferchrissakes... I think I've learned a few things!

The 'Nintendo Generation' thing is getting old....

No free prescription drugs for you, hippie!

[DustyMoment]

I understand your frustration, but disagree with your generalized analysis. As a member of the same generation as you, I recall things a little differently. Yes, all of the bad things you mentioned occurred, but you failed to mention those of us (and our parents) who opposed and/or spoke out against many of the social ills you documented. Our voices were drowned out by the "gimme" crowd and the hippies who wanted a world of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. The same attacks were waged on us conservatives then as are being waged today by Dems.

Ultimately, despite the direction we took as a nation over the years, the liberals have spent us into a precarious financial position and legislated us into an unhealthy social situation. Yes, our country has many ills, name one country that does not. We have more opportunities to alter our present and future than many other places in the world. Idealism is nice, but reality is a cold bucket of water in the face.

If you dislike our current national situation, do something besides blame it on your parents. Blame it on US, ALL of us, who saw it happening before our eyes and didn't speak up loudly enough. You grew up during a portion of this time, where is the effect of your disapproving voice??

We can't change the past, nor can we change the present. We can LEARN from them and ensure that the FUTURE provides different choices from those we have today. Anyone can rant and whine about what is. Be a vehicle of change and make sure that we never forget the lessons learned from the past 50 years.

[dmz]

LOL.

My post was to the whiner, not you.

I'm all of ten years older than you. Too young to be a hippie, too young to need free prescription drugs, and about 5 years too old to be considered an x'er.

See what I mean, though, I suggested that in a few years Chris1 (not yet 30) would hit his stride, and you at 35 verifying that what I said is accurate. I appreciate the validation.

Are all x'ers so defensive about how their elders view them. And do you all have such a blind spot about how your hostility to those elders is the same blind spot that EVERY generation has for the ones who came before?

My youngest daughter (age 11) will grow up in the world your generation directs. How will you face her criticism?

[Tribune7]

Good rant.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

Ronald Reagan helped change things for the better, but we have had no follow-up. I am disappointed in our present Republican Senate and House.

We need more conservatives and the conservatives that are in office to take the bull by the horns and turn this out of control spending government in the other direction.

Many of us in all age groups have voted and tried our best to stop this social gimmie game. The left lie about Republicans, and I even see on tv young college students, acting as if Republican is a dirty word. Unfortunately, the people believe the BIG LIE.

[chris1]

AGREED!!!!

[DustyMoment]

I hope you aren't expecting me to disagree with you.