The other day I wrote about our financial problems in light of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. If nothing else it was fun to consider the irony, considering who the current president is.
But the other day I saw a word applied to our financial problems that I've never seen before: pensioners are cannibalizing the young. (Sorry, I forgot the source; it might have been myBudget360.com.) A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words. This was a case in which one word was worth a thousand words. This has never happened before to me, as a reader.
American Baby Boomers inherited the mightiest industry in the world; we bequeath a hollowed-out wreck. We frolicked in the freedom of the 1960s and 1970s; we leave the youngsters a militarized-security-police state. Our parents showed us what a stable nuclear family was like; we raised the young in a bombed-out divorce culture. Just think how cheap it was to go to college or buy a house when Baby Boomers were young; now look at it. These comparisons go on and on. American Baby Boomers are the Worst Generation. I hope that the young rebel against us:
- reduce the pensions of existing pensioners in the government sector. Use the pensions in the private sector as a basis of comparison.
- impose lifetime limits on Medicare.
- apply means-testing to Social Security.
- drastically downsize the global empire and military expenditures.
- pull away government subsidies from the housing sector, thus making housing affordable to the young. This will upset the retirement fantasies of Baby Boomers. So what?
Comments
I look around and there is alot I don't like either but because certain things are correlated doesn't mean there is a direct cause and effect and that there are no other factors involved, factors with profound impact.
I personally look at the 50's, for example, and see many social issues and attitudes which were destined to blow up in our faces. The generation that produced the baby boomers must be examined as well. If you say that a whole generation has been raised so similarly as to produce such drastic negative effects, how can you not look at the parents and what would necessarily be their great flaw, shared in signficant numbers, to have produced this effect?
I have always wondered about the causes of social change. You just can't stop it and you can't control it. But it's always in flux and when you're in it, you can't understand it so well. It's only hindsight which allows some conclusions to be drawn. And the funny thing about that is that it changes too as the years go by and subsequent generations look at things with new eyes and a fresh perspective.
You say that looking at the rainbow and the raindrops as transitory requires a long view, but it seems to me that it's the long view that makes the most sense. Latching on to just one thing, whether it be the rainbow, the raindrops, or pointing a finger at one generation to explain all the woes of our times, might bring a sense of satisfaction in that you feel grounded and focused with a sense of direction.
But it sounds the same to me as the political blaming that goes on and, though intended to solve our problems for the other party is perceived as the enemy and everything they say and do is wrong, is actually a huge impediment standing in the way of any real solution.
Either that or I need new glasses.
I like the one about a cap on medicare and would also love to see Congress vote to reduce its own perks.
For Congress to earn my respect, they would have to do so. THAT is the way to lead.
But do you really think that any of it has a chance?
So far most are not willing to touch social security and medicare/medicaid. How do you expect the congressmen who propose this to get elected..?
I could go on. I am on medicare, and I have great care. I know it, but I also know that the Government pays too much for the care that I get. My wife and I are healthy and due to unusual circumstances we were both hospitalized last year for a total between us of 5 days. The tab was 60K, paid by Medicare. The hospital called during a fundraiser. I couldn't believe my ears that they were soliciting contributions.
So enough said, sorry for the lack of concise observation, but Healthcare is a hot button issue for me.
Tom in Orlando
Yes I edit posts later in the day, after posting. Glad you approved of my lifetime limits on Medicare.
Box Canyon, Here I was, trying to post a nice friendly essay fomenting insurrection and economic civil war, and you had to drag it off onto the euthanasia hot button. Geesh. Actually it's a good topic for another day.
Tom, I wish your point about our national spending on medical got more emphasis. Have you read that 17% of our GDP is health care, while it's only 11% in Germany where everybody, even VISITORS, are covered for health care.
Boonie, apparently my efforts have gone astray from their mission. Actually, I was just trying to get you to unlock yourself from blaming all the countries woes on the baby boomers and instead, to broaden your vision a bit. But you are a tough cookie, a bulldog, to be sure, and once you sink your teeth into something, you just don't let go.
So, I've done my best and apparently it wasn't good enough. Isn't the first nor will it be the last time for that.
Our kids will pay for the next 200 years what we the boomers have destroyed In 30-40 years........we may even be paying rent to the Chinese to park on BLM Lands.
We need much more in reality, no one dares speak the truth
reduce the pensions of existing pensioners in the government sector. Use the pensions in the private sector as a basis of comparison.
impose lifetime limits on Medicare.
apply means-testing to Social Security.
drastically downsize the global empire and military expenditures.
pull away government subsidies from the housing sector, thus making housing affordable to the young. This will upset the retirement fantasies of Baby Boomers. So what?