"they hope we’ll call them wise elders or spiritual elders" I'll bet they do!
The boomers have done some good things. But the political and ideological damage is considerable. It's up to history to determine whether the boomer legacy will be good, or bad. But because they lack a sense of tragedy, I don't know how well they can manage the tail end of their era.
I've really enjoyed this series of articles. I think maybe the boomer generation is the most illuminating because it shows how people develop their ideals when they are allowed, in general, to realise their potential. In the UK in the aftermath of the second world war doors were opened to the working class that never had been before because the government needed to replenish the population. A national health service and free education were made available and people could buy a home. The effects were limited to one generation. By the time gen x was reaching adulthood opportunities were declining, and have done ever since.
Sure. The U.S. and U.K. have in common that they did so well from 1945 to 1972 -- glory days, an economic high -- and since then have had to compete with more and more people, I think having to compete now with about 3 billion people, probably more.
Being a gen x-er I remember leaving school in the 1980s and feeling that I and my contemporaries were unlucky. The country was in recession and it did not occur to me that actually we were still comparatively lucky; that things would just get gradually worse. I at least managed to get onto the property ladder and get a mortgage to buy a home. That would be impossible now. Young people are finding it so difficult to leave home and make a life for themselves. It's very sad indeed and I can't see how the trajectory can be reversed. Our governments seem to have completely lost sight of what (I believe) they are there for: to improve the lives of the people they serve.
"they hope we’ll call them wise elders or spiritual elders" I'll bet they do!
The boomers have done some good things. But the political and ideological damage is considerable. It's up to history to determine whether the boomer legacy will be good, or bad. But because they lack a sense of tragedy, I don't know how well they can manage the tail end of their era.
Haha! Well said, Felix.
I've really enjoyed this series of articles. I think maybe the boomer generation is the most illuminating because it shows how people develop their ideals when they are allowed, in general, to realise their potential. In the UK in the aftermath of the second world war doors were opened to the working class that never had been before because the government needed to replenish the population. A national health service and free education were made available and people could buy a home. The effects were limited to one generation. By the time gen x was reaching adulthood opportunities were declining, and have done ever since.
Sure. The U.S. and U.K. have in common that they did so well from 1945 to 1972 -- glory days, an economic high -- and since then have had to compete with more and more people, I think having to compete now with about 3 billion people, probably more.
Being a gen x-er I remember leaving school in the 1980s and feeling that I and my contemporaries were unlucky. The country was in recession and it did not occur to me that actually we were still comparatively lucky; that things would just get gradually worse. I at least managed to get onto the property ladder and get a mortgage to buy a home. That would be impossible now. Young people are finding it so difficult to leave home and make a life for themselves. It's very sad indeed and I can't see how the trajectory can be reversed. Our governments seem to have completely lost sight of what (I believe) they are there for: to improve the lives of the people they serve.
Home ownership by Millennials is a major, major challenge. Should be a major policy priority.