Boomers

[Hauldren Collider]

Yeah, but in the US it shouldn't happen to your rich parents and only occurs because they frittered everything away and didn't save money.

[DaShi]

Taking care of your elderly parents is the norm in most other countries.

I know, it's horrible.

[rah]

Do you hate your parents generation?

My parents personally, no. My parents generation, not in general, but they did set up a lot of the things without proper planning. Like SS and other social programs. They could predict the numbers and like any good ponzie scheme, they benefited quite a bit and left us to clean up the mess. Our politicians were too chicken to do it. (the nature of politics and the biggest weakness of democracy)
I will admit that we could have done better, but every generation will probably be similar in that regard. Just because our parents fought the big war doesn't mean they were perfect.

I will admit that I'm surprised at the hatred towards my generation. I truly believe that some it comes from an unwillingness to take responsibility.

[Aeson]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was awesome.

[DaShi]

My parents personally, no. My parents generation, not in general, but they did set up a lot of the things without proper planning. Like SS and other social programs. They could predict the numbers and like any good ponzie scheme, they benefited quite a bit and left us to clean up the mess. Our politicians were too chicken to do it. (the nature of politics and the biggest weakness of democracy)
I will admit that we could have done better, but every generation will probably be similar in that regard. Just because our parents fought the big war doesn't mean they were perfect.

I will admit that I'm surprised at the hatred towards my generation. I truly believe that some it comes from an unwillingness to take responsibility.

Now, if you said the SS. You'd have a more credible argument.

[rah]

Yeah, but in the US it shouldn't happen to your rich parents and only occurs because they frittered everything away and didn't save money.

What percentage of parents in the US can be considered rich? The norm is that they're not and need a bit of help when they get older.

[The Mad Monk]

Taking care of your elderly parents is the norm in most other countries.

In many countries, your children are your retirement fund.

[MRT144]

Taking care of your elderly parents is the norm in most other countries.

Like I said: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style for me where all the grandparents share the same bed. Wife and I are not moving out of our one bedroom condo any time soon and the idea that we'd take on a mortgage on a house and/or move across the state where there are no job opportunities so we'd take care of our elderly parents seems kind of ridiculous.

[Aeson]

Personally I think my Gen X/Y cohorts and I had it better than anyone in history. We got to be kids when we ****ing won the cold war, when Star Wars came out, before America went and got completely obese, and before Civ was ruined forever...

Kids these days don't know what real boobs look like in porn, won't ever realize the magic that is a video games, can't see their dick for their bloated belt-line, and as far as glory goes, can only fantasize about beating up some old guy in a cave.

[rah]

and before Civ was ruined forever...

[MRT144]

My parents personally, no. My parents generation, not in general, but they did set up a lot of the things without proper planning. Like SS and other social programs. They could predict the numbers and like any good ponzie scheme, they benefited quite a bit and left us to clean up the mess. Our politicians were too chicken to do it. (the nature of politics and the biggest weakness of democracy)
I will admit that we could have done better, but every generation will probably be similar in that regard. Just because our parents fought the big war doesn't mean they were perfect.

I will admit that I'm surprised at the hatred towards my generation. I truly believe that some it comes from an unwillingness to take responsibility.

Think about it though; How can we take responsibility for a few key economic and financial problems that are baked into a system we had no hand in making?

We didn't make debt so pervasive as a means to acquire education, housing, anything really.
We didn't lower taxes while increasing spending, especially MIC spending.
We didn't refuse to reform SS, Medicare, etc etc

And any time one of us Gen Y people say "maybe we should raise the SS age and cap benefits but not contributions, maybe we should raise taxes to pay for programs that have been deemed necessary by previous generations" everyone gets all up in arms about how they've earned it and how dare we clawback anything, or raise taxes, or rock the status quo.

You know what it is that inspires the hate; that our generation can't do anything about a lot of problems our nation faces, that you've had a hand in enlarging and creating, because you have such a deep vested interest in staying afloat until you're dead, even if it means there is nothing left afterward, and the best you can muster is "every generation will probably be similar".

Our generation is going to be fighting over whatever scraps are left over like junkyard dogs. Hopefully most boomers will have the decency to die in dignified manner before they see how bad their grandchildren have it.

[MRT144]

Personally I think my Gen X/Y cohorts and I had it better than anyone in history. We got to be kids when we ****ing won the cold war, when Star Wars came out, before America went and got completely obese, and before Civ was ruined forever...

Kids these days don't know what real boobs look like in porn, won't ever realize the magic that is a video games, can't see their dick for their bloated belt-line, and as far as glory goes, can only fantasize about beating up some old guy in a cave.

1953-1957 was the time to be born. You can enjoy most the things your kids do, but you weren't burdened by low opportunity, affordability issues, and reaped the mass benefit of innovations both in returns on capital and in usage.

[rah]

I hope your generation of politicians has more balls than our's did.

I have always supported removing the cap on SS contributions. At least personal contributions, business contribution caps are OK. And if that had been done as late as 20 years ago, SS would not be issue today.

[Aeson]

1953-1957 was the time to be born. You can enjoy most the things your kids do, but you weren't burdened by low opportunity, affordability issues, and reaped the mass benefit of innovations both in returns on capital and in usage.

No... you'd be old now dude. Plus you would have missed out on being a child-young adult with the awesomeness that was the 80's and early 90's.

[MRT144]

No... you'd be old now dude. Plus you would have missed out on being a child-young adult with the awesomeness that was the 80's and early 90's.

My dad enjoyed a lot of those things with me.