We talk about the different generations from time to time, so I thought this article was interesting.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/arc ... rs/263291/
While, I think I could rebut a fair amount of the arguments his dad puts forth I do think the final part of the article is semi-valid. Though, I don't think we have actually had the opportunity, yet, to change things. Buth, we should be prepapred.
Generations
What a sensitive article, thanks Chad.
I am a result of the relaxation of the preboomer generation, after WWII.
I do feel sorry that, with regard to environment, things are steared wrong during my lifetime, and still going on.
To counter the wrong direction I am frugal with fossil energy for the the last decade. It seems futile but I know it will work in the end.
I am a result of the relaxation of the preboomer generation, after WWII.
I do feel sorry that, with regard to environment, things are steared wrong during my lifetime, and still going on.
To counter the wrong direction I am frugal with fossil energy for the the last decade. It seems futile but I know it will work in the end.
From end of article:
"Your generation should be thinking about how you'll step up to the plate," my dad says, brown eyes boring into mine. "And you also need to step up to the plate, learning from us about the politics. Just say no to the kind of politics that get in the way of what you perceive are the solution."
Boomers are the last people to learn anything about politics. These are the demographic that watches FOX and MSNBC and keeps looking for someone else to blame for their failures. Shoots the messenger on sight. Everything is a belief and values war and nothing can be compromised. They would rather destroy the world than give up on their sacred bullshit values (from both sides).
Most will be voted out of office by 2020 and it will be good riddance. I just hope they don't start another war -- they are quite good at it.
Time to watch Fight Club again.
"Your generation should be thinking about how you'll step up to the plate," my dad says, brown eyes boring into mine. "And you also need to step up to the plate, learning from us about the politics. Just say no to the kind of politics that get in the way of what you perceive are the solution."
Boomers are the last people to learn anything about politics. These are the demographic that watches FOX and MSNBC and keeps looking for someone else to blame for their failures. Shoots the messenger on sight. Everything is a belief and values war and nothing can be compromised. They would rather destroy the world than give up on their sacred bullshit values (from both sides).
Most will be voted out of office by 2020 and it will be good riddance. I just hope they don't start another war -- they are quite good at it.
Time to watch Fight Club again.
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jacob
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Is tribalism cyclical?
On the other hand, boomers have effectively eliminated politics as a way of governing and turned it into a stage-show while the real strings are being pulled by the sponsors. Maybe this is preferable to "real politics" which tends to start world wars. Perhaps this inane form over function politics originated in the flower-power aquarius world-view of that generation... if reality doesn't matter and it's relative, everything can be made up.
Also in order of the European Union winning the Peace Prize, maybe we should thank the boomers for not starting World War 3.
I'm moderately concerned about the teamplaying Millenials in that regard. War is all about teamplay.
On the other hand, boomers have effectively eliminated politics as a way of governing and turned it into a stage-show while the real strings are being pulled by the sponsors. Maybe this is preferable to "real politics" which tends to start world wars. Perhaps this inane form over function politics originated in the flower-power aquarius world-view of that generation... if reality doesn't matter and it's relative, everything can be made up.
Also in order of the European Union winning the Peace Prize, maybe we should thank the boomers for not starting World War 3.
I'm moderately concerned about the teamplaying Millenials in that regard. War is all about teamplay.
"I just hope they don't start another war -- they are quite good at it."
I'm deeply concerned about that if Romney is elected. It's one of the few real differences between Obama and Romney.
"I'm moderately concerned about the teamplaying Millenials in that regard. War is all about teamplay."
That is a valid concern considering how the "US vs China" thing is shaping up. That relationship could crash and burn if mistakes are made (ex., the recent stupid island snafu between China and Japan) and there are a lot of easy mistakes that can be made on both sides.
I'm deeply concerned about that if Romney is elected. It's one of the few real differences between Obama and Romney.
"I'm moderately concerned about the teamplaying Millenials in that regard. War is all about teamplay."
That is a valid concern considering how the "US vs China" thing is shaping up. That relationship could crash and burn if mistakes are made (ex., the recent stupid island snafu between China and Japan) and there are a lot of easy mistakes that can be made on both sides.
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jennypenny
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secretwealth
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Chinese will be as useful in 20 years as Japanese is now, IMO.
As for generations--it's pretty undeniable that the Boomers have fucked things over more than anyone else, and it's surprising to see this thread gain traction in the popular press. It's been a rallying cry on the internet for a while now.
It's still going to be hard for Xers to fix things, because Boomers will remain a disproportionately huge voting bloc and they will sway public policy for the next 30-40 years until they start dying off. The Millennials will have more breathing room, and I bet they will eradicate the national debt among other things (generations raised in economically tough times tend to value thrift much more than others).
As for generations--it's pretty undeniable that the Boomers have fucked things over more than anyone else, and it's surprising to see this thread gain traction in the popular press. It's been a rallying cry on the internet for a while now.
It's still going to be hard for Xers to fix things, because Boomers will remain a disproportionately huge voting bloc and they will sway public policy for the next 30-40 years until they start dying off. The Millennials will have more breathing room, and I bet they will eradicate the national debt among other things (generations raised in economically tough times tend to value thrift much more than others).
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secretwealth
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One other thing I want to add: this article's premise is a bit silly. So the writer is a self-indulgent, upper middle-class white American who spends too much money on wasteful things.
"How have we sacrificed to balance the budget, to slow climate change, to deliver better opportunity for our children? We haven't. I own an SUV, and I don't compost my trash."
Well, so what? If you look at the stats, Xers, Yers, and Millennials drive less, are more ecologically responsible and aware than boomers (look at the demographic split on climate change denial, for instance), and save more than the Boomers did when at the same age, despite lower spending power and higher unemployment.
The anecdotal evidence of one high-paid writer writing for a self-loathing readership means very little, but I guess it makes the Atlantic's target demographic--Boomers--feel better about themselves.
"How have we sacrificed to balance the budget, to slow climate change, to deliver better opportunity for our children? We haven't. I own an SUV, and I don't compost my trash."
Well, so what? If you look at the stats, Xers, Yers, and Millennials drive less, are more ecologically responsible and aware than boomers (look at the demographic split on climate change denial, for instance), and save more than the Boomers did when at the same age, despite lower spending power and higher unemployment.
The anecdotal evidence of one high-paid writer writing for a self-loathing readership means very little, but I guess it makes the Atlantic's target demographic--Boomers--feel better about themselves.