10 Things You Didn’t Know About Baby Boomers

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First of all, the forst of the first-wave boomers will turn 64 this year, not 63. The first wave was born 1946-1951. Secondly, during our working years, we not only paid SS, we paid double. Everyone seems to forget that sometime in the 1970's, it was decided that SS better prepare for the boomers, and that we were going to have to pay for ourselves, since there would be fewer people behind us. So they doubled the SS tax. We're all still paying that double tax, but I think it's important for younger people, particularly to understand. Thirdly, we did not create ourselves. This giant wave of people was created by two things: (1) our parents love for each other. After not seeing each other for 4 years because of WWII, they got busy-- not our fault. (2) vaccines and better medical care. Before us, some 1 of 3 children died from childhood diseases-- not our fault that we lived. Fourth, we can take care of ourselves. These data that show so many adult parents living with their children have got it backward; it's the children who are moving in the parents. And, what I'd really like is for people to stop measuring, counting, and predicting things about my generation. By 2040, most of us will be dead, so just give us a bit of peace & quiet in our last 30 years on earth. Personally, I'm going to try and get a bunch of friends together to buy a large farm. We will pump our own water, grow our own food, generate our own electric through wind & solar, and, generally, have a good time as we fade into the cosmos. Peace & love to all.

Lynda of MD 5:14PM August 22, 2010

I have seven living siblings and if my mother had the audacity to do that,
I will surely contest that action.

len of CA 8:21PM May 03, 2010

Today I could not believe my ears on Fox News. I overheard actually the words" state retirees should have their pensions "adjusted" like Social Security retirees did." (Unconscionable)
"State Teachers are making 100,000 , retiring at 80,000 and going back to work receiving both."
I do not know nor have I ever heard of any teacher making more than 40,000. Retirees take a hit. These government workers City, State and Federal work for pennies for 20-35 years and pay into their retirement fund. When finally able to retire it is a fixed amount with increasing expenses every year.
Not long before I overheard resentment toward Social Security pensioners.
Shortly after, COLA's were dropped for the first time in 30 years for the next few years!
We (boomers) financed the Post World War II boom by our birth in sheer numbers and provided the older generation with a very smooth ride.Even though the Depression gave them a rough childhood.
No one resented us then. It is just now that after working and paying into these pensions that some who worked elsewhere for much higher salaries ,and foolishly gambled on the stock market, are looking over the fence and burning with resentment!
On the other hand I've heard that too many over 55 are "continuing to work" depriving youngsters of jobs.
What would these whiners want us all to do? Drop dead or go on welfare after pensions are robbed? Those would be our alternatives.
If this country starts robbing pension funds ,that really is the final straw to this country's survival. What else is left to rob?

J of LA 3:47PM April 10, 2010

Baby boomers have managed our great country into the bowels of hell, they, as a generation, have left the country worse off than the received it.
Overwhelming debt that is now mathematically impossible to be paid off, an entitlement mentality left to their children, as a generation, they single-handily aborted the great experiment that was the United States.

Bob of GA 11:35AM February 22, 2010

I have recently completed a book about my parents and siblings during the war and what happened after wards. Below is a brief summary:
Baby Boomers are getting older, and our parents are beginning to leave us. For many of us, issues of inheritance will be handled fairly and equitably. But what would it be like if it didn’t go as expected? In my memoir Broken Birds, I describe the story of my mother, a Partisan fighter in World War II, and my father, a survivor of Dachau death camp, and their five children. When Mom dies, she doesn't leave the family home to Dad, or distribute it evenly among the five children, but instead leaves it to a single child. What was once a close-knit family is now led down the road to emotional destruction.
If you are interested in seeing a sample chapter please see my blog:
http://jeannettesbrokenbirds.blogspot.com/2009/01/broken-birds-by-jeannette-katzir.html

Jeannette of CA 10:42PM February 08, 2009

Good points

Caroline Stevens of CA 3:37PM February 04, 2009

I enjoyed reading about the baby boomers, like me. Please write more thinks about us. I am one of the younger baby boomer. Keep up with the good work.

Miriam Matos of OH 7:11PM January 24, 2009

I enjoy articles like these. I often wonder how close I am to the finish line. I know what age Social Security has set for me but I want to do what is right for me! Please keep articles like this coming; it's very halpful to me.

Geralyn Goerss of NY 3:27PM January 23, 2009