The Baby Boomer Legacy

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Thought I'd pass on comments to Angry X-er of MD and others feeling the same. Instead of focusing on anger of babyboomers, why not look up to what your generation can do. Had babyboomers dwelled upon having survived WWII from our parents as well as be mired in the drug culture of the 60's, the growth that was created would not have happened. Many of today's doctors, scientists, engineers, and successful business people came from growing up and getting past what we saw. The challenge to you is to do the same and get past thinking we were narcisstic, irresponsible, and self indulgent. Had the boomers not done so, your life would easily have been far worse.
If you want complaints of self indulgence, I will share that I see around me those of your generation buying brand new cars like BMWs instead of accepting hand me down family cars instead of working to deserve new cars of our own. I see many not learning to save until you truly desrved to buy new things. I scraped and suffered until I had funds to buy my own car or homes since the early 80's. No, there was not a dime from mom/dad to buy many things. What have you done? Instead of whining about how bad inflation is as you might do, I had saved while interest rates were at 16% when I bought my home. Instead of partying on a regular basis, I earned the right to have tax writeoffs to help me pay for my very own home. Now, as I look back on what I have done, I truly can share to my young niece to not be like Gen X and instead be a Gen Y, an Echo Boomer, who can prove that it can be done.

Mikey of CA 1:46PM August 17, 2009

Well, the very general analysis of generations can hold true as to the influence of world events they lived through. For example, the pre-boomers had WWII's influence and the depression, while boomers were affected by post WWI growth and the Vietnam War. But the biggest thing about the baby boomers that is difficult to characterize is both the large size as well as the range of years that is much different than the following X and Y gens. Some are much like the previous WWII gen parents while others remain uniquely babyboomers both with '60s drug culture as well as the growth from business expansion the '70s and '80s. Much of the technology expansion is the result of babyboomers. X gens were previously looked upon as slackers and were frowned upon. But while many were, it would be unfair to label all of them as such. Meanwhile, Gen Y are also sometimes referred to as Echo boomers as many are influenced by similar factors as well as their genrations size are quite similar.

Mikey of CA 1:20PM August 17, 2009

There are good and not so good things to come out of every generation, no matter the 'sticker' given to that group to describe them.
It is inappropriate to class by age/dob. There are spoiled, the world owes me a living people in each generation as well as hard working, creative and caring people that truly make a positive difference. And, being somewhat in the middle, I have been (mostly) blessed to see them all!

Boomer of NV 11:57AM August 15, 2009

Yes they did push back against hate. The 'greatest generation' sent them to Vietnam, deliberately set them up to fail, and attempted to discriminate against them for the remainder of their lives. They would still be trying to push their hate down if most of their bigotted carcasses weren't already dead.
No Generation-X Grunger, YOU are a national plague. More than that the very existence of your hateful, whiny, petulant, narcissistic generation is a scourge and a crime against the universe. You speak volumes about the true virtues and merits of your broken and failed beyond any hope generation when you advocate that they should suffer in poverty in their old age.
Your sincerity in wishing pain and suffering upon them is in true keeping with your Generation-X's accepted version of Christian charity. Your generation is also a generation of hate and there is absolutely no hope for it. Not now, not ever.

Charles White of NV 10:59AM August 15, 2009

And we were raised by the "hate-ist" generation.
And broke the chain of HATE.
We Love our Children.:)
Love not Hate. Peace to All.
Tet '68

bOb of NY 10:16PM July 30, 2009

Looking at the history of the United States since 1960, the Baby Boomers as generational change agents contributed mightily to:
The Ending of Racial Integration
Women's Rights
Anti-War Movement
Open Government
Environmental Awareness
Being accused of being a generation of self-indulgent individuals dismisses the fact that the Baby Boom generation spearheaded the greatest changes to society this country has ever seen. Most of it for the better !

John Engelhardt of KY 12:33PM July 30, 2009

Being a psychologist, I see the legacy of the boomers from a very different perspective. I don't think more recent generations fully understand or appreciate the mental and emotional freedom the boomers have created for them.
With our generation the concept of mental health has made gigantic strides towards acceptance of emotional differences. Before us, the stigmas attached to any kind of emotional differences were quite harsh and there was basically NO acceptance or medications for illnesses like clinical depression, bipolar disorder and other relatively common diseases like these.
Today we expect to be able to talk about our emotional difficulties freely with friends and family or even see a therapist to look inside and find ways to improve our self-concept and level of self-respect. These alternatives have improved the lives of millions worldwide! As well as antidepressants and other life-improving alternatives.
Acceptance of our true feelings and motivations is key to creating a life worth living.
Psychology has given us the freedom to change and grow emotionally, and better understand ourselves.
Laura Lee Carter
Midlife Counselor
http://www.lauraleecarter.com

Laura Lee Carter of CO 9:28AM July 30, 2009

But the fact is boomers did so much more than buy new Mercedes Benz's. I did a short video on the boomer legacy. Take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZS7WdlUAO4

Nextnik of VA 8:08PM July 28, 2009

in America if and only if they get strong national health care reform DONE while they are still a big voting block.
If instead we have to wait for gens X or Y to do health care in a civilized social manner, then boomers will be mostly remembered for how they favored corporations over people---and the "Reagan Revolution to George W. Bush" will be the thought of as the era of errant adult boomerism.

Muser of NM 3:57PM July 28, 2009

A generation of permanent children who were born into the greatest nation on earth and spent their lives drving it into the ground so they could have more toys.
History will not be kind to them, their collective narcissism and irresponsibility have put permanent cracks in the national foundation. I sincerely hope a large percentage of them have to beg on the street to feed themselves in retirement. The geenerations behind them should refuse to fund their self indulgence any longer so that todays children have some hope of a decent future. Boomers had everything and blew it so they could have fun and feel good, they deserve to pay a steep price in their later years.
They are a national plague, plain and simple.

Angry X-er of MD 3:03PM July 28, 2009