A Man’s World #2: Let’s Look At The Baby Boomers

Have you ever thought to yourself why the world is the way it is right now? Why is it that older generations (Baby Boomers) are continuing to do better than their kids (Millennials)? Do they have a stake in something that you are unaware of? Did they do this? How could this happen?

I am a man that enjoys making observations as to what is going on around me. I am curious, all the time. I see things and I try to understand why something is the way it is. I don’t take the first thing I am told as the answer. I ask more questions. I have to.

I can’t tell you how many family parties I have gone to and my baby boomer relatives are talking about: the renovations on their current home, the addition put on their second home, how much money they made on a sale of a property, how their value should continue to increase in their portfolio how, how younger generations are lazy, how younger generations don’t want to work, and how younger generations mooch off their parents.

When I try to spark the conversation without being confrontational it immediately gets shut down. I have prompted thoughts in these type of situations like: do you think you lucked out on when you were born and do you think you grew up with an inherent advantage? The answer is always no.

I always laugh looking back at the baby boomers childhood and where we stand today. I am going to speak specifically on the white baby boomers. In the 1970s and 1980s baby boomers (depending on the year they were born) were in their teens and their 20’s. What was going on during that time? Women’s rights issues. Racial issues. Protests. Great marijuana use. High abortion rates.

Now, fast forward to today, where we are led by baby boomers. What are we talking about? Women’s rights issues. Racial issues. Protests. Legalization of Marijuana. Abortion. Among other things.

I’m not here to say we shouldn’t be talking about these things. What I am here to say is that the baby boomers (not all) seem to be leading with deceit and manipulation.

Every where you look they are profiting. They talk about this that and the other thing while their pockets are getting bigger. That’s fascinating isn’t it?

From my observations, this is a group (not all) that is not helping young people in any way and definitely not helping young men in any way. What I see is a group that feels guilty for their past advantages and is now making us pay the price. I don’t know who can disagree with that. It’s clear as day.

Baby boomers (most) benefited like no other since the time they were born. It was an extremely privileged generation. The most privileged in history. Money was never a problem (again, speaking on the majority). Now, today, they continue to transfer wealth from our pockets into theirs. In deceitful ways through changing the tax code and increasing social security benefits. Especially, over the past four years.

We cannot allow this to continue. So what do we do? We have to be positive change agents. We have to speak up. We have to get out there and vote. We have to understand local, state, and federal politics. We have to learn how to run for office ourselves. We have to be a voice of change in our communities. We can do this. I know we can.

A side note from my discussion above. My intent is not to shame others or create resentment towards others. That is not the goal. Baby boomers are also our elders and those that care for us. They are our loved ones. With any loved one and those you care about there has to be an honest conversation. That’s what this is. As my wonderful boomer relatives tell me, I will now tell them.

You have to call a spade, a spade.

Be Well, Stay Young.