Retirement delayed and broke anyway

[haele]

26. Boomers got sold a world of goods...

Last edited Mon Sep 11, 2023, 01:47 PM - Edit history (1)

The "Silent Generation" (1890's - 1910's) were the almost politically schizophrenic generation that set up both the New Deal policies, trickle down policies, and neurotic fear of Communism; while the "Greatest Generation" (1910's to 1930's) were the definitely politically schizophrenic generation who benefitted from the New Deal policies while expanding the neurotic fear of Communism and a total disregard for any sense of community improvement because they wanted to brush off the dust of small, dying towns or communities and become individually rich. With a good 70% of the population for the first time making enough money to spend on actually purchasing a ready-made house on land, with some left over for entertainment instead of figuring out how to build or expand the house, along with saving every other penny for the inevitable emergency or care during their old age.
The Greatest Generation gave us the nuclear family, suburbs, vacation expectations, the consumer economy, teenagers and mass media babysitting.
And they wasted all of that like giddy frat and sorority kids, leaving Boomers and GenX with "global" finances, credit scores, and technology augmented/automated workplaces that actually reduced the need for employees, just when there was a surge of young adults joining a world where the family farms and businesses were disappearing and approximately 20% of previously good paying jobs (such as computing and filing clerks, general accountants and research/secretarial pools) for individuals were being automated out of existence.

Boomers lost employment opportunities and stability through sheer bad luck and policy changes outside their control. The only thing that might have saved them was strengthening the Unions and actually following through with changing the political mindset from "We're the Champions, Woo-Hoo" to "Where are we going from Here?"

The neurotic Fear of Communism in the 20th Century really f'd the USA up. Yes, Communism has a bad habit of being taken over by dictators simply due to the nature of human beings and tribal dynamic/mob psychology, but in itself, it's no more than a Boogie Man for selfish rich folks. There's absolutely no reason for New Deal policies not to have been able to be expanded to a form of more equitable Social Democracy that could support both the rich and the poor in comfort, along with managing resources and the environment in a healthy, sustainable way.

Haele