tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post1138946405365479402..comments2024-01-03T05:18:54.650-05:00Comments on CDR Salamander: Boomers - as they are, and will beCDR Salamanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05981221786954902349noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-38916991779364368242010-03-11T01:03:03.000-05:002010-03-11T01:03:03.000-05:00I understand that, but my point is, if you set up ...I understand that, but my point is, if you set up a similar system along the lines of restricting social security and other such programs to those who've "paid their dues" as it were by serving the state and society as a whole, then we could cut down on the heavy burden placed upon our government and tax base. The rest of those unwilling to serve would either take care of themselves or be taken care of by their employers. I was simply looking for an analogy by referencing Heinlein.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-67923174297975831982010-03-10T19:46:44.000-05:002010-03-10T19:46:44.000-05:00<span>Not just those three. The only thing ...<span>Not just those three. The only thing my Dad and George McGovern have in common is that they were both B-24 pilots; other than that, they are about as far apart politically as they could get.</span><br /><br />I shudder to think of the alternate timeline that would have been created had McGovern beat Nixon in '72. Perhaps it might not have been so bad, if we could have avoided Carter and had Reagan in '76.Grumpy Old Hamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-78662065212303793722010-03-10T19:41:39.000-05:002010-03-10T19:41:39.000-05:00If that review was supposed to entice me to read t...If that review was supposed to entice me to read the book, it surely missed the mark.<br /><br /><i><span>Half the population are under 40 years old but they hold only about 15% of all financial assets. People under 44 own, again, just 15% of owner-occupied housing. Comparing the financial and housing wealth of different age groups in 1995 and 2005 the Bank of England found that those aged 25 to 34 had seen their wealth fall,</span></i><br /><br />How about a little more historical perspective, please? That timespan is less than half a generation...<br /><br /><span><i>Baby-boomers can chuck the day job at 60 or 65 and head off into the perma-tanned sunset ..., borrowing against the inflated value of their houses as they do so.</i></span><br /><br />Really? The housing slump missed the UK? Hmmm.... http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/<br /><br /><span><i>On top of this, older baby-boomers have dodged two speeding bullets, leaving their descendants squarely in the line of fire. The first is the bill for bailing out the financial sector;</i> </span><br /><br />An optional bill, perhaps we should have let the market sort things out...<br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><span>the second, the effect of climate change on the cost of energy, water, flood-prevention and the like. </span></i><br /><br />Hippie, <i>please</i>...enough with the contrived cost of 'climate change' or whatever you clowns are calling it this week.Grumpy Old Hamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-25420496449610782052010-03-10T19:26:40.000-05:002010-03-10T19:26:40.000-05:00I freely admit that I was a Reagan Republican at 2...I freely admit that I was a Reagan Republican at 20, and I do in fact have no heart. Don't believe me? Ask my kids.<br /><br />BTW, I'm another one on the cusp between "Boomers" and "Gen X". The definition has always been a little fluid, and as the only child of "Greatest Generation" parents quite frankly I identify much more with them than I do with the "flower children".Grumpy Old Hamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-1007890235228983052010-03-10T18:57:23.000-05:002010-03-10T18:57:23.000-05:00What does that say about a Vermont State House ful...What does that say about a Vermont State House full of Socialists over 40? >:oUltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-51468397557956891412010-03-10T18:51:27.000-05:002010-03-10T18:51:27.000-05:00Assuming you are not cutting taxes while fighting ...Assuming you are not cutting taxes while fighting two wars. Grover is the Godfather of the idea that you should never, ever, never raise taxes; no matter how many wars your country is fighting at once, how many of your cities are underwater, and how much catastrophic debt statutory entitlement programs are creating. The Norquist answer is to cut spending, which never happens because something called politics gets in the way. All the mindless bitching to the contrary, American voters don't just <em>like</em> unnecessary spending, they <em>love </em>it. If they didn't, it would have been stopped by now. That's why presidential elections are decided by dumb shit that has nothing to do with the presidency, like the Pledge of Allegiance, gay marriage, "Hope" and places called Hope. History has not proven Nordquist correct. It has proven Bush 41 correct though-when you need to you raise taxes and balance the budget.<br /><br />I reject this idea that the so called millenials are somehow "better" than the boomers. While I did mis-speak about them going to the moon-they fought their war and over two million of them went when they were called. The Gen X's had their conflicts too-a lot of them served. They also were the ones who came up with the idea that stock prices mattered more than taking care of one's employees.<br /><br />The real thing is that Boomers are much like "millenials" when they were young and millenials will get older and more conservative. Maybe they will even become teabaggers!<br /><br />But stop telling me I am to blame for your lot in life. I'm to blame for my lot in life-no one elses. ;) The idea of sex, drugs and rock and roll was not necessarily bad-it just lacked a few things in execution. Like a way to pay for the sex.<br /><br />Time for a beer and I will toast being a boomer!Skippy-sannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-22324540583905227252010-03-10T18:20:27.000-05:002010-03-10T18:20:27.000-05:00Arlo Guthrie is a Republican? Holy moley. I can ...Arlo Guthrie is a Republican? Holy moley. I can hear it now..."Payin' for the City of New Orleans... "UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-69498710890979187952010-03-10T18:09:26.000-05:002010-03-10T18:09:26.000-05:00Scott, Mrs. C-dore was a HUGE Beatles fan (she eve...Scott, Mrs. C-dore was a HUGE Beatles fan (she even went to see them at Candlestick Park). Me...not so much.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-33865135116943455822010-03-10T16:43:38.000-05:002010-03-10T16:43:38.000-05:00Ya mean she isn't?Ya mean she isn't?Combat Wombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-62401848681688336172010-03-10T16:42:49.000-05:002010-03-10T16:42:49.000-05:00Hey- ditto on the old time radio- Swing and the ac...Hey- ditto on the old time radio- Swing and the actual comedies that were funny in use of language, with Nary a cuss. 8-)Combat Wombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-49407093569338646392010-03-10T16:20:20.000-05:002010-03-10T16:20:20.000-05:00Since Law Enforcement pays so well, I also work pa...Since Law Enforcement pays so well, I also work part time as a Night Auditor at a resort. My boss at the resort is a 28 year old woman. One night, as she was staying late catching up on some work, she and I were discussing our respective generations, as I am old enough to be her Dad. I apologised to her, on behalf of my generation, for the lousy job we did raising her generation.SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-47233893601304737322010-03-10T16:14:00.000-05:002010-03-10T16:14:00.000-05:00While I quite enjoy the Beatles, when I listen to ...While I quite enjoy the Beatles, when I listen to Big Band music, ( I am a hopeless fan of Old Time Radio ), and hear how much more work went into Swing, and the far higher quality of the delivered product, I am embarrassed thatpeople think of the Beatles as anything other than producers of popular ditties. John Lennon, in particular, was, and since his works endure, and continue to influence people, remains a twit.<br /><br />Last summer, I had the misfortune to catch the movie version of " How I Won The War ", a pathetic version of one of the funniest books I have ever read. Mr. Lennon went through the whole movie radiating, " I am so superior in intelligence to you plebians. I am so cool, you could store meat in me ". There is some evidence, that as he entered his early 40's. he might have started paying attention. In 1979, he donated quite a bit of money to an organisation raising funds to buy vests for NYPD officers, ( 10 out of 10 for irony, there ). One likes to ponder what a conservative John Lennon might have done, given the slavish following he had among boomers. Arlo Guthrie is a Republican, now, so perhaps none. SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-35764243795840711002010-03-10T16:02:46.000-05:002010-03-10T16:02:46.000-05:00Well said, Sir! Oh, very well said, Indeed!Well said, Sir! Oh, very well said, Indeed!SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-4288807771491375062010-03-10T16:01:02.000-05:002010-03-10T16:01:02.000-05:00I remember someons once saying that if you are not...I remember someons once saying that if you are not a socialist at 20, you have no heart, if you are a socialist at 40, you have no brain.SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-47895451846987069042010-03-10T15:51:46.000-05:002010-03-10T15:51:46.000-05:00Speaking as a Badger, I recognise LBJ as a weasel....Speaking as a Badger, I recognise LBJ as a weasel. LBJ once went on a strike mission with a PBJ crew, as a Congressional observer, ( LBJ was a LT USNR ). The plane came back, shot to shreds, most of the crew wounded. LBJ's Silver Star was the only medal awarded for that mission.SCOTTtheBADGERnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-67537664408271653392010-03-10T13:32:34.000-05:002010-03-10T13:32:34.000-05:00Precisely. Senator Blutarsky would be chairing th...Precisely. Senator Blutarsky would be chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee these days. UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-65756830503969181152010-03-10T13:29:14.000-05:002010-03-10T13:29:14.000-05:00No, he's got a legitimate point. The Brat Boo...No, he's got a legitimate point. The Brat Boom decade group was raised by the World War II decade group...with mixed results. Some turned out quite well, but about a third needed to be horsewhipped.<br /><br />And the Dirty Little Secret is that the World War II group had a very, very spotty record putting forth elected officials. People remember Reagan...but forget Carter and Nixon, to say nothing of the disaster that was Lyndon Johnson.Mike M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-54672714929789090672010-03-10T13:28:51.000-05:002010-03-10T13:28:51.000-05:00"Was it 'over' when the Germans bombe..."Was it 'over' when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-23220347569407004802010-03-10T13:24:21.000-05:002010-03-10T13:24:21.000-05:00Scott, you're right.
The whole generational b...Scott, you're right.<br /><br />The whole generational breakdown is B.S. Politically, a 'generation' is TEN years, not twenty. And I'll make a strong case that the break-point is around mid-decade.<br /><br />You and I (born in 1963) are part of the Baby Bust decade group. Our worldview was shaped by the collapse of American foreign policy and the American economy in the mid and late 1970s...and we were Ronald Reagan's margin of victory in the 1980 election.<br /><br />Obama? He's a relic...a Baby Buster by birthdate, but intellectually a relic of the Brat Boom decade group. Specifically, the most rabid part of it.Mike M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-86494317137971771962010-03-10T13:09:20.000-05:002010-03-10T13:09:20.000-05:00And every attempt by responsible politicians to &q...And every attempt by responsible politicians to "fix" social security has been rejected by congress. While they raided the SS piggybank.<br /><br />A crying shame.DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-77844650614748596442010-03-10T13:06:52.000-05:002010-03-10T13:06:52.000-05:00Whew. Thought I was the only one who HATED the Be...Whew. Thought I was the only one who HATED the Beatles. However, I see the local HS history teacher making sure every student in his class knows what happened on December 8th! John Lennon was shot. But December 7th? Nary a clue. Must not be important. They wouldn't know Pearl Harbor from Pearl Jam, and neither would the teacher.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-24780497163407927992010-03-10T13:04:20.000-05:002010-03-10T13:04:20.000-05:00DB,
The Greatest Generation surely paid in to SSI...DB,<br /><br />The Greatest Generation surely paid in to SSIC. But their principle is long gone, spent on people who claimed entitlement without paying in a dime. See my comments re: LBJ below. My father paid in to SSIC for every year of his sixty year working life. He lived only 13 years after retirement. But what if he had survived? When SS goes broke, what about the 80 year old man in those same shoes? Paid in for 50+ years, and still nothing back. Had he taken that money he could have set himself up with a retirement program that woudl have kept him for many decades after he stopped working. But the Government got it. And now it's gone.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-55144089710434192672010-03-10T12:51:10.000-05:002010-03-10T12:51:10.000-05:00Scott- welcome aboard. Born in '62, I believe ...Scott- welcome aboard. Born in '62, I believe my "summer of love" experience was different from that of those born 10 years earlier; yet I'm tagged a "boomer". Things I can't stand/don't care about- Beatles, Stones, Ono, Elvis. A dern heretic, am I!Combat Wombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-23867724957337436532010-03-10T12:40:14.000-05:002010-03-10T12:40:14.000-05:00I don't think GenX are their heirs. Many of t...I don't think GenX are their heirs. Many of them waited to have kids. I'm the beginning of GenX and some Boomers were only starting to have their kids when I was starting to have mine. I think many of them were beginning to have kids in the mid '80s and up into the early '90s. And a lot of them were the women who waited till they were 38 and they had a great career and oops... now they had fertility problems. I think their kids go more in with the Millennials rather than GenX. Then add that to the dads who had a young second wife and were the gray-haired guys with the kindergarten-aged children... that messes up the cohort transfer of wealth statistics also...DeltaBravonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-3809373268232229462010-03-10T12:38:53.000-05:002010-03-10T12:38:53.000-05:00Starship Troopers did NOT speak to anything like S...Starship Troopers did NOT speak to anything like Social Security. Heinleins vision of government said that to have a voice in the course of poltical change, you must also be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your government...as it should be.Byronnoreply@blogger.com