Baby Boomers Screwed The Next Generation

     NOT!

Here's why I feel that way. Some of the things that contributed to the problems younger people face today that we hadn't + why 'boomers' aren't to blame.(1) AUTOMATION:
Way back in 1966 when I graduated there was no such thing as computers. It was then that computers were just starting to be conceived of. Certainly no such thing as any of them one day becoming digital. Experimentation had begun using vacuum tubes and patch boards. Nearly all the jobs back then relied on manual labor. Who could have ever imagined in my lifetime so many of today's' jobs would become extinct via robots. Sorry if today's young workers are having trouble finding jobs because of it. I'm certain in the next generation's situation theirs will become even worse. And no it won't be their fault's either.

(2) COLLEGE:
Less then 1/5th of high school graduates went on to college. Many were either drafted during the Vietnam era or married and got a job the summer after graduation. Hell students loans didn't even exist except under the "National Defense Education Act" signed into law 09/02/1958. Which began in response to Russia launch of 'Sputnik' on October 4th, 1957.

Most of us never were prepared for college. 'The Higher Education Act' wasn't passed until November 8th, 1965 which could help finance a college education. By then it was already too late to change courses as I and many like me were just 7 months away from graduation. Most parents up to that time were unable to either take out a personal bank loan or pay the costs it would take for their children to attend college.

Today I hear all the bellyaching coming from today's youth about college costs. Imagine back then how much more so college was unaffordable for the majority of parents.

(3) THE DRAFT:
Call the boomers hippies or whatever, we managed to protest an end of the 'selective service'. No longer are 17 ad 18 year olds forced to go into military service against their wills'. You're welcome.

(4) PENSIONS, SOCIAL SECURITY, ETC':
20, 30 or 40 years ago all of this was affordable and willingly paid for by us boomers towards those who gone before us. Who knew there'd be less a need for workers today rather then more. This also came about through a combination of corporations exploiting tax loopholes, moving jobs to 3rd world countries, poor planning of trade agreements and modern automated production techniques and reprioritizing government revenues. To mention a few.

Today's younger workers are both resentful of helping pay for what retired workers were promised while at the same time bemoaning they will not get theirs when the time comes. In the first, the entire system is predicated on current workers. There is no other way whether it be private or government sponsored. All private pensions are invested and dependant on current businesses and their employees to turn a profit which in turn supports 401k's etc. In the government supported ones (Social Security, etc.) it's up to current tax payers just the same as the private plans.

As far as getting what they have coming. They need to fight for it just as the boomers have. Nobody (including their offspring) is going to willingly give up a nickel of their own either without some sort of struggle. If today's younger workers get screwed it's because of their lack of due diligence. This government and the corporations will always fight for their interests. So too should workers in the next generation for theirs. There should be no apologies for that by either they or the workers who came before them. Kapish?

(5) THE BLAME GAME:
There's an awful lot of reasons why people may make excuses for things are the way they are. We can chose to either to blame the previous generation or appreciate what they accomplished.
As A Baby Boomer..
I 'm thankful I never had to endure a world war or depression like my parents before me. I'm thankful today's youth doesn't have to face working under the heavy labor conditions we once had to endure. I'm proud that our generation ended the draft and provided legislation which allows kids go to college if they so chose. We boomers also paved the way for a decent retirement for them if they only will fight for what they have been given.

What I'm Disappointed In Is...
Somehow us or the next generation has failed understand our intentions as baby boomers to not make only our lives better but theirs as well. Why do the younger not understand this?