quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

In another thread entitled Why The Change In Admin Policy?, the topic has drifted towards the subject of complaining about the younger generations. I thought about the topic of the generation gap and how things are really not that much different from when I was a kid.

I don't really agree with how generations are classified. Technically, I suppose I would be part of the Baby Boom generation (1945-65), since I was born in '63, but I never really identified with those born in the late 40s and 50s, since they were a decade or more older than me.

I suppose what I'm wondering is, do those of us who are of the older generations have much room to talk in criticizing the younger generations? Was our generation any better? My grandfather called them the "Now Generation," since it was always "I want it NOW!" My grandfather's generation was able to work hard, sacrifice - the kind of fortitude and strength which got us through the Depression and World War II, but the Baby Boomers were more about hedonism and instant gratification. They didn't care about the future as much as they pretended to back in the day.

In some ways, I almost feel as if our generation owes an apology to the younger generations. We fucked everything up. We're leaving the younger generations with insurmountable debts, a polluted world, depleted resources, global instability. The global instability and war is the real kicker, since those in the Baby Boom generation often pat themselves on the back for their crusade for world peace back in the day - and a better world that they could only "Imagine." But in the long run, they failed miserably.

I won't bash the Millennials. They may have their faults, but I believe that they'll have tougher challenges to face than our generation ever did. We didn't have to endure the Depression or World War II. The Baby Boomers grew up at a time when the country was at its peak, experiencing the biggest economic boom in our country's history - a whole new level of wealth and affluence which previous generations couldn't even imagine. We squandered all of that. We'll be leaving the next generation with far less than what was left to us. We blew it, and we blew it big time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

I sometimes wonder how capitalism would be if it truly lived up to its own propaganda. I often find that whenever people extol the virtues of capitalism and the free enterprise system, they do so in an abstract way, pointing more to the theoretical ideal than what exists in practice.

I think there are some good benefits of capitalism, when it is practiced by good capitalists. It's the bad capitalists we have to watch out for, and this is where I might even criticize the good capitalists. This is because they're all too willing to let the bad capitalists off the hook. They want to protect them and keep them from facing any consequences of their dishonest activities. Even if they are caught red-handed in some wrongdoing, their sentences are too light and don't amount to any real punishment at all.

It would seem to me that, for those capitalists who are true devotees and advocates for that system, this is something they should be far more proactive and zealous in attacking. What if we implemented a "zero tolerance" policy for any malfeasance or corruption in the business world and imposed seriously harsh penalties with teeth? For example, bribery, price fixing, collusion, insider trading, etc. could be punished with life sentences, rather than just a small fine and a few months at a country club prison. I can't imagine why any "true" capitalists would oppose that, unless they secretly believe that capitalism can't operate without being dishonest. Hell, I think a clerk short-changing someone at the store should be an automatic ten-year sentence at hard labor. A gas station owner who fiddles with the pumps so that a "gallon" doesn't quite measure up to a gallon - 20 years at hard labor. Same for any produce sellers who fiddle with their scales.

None of this would violate the principles of capitalism, so capitalists can't claim there's any "ideological" conflict. The real question is whether "true" capitalists are willing to put their money where their mouth is and support a system which would live up to its own propaganda.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

As a millennial myself I completely agree we have our faults, too many of us are obsessed with our phones and the internet, care too much about looks and not enough about important issues and actually connecting with each other. But it's difficult to move forward in a world when there is a wall of shit in the way left behind by the earlier generations. Many of the pathways to success many baby boomers took advantage of, or the lack of roadblocks, simply dont exist for my generation. Now, thankfully for me my area of focus will involve cleaning up and managing the problem created by past generations, namely the environmental industry, so I'd like to think that this industry is going to see more expansion as the world moves toward a more greener future. But I gotto say, it sucks knowing that I will have to work twice as hard to get what my parents did at my age. I personally dont know exactly how this could be changed to give my generation a better fighting chance, all I know is what I have to do going forward to make a life for myself, and it isn't going to be as easy as the older folks claim it is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phydeaux

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

As a millennial myself I completely agree we have our faults, too many of us are obsessed with our phones and the internet, care too much about looks and not enough about important issues and actually connecting with each other. But it's difficult to move forward in a world when there is a wall of shit in the way left behind by the earlier generations. Many of the pathways to success many baby boomers took advantage of, or the lack of roadblocks, simply dont exist for my generation. Now, thankfully for me my area of focus will involve cleaning up and managing the problem created by past generations, namely the environmental industry, so I'd like to think that this industry is going to see more expansion as the world moves toward a more greener future. But I gotto say, it sucks knowing that I will have to work twice as hard to get what my parents did at my age. I personally dont know exactly how this could be changed to give my generation a better fighting chance, all I know is what I have to do going forward to make a life for myself, and it isn't going to be as easy as the older folks claim it is.

How ironic. You admit that the economic policies of this generation have made it harder for your generation. And yet, somehow cannot put 2+2 together and figure out that democrats have been in power (aka held the whitehouse) your entire voting life.

And still can't figure out how things could be changed to give your generation a fighting chance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

In another thread entitled Why The Change In Admin Policy?, the topic has drifted towards the subject of complaining about the younger generations. I thought about the topic of the generation gap and how things are really not that much different from when I was a kid.

I don't really agree with how generations are classified. Technically, I suppose I would be part of the Baby Boom generation (1945-65), since I was born in '63, but I never really identified with those born in the late 40s and 50s, since they were a decade or more older than me.

I suppose what I'm wondering is, do those of us who are of the older generations have much room to talk in criticizing the younger generations? Was our generation any better? My grandfather called them the "Now Generation," since it was always "I want it NOW!" My grandfather's generation was able to work hard, sacrifice - the kind of fortitude and strength which got us through the Depression and World War II, but the Baby Boomers were more about hedonism and instant gratification. They didn't care about the future as much as they pretended to back in the day.

In some ways, I almost feel as if our generation owes an apology to the younger generations. We fucked everything up. We're leaving the younger generations with insurmountable debts, a polluted world, depleted resources, global instability. The global instability and war is the real kicker, since those in the Baby Boom generation often pat themselves on the back for their crusade for world peace back in the day - and a better world that they could only "Imagine." But in the long run, they failed miserably.

I won't bash the Millennials. They may have their faults, but I believe that they'll have tougher challenges to face than our generation ever did. We didn't have to endure the Depression or World War II. The Baby Boomers grew up at a time when the country was at its peak, experiencing the biggest economic boom in our country's history - a whole new level of wealth and affluence which previous generations couldn't even imagine. We squandered all of that. We'll be leaving the next generation with far less than what was left to us. We blew it, and we blew it big time.

This is the way i think about it.. boomers parents have had the advantage of benefiting from social programs (like Medicare, Medicaid, etc) without spending their whole lives paying into said programs like boomers have.. plus tax rates have gone up meaning boomers are paying more of their paycheck to the govt than their parents did... boomers parents are living into their 90s+ and costing a ton of money for medical care which falls on boomers & millennials to pay for.. I feel for millennials, they are really getting screwed financially (& probably at every stage of their lives), high tuition costs, low wages, high rental costs, high real estate prices, etc.. the smart ones are working their ass off while living with their parents so they have some savings to buy a place to live and save for retirement.. I admire them, they are much more aware of their situation & serious than i think i was at their age.. they are having to delay home ownership, delay marriage, delay having kids simply cuz of when they were born, boomers parents made a lot of money due to boomers coming along and the massive bulge in consumer spending that the boomers created.. the millennials dont have that, the consumer base is shrinking imo, so that is not good for millennials...

The complaint i have about the generation gap is that those old senior farts (boomers parents) are wasteful & ungrateful & demanding, they abuse medicare, they sit in seniors buildings getting their meals cooked for them, someone coming in and doing the cleaning, the waste in those seniors buildings is f'n amazing.. who know seniors could eat that much and produce that much garbage? Not all are like that but imo too many are.. and these are my observations (here in the US).. jmo..

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

As a millennial myself I completely agree we have our faults, too many of us are obsessed with our phones and the internet, care too much about looks and not enough about important issues and actually connecting with each other. But it's difficult to move forward in a world when there is a wall of shit in the way left behind by the earlier generations. Many of the pathways to success many baby boomers took advantage of, or the lack of roadblocks, simply dont exist for my generation. Now, thankfully for me my area of focus will involve cleaning up and managing the problem created by past generations, namely the environmental industry, so I'd like to think that this industry is going to see more expansion as the world moves toward a more greener future. But I gotto say, it sucks knowing that I will have to work twice as hard to get what my parents did at my age. I personally dont know exactly how this could be changed to give my generation a better fighting chance, all I know is what I have to do going forward to make a life for myself, and it isn't going to be as easy as the older folks claim it is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phydeaux

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

As a millennial myself I completely agree we have our faults, too many of us are obsessed with our phones and the internet, care too much about looks and not enough about important issues and actually connecting with each other. But it's difficult to move forward in a world when there is a wall of shit in the way left behind by the earlier generations. Many of the pathways to success many baby boomers took advantage of, or the lack of roadblocks, simply dont exist for my generation. Now, thankfully for me my area of focus will involve cleaning up and managing the problem created by past generations, namely the environmental industry, so I'd like to think that this industry is going to see more expansion as the world moves toward a more greener future. But I gotto say, it sucks knowing that I will have to work twice as hard to get what my parents did at my age. I personally dont know exactly how this could be changed to give my generation a better fighting chance, all I know is what I have to do going forward to make a life for myself, and it isn't going to be as easy as the older folks claim it is.

How ironic. You admit that the economic policies of this generation have made it harder for your generation. And yet, somehow cannot put 2+2 together and figure out that democrats have been in power (aka held the whitehouse) your entire voting life.

And still can't figure out how things could be changed to give your generation a fighting chance.

I find it funny that as an old fart you dont seem to understand that there are far reaching implications of events that have been set in motion by democrats and republicans further back than 21 years (not to mention I'm not an american moron, for nearly half my life Canada had a conservative prime minister who caused serious issues internally for our country, who we thankfully just kicked out of office). For example, Obama didn't create the power vacuum that allowed ISIS to proliferate, you can thank W for that one. Additionally, I was around and kicking when W was contributing his shit storm to the world, so I know first hand the impacts a republican president can cause. Take your partisan blinders off and get a clue, there is more complexity to this world than the left and right, both have contributed to the difficulty millennials face, and if you were willing to recognize that maybe you wouldn't behave like the right-wing fanboy you are.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx


ORIGINAL: Phydeaux

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

As a millennial myself I completely agree we have our faults, too many of us are obsessed with our phones and the internet, care too much about looks and not enough about important issues and actually connecting with each other. But it's difficult to move forward in a world when there is a wall of shit in the way left behind by the earlier generations. Many of the pathways to success many baby boomers took advantage of, or the lack of roadblocks, simply dont exist for my generation. Now, thankfully for me my area of focus will involve cleaning up and managing the problem created by past generations, namely the environmental industry, so I'd like to think that this industry is going to see more expansion as the world moves toward a more greener future. But I gotto say, it sucks knowing that I will have to work twice as hard to get what my parents did at my age. I personally dont know exactly how this could be changed to give my generation a better fighting chance, all I know is what I have to do going forward to make a life for myself, and it isn't going to be as easy as the older folks claim it is.

How ironic. You admit that the economic policies of this generation have made it harder for your generation. And yet, somehow cannot put 2+2 together and figure out that democrats have been in power (aka held the whitehouse) your entire voting life.

And still can't figure out how things could be changed to give your generation a fighting chance.


I am pretty sure the constitution (which you seem not to be familiar with)says that congress makes laws.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thompsonx


ORIGINAL: Phydeaux
ORIGINAL: thompsonx


I am pretty sure the constitution (which you seem not to be familiar with)says that congress makes laws.


Thus revealing your lack of civics knowledge, and history.

Congress makes bills, which are either signed into law by the president, or become law by a supermajority over-riding a presidential veto.

That turd is still floating in your cheerios. Would you like to try again?

quote:

ORIGINAL: mnottertail

Thus revealing your lack of civics knowledge, and history.

Congress makes bills, which are either signed into law by the president, or become law by a supermajority over-riding a presidential veto.

As for history- the only political party with the senate votes to over ride a presidential veto in the last 90 years - has been the democrats.

since you lack civics knowledge and history, Phydeaux:
Or by inaction on the part of a president by pidgeon hole
or it can be pocket vetoed.
so your score is 50% (less than 60% a super majority) is an F.

It dont make the glimmer of a good goddamn fuck a senate supermajority in the case of a veto. Both houses have to have a super majority to override it.
so your score is 50% (less than 60% a super majority) is an F.

(actually for a bit in the 95th congress democrats held a supermajority temporarily in the legislature, during Carter)

#epic #fail

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phydeaux

Yes, boomer parents. You know the ones that lived through the great depression and fought WWII. How dar they want to live a decent life. Kill them all off!

You leave me speechless.

Aristotle, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Hubert Humphrey - all have said expressions similar to "You can judge a society by how they treat their weakest members."

Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.~Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), My Several Worlds [1954].

"...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."
~Cardinal Roger Mahony, In a 1998 letter, Creating a Culture of Life

Or the bible: For YHWH sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's authority he confirms over her sons. 3 He who honors his father atones for sins; 4 he stores up riches who reveres his mother. 5 He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. 6 He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the YHWH who brings comfort to his mother.

12 My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. 13 Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. 14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering--it will take lasting root.

I find your point of view absolutely nauseating.