DISASTER Matt Bracken: Baby Boomers Better Beware

[L.A.B.]

I first heard the suggestion that Bracken just made - about 10 years ago. Yeah, I suppose more people will be open to the suggestion now. It made sense then, to me. No one I tried to talk to about it saw any reason for that mindset.

Not much has changed. And it's less about generational warfare as it is class warfare. You can thank all the commies for their infiltration of educational institutions for that, as well as social media.

SPOT ON!

 

[JMG91]

I am an authentic Boomer, born in 1952. I have been noticing this increasing hostility toward the Boomer generation and frankly am completely puzzled by it. Why do the younger generations think the Boomers should just hand them their hard-earned assets? My parents were members of the Greatest Generation and they certainly did not hand us anything nor did we expect or ask for it. My mindset as a Boomer was to be in a financial position in my senior years where I would not burden my children, a lesson learned from my parents.

We worked hard, lived frugally, helped my three children as we could through college, eliminated debt, put money into 401k, and paid off the house all in readiness for our retirement years. Our retirement plan IS our paid-off house and 401k savings that we worked so hard for and we are entitled to use them. It's not greed to carefully plan your future and have it all work out right.

BTW, my Gen-X children all have more money than we ever did, they will not need our help unless something unexpected happens. All three went to college and chose majors and careers that actually give them a nice standard of living: physician, veterinarian, and CEO. My Gen-Z grandchildren in college so far are heading to law school, aviation, and medical school. I think they'll be OK.

I think the frustration stems from the fact that this is not grandma's America anymore. You can't simply work as hard as you can and get somewhere the way older generations were able to. It used to be if you just worked your tail off, lived frugally, and did things the old-fashioned way, you could save up enough money to buy--or build--your own home. Now, trying to do things the old-fashioned way is actually MORE expensive, and it's been made that way on purpose. The current system was created to disillusion younger Americans, and make them more dependent upon the government just to survive--and it has done so very well.

As for the actual anger towards the boomers, I myself--as a millennial--did not understand that at one time, but after hearing the older generations tell the younger ones to just do things the way they did, it can be incredibly frustrating, for all the reasons that I listed above. My husband couldn't have gone out and collected enough cans to be able to afford a wedding ring, we can't afford to build our own home that will last 100 years and be passed on to our kids, etc. We have young people who would love to be farmers, but cannot afford the land, and such career paths are a young man's game--it's just one more reason that our farm populations are dying out.

 

[TFergeson]

I think the frustration stems from the fact that this is not grandma's America anymore. You can't simply work as hard as you can and get somewhere the way older generations were able to. It used to be if you just worked your tail off, lived frugally, and did things the old-fashioned way, you could save up enough money to buy--or build--your own home. Now, trying to do things the old-fashioned way is actually MORE expensive, and it's been made that way on purpose. The current system was created to disillusion younger Americans, and make them more dependent upon the government just to survive--and it has done so very well.

As for the actual anger towards the boomers, I myself--as a millennial--did not understand that at one time, but after hearing the older generations tell the younger ones to just do things the way they did, it can be incredibly frustrating, for all the reasons that I listed above. My husband couldn't have gone out and collected enough cans to be able to afford a wedding ring, we can't afford to build our own home that will last 100 years and be passed on to our kids, etc. We have young people who would love to be farmers, but cannot afford the land, and such career paths are a young man's game--it's just one more reason that our farm populations are dying out.

This is very, very true. It is quite nearly impossible at this current time to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps and do it like I did".

You know what disillusionment looks like to those that choose not to understand?

Laziness.

 

[marsofold]

Agreed! I think our little homestead is a very good SHTF location, but my one regret is that we don't have a well. That's not the end of the world though, as we have rain water catchment with our gutters - it rains a lot here - and two freshwater ponds within a block or so. We also have a large Berkey water filtration rig. If TSHTF, I'd bolster that with a 55 gallon sand filter rig.
Best
Doc

We have a Royal Berkey, the biggest one they make, and filter our drinking water just to be sure. We also have three wells here, the current electrically served modern well, a 2nd working hand-pumped well on the side porch when the original inhabitants upgraded the place in the 1930s. And 3rd the original 1919 three foot in diameter bucket & chain well, now covered by a thick six foot diameter rock (to prevent kids from falling in) with a 1" hole drilled in the middle of the rock (not in use). I bought a hand operated bilge pump in case I ever had to drop a 1" hose into it for water. And 350 feet from the house we have a 20 foot wide flowing creek to filter from if all else fails. I can't imagine relying on rain fall catchment.

 

[Tristan]

What is everyone mean by MAID?

Medical Assistance In Dying, AKA Euthanasia.

I suppose 'Euthanasia' was developing a bit of a negative connotation, sounds too icky, so now it's 'Assistance'.

 

[Southside]

Medical Assistance In Dying, AKA Euthanasia.

I suppose 'Euthanasia' was developing a bit of a negative connotation, sounds too icky, so now it's 'Assistance'.

They want you dead. Even better if you off yourself.

 

[Tristan]

They want you dead. Even better if you off yourself.

It's going to be a Brave New World, one way or another.

Personally I think they've been working the Psychological angles for a long time. Increasing social, racial, inter-generational, and other tension. Lowering barriers.

Even authorizing state payments to assist.

 

[Southside]

Personally I think they've been working the Psychological angle for a long time. Increasing tension. Lowering barriers.

Even authorizing state payments to assist.

Yes, it is horrible. And the .Gov support is grotesque.

 

[Tristan]

Yes, it is horrible. And the .Gov support is grotesque.

But perhaps understandable, if you know what they are.

 

[Southside]

But perhaps understandable, if you know what they are.

There are certainly times that it is a reasonable answer.
But 5% of the people dying are MAID deaths? Seems excessive.

 

[Plain Jane]

They want you dead. Even better if you off yourself.

Not from their point of view. If you off yourself and your body sits there too long, they can't harvest your organs.

 

[Profit of Doom]

Remember when the "norm" for American families was 4 children? Even farther back, 7 or more?

 

[Southside]

Not from their point of view. If you off yourself and your body sits there too long, they can't harvest your organs.

They won't get mine anyway. Too used up.
Well, that and I just don't trust them to do the right thing.

 

[Tristan]

There are certainly times that it is a reasonable answer.
But 5% of the people dying are MAID deaths? Seems excessive.

Not to the things running many Governments.

 

[Tristan]

They won't get mine anyway. Too used up.
Well, that and I just don't trust them to do the right thing.

I've probably mentioned it, but I had a functionary at a Driver's License office decide for me that I wanted to be a donor.

And there wouldn't have been a damned thing my family could have done about it.

At my next license issuance, a different functionary asked "Still want to be a Donor?"

Ah, hell no. Never did.

My bad for not checking.

And IIRC there have been governmental initiatives to default to Donor status, and even one country which began discussing mandatory Donor status.

To the Things in charge, we're the Herd. All Y'all know that, right?

Just can't wait to see how 'Interesting' it will be once the World has plenty of Robots to do their Master's bidding. Hell, they'll even get most of 'em paid for by the Herd itself.


eta: sorry for the thread drift.

 

[Siskiyoumom]

This is why Canada created MAID, but it isn’t the only country looking to get rid of boomers.

On x there are daily posts about both young and old folks being taken from their homes or residential care facilities being taken by MAID agents and put to death against their consent and their viable organs sold.

 

[mrrk1562]

a few years ago i moved out here to Colorado to help a family friend out .she had just lost her husband of 46 years .and then she had interocular lens surgery that went wrong .plus during covid her husband smashed into the corner of the house .so i came out to fix her house and drive because her eye issues she was not legally able too drive . i have a lung issue so it was a i help you and you help me ..i cook and i fix and or maintain her home for her ..now almost everyone that lives in this neighborhood are all older people in theirs 70's and older . so i wind up doing small jobs for them.. one of the problem i see with my friend is that she has a tendency to over share with people that she does not know .she also has a problem with reading a room as to who might be a threat ..she does not comprehend when i talk to her about why she should not talk so much with strangers ..she also likes to wear her bling which is pretty pricey ,,that and the kind of car we use .her husband held a few CEO positions so she does know about situational awareness . in the 3 years that i have lived here i have only seen 1 community officer in our neighborhood and this is a really nice well to do subdivision .but none of these homes have been built with any security in mind .the homes have blind spots everywhere .main entryway doors are all glass ..we are in a HOA which another bad thing

 

[beaglemama]

Voluntarily downsizing your personal living space in your own home by sharing it with some of your own kin now, will be preferable to having it taken from you forcibly, and in the ugliest ways imaginable.

Reading that reminded me of watching Doctor Zhivago when he returned home to find that the Soviets had taken over his house and now there were a bunch of other families occupying it.

 

[Plain Jane]

Maybe the maltreatment of the elderly during COVID wasn't effective enough and they have to go to more direct methods.

 

[CaryC]

I do not recall that exchange, but if you do feel free to link it so that I can examine my "crying rant". In other words, bring out the receipts.

I will say that your entire screed encapsulates the 'disconnected boomer' point that Bracken was making. Which I will emphasize, is where the OP is from. Not me. I did not write this. I copied it from his substack and brought it over. Matt Bracken. A boomer himself. I post something sourced and cited from an author, and even include his name in the title, but I will further clarify that when I do post something sourced and cited from an author, that does not mean it is me, or I wrote it. This is the fourth or fifth time this has happened with y'all getting confused about authorship.

Must have a short memory.

Here are the receipts:

Most of our dialog was on page 3 which is the link I copied:

ECON - If Republicans Want to Cut Socialists Off at the Knees, Homes Need to Be Affordable Again

One of the things that caught my eye when visiting our two kids that live in Europe is the generational homes. Homes built solidly and that have been passed down for generations. Some several hundred years old, upgraded over time with modern conveniences, electricity, modern plumbing, etc., but...

www.timebomb2000.com

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• #97

I want everyone to understand my above post.

I'm not claiming any special privilege or sympathy. There were/are 1500 people doing the same thing. Granted some of those jobs aren't as nasty and dirty, but those were the ones that paid the best bonus, and I didn't work any over time.

What I'm tired of is, the whining.

All the I couldn't ....it's so bad.... we..... sniff. Shut up and get a job.

Get a job in a factory, notice the amount of money made there compared to those working in their college degree. Learn a trade. Mostly if you don't like what you got going on, change it. Get offen your rear.

Buy a used RV, park it on some land bought and paid for. Guy in Aberdeen, MS says he has 1000 used RV's for sale. Save your money, and and build your own house. Build a house out of concrete blocks. A guy up the road bought a storage building, big enough for a kitchen with a wood heater, and bedroom. I had an uncle who lived in one (single) for over 30 years.

Whining over the price of rent in the city.....get out.

Whining ad nauseum over everything, I'm sick of hearing it.

I told you my story, and with more whining you'll hear stories of my dad and mom, WWII participants and mom was on the losing side. And my grandparents, who were sharecroppers, and great grandparents and 2X great grandparents who was in the Civil War and Reconstruction, and on the losing side.

And you think you got it rough. Give me a break.

The one doing the whining was you.

And still are.

 

[Hfcomms]

I am an authentic Boomer, born in 1952. I have been noticing this increasing hostility toward the Boomer generation and frankly am completely puzzled by it. Why do the younger generations think the Boomers should just hand them their hard-earned assets? My parents were members of the Greatest Generation and they certainly did not hand us anything nor did we expect or ask for it. My mindset as a Boomer was to be in a financial position in my senior years where I would not burden my children, a lesson learned from my parents.

We worked hard, lived frugally, helped my three children as we could through college, eliminated debt, put money into 401k, and paid off the house all in readiness for our retirement years. Our retirement plan IS our paid-off house and 401k savings that we worked so hard for and we are entitled to use them. It's not greed to carefully plan your future and have it all work out right.

BTW, my Gen-X children all have more money than we ever did, they will not need our help unless something unexpected happens. All three went to college and chose majors and careers that actually give them a nice standard of living: physician, veterinarian, and CEO. My Gen-Z grandchildren in college so far are heading to law school, aviation, and medical school. I think they'll be OK.

The boomer generation part and parcel are those still in power and have run us into the ground the last thirty or so years. ‘They’ sat back and did nothing (actually abetted) the export of our manufacturing base and let financialization run wild to the enrichment of the billionaire (used to be millionaire) class to the detriment of the working class.

Those responsible for this by part and parcel are a fraction of the one percent but we get the blame because they come out of our age group. And of course identity politics feeds on divide and conquer and as you can see they have been very effective.

 

[CaryC]

This article while containing a lot of info on the labor flow and wages one of the bottom lines is:

Factory work openings is up and so is pay.

Breitbart Business Digest: The Myth of the Frozen Labor Market

Here is a question that has been nagging at economists: why has wage growth held up so well when payroll growth has been so weak? | Economy

www.breitbart.com

 

[King Samson]

The boomer generation part and parcel are those still in power and have run us into the ground the last thirty or so years. ‘They’ sat back and did nothing (actually abetted) the export of our manufacturing base and let financialization run wild to the enrichment of the billionaire (used to be millionaire) class to the detriment of the working class.

It wasn't the Boomers that did it. It was a capitalistic society, that wanted cheaper and cheaper goods, that did it. Businesses were just responding to their customer base. It was the American people that did it to themselves. Always wanting cheap china crap.

How do you think Walmart and Amazon has grown so large.... think about that for a minute....

That wasn't from the Boomers.

 

[Plain Jane]

Those responsible for this by part and parcel are a fraction of the one percent but we get the blame because they come out of our age group.

I keep harping about the gutting of Glass-Steagall which is a significant part of this. It began step-by-step by Carter.

Bush 41 started the process for NAFTA and Clinton finished the job.

Clinton really gutted Glass-Steagall which allowed for derivatives and set up the 2008 financial crisis. Clinton also got China Most Favored Nation status in the WTO. Remember the scandals involving Chinese money in the late 90's?

Bush 43 bailed out the banks in 2008 and no one went to jail for what clearly were crimes.

Obama finished off Glass-Steagall by eliminated any guardrails for private credit and private equity.

The United States is really facing a trifecta of problems in the financial markets. We don't know what effects the war with Iran will bring. There are bubbles in the private credit/equity spheres, possibly in AI, and having zero-bound treasuries over a decade has created overvalued real estate and stocks.

As a 1954 Boomer this blame game gets discouraging because many of us are helping our younger family members and live as cheaply as possible and can set aside a little in savings. Even upgrading the prepper mode.

But I fear that we could be facing another financial "privatize the gains and socialize the losses" situation and this contrived generational divide is meant to distract us from that.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

It wasn't the Boomers that did it. It was a capitalistic society, that wanted cheaper and cheaper goods, that did it. Businesses were just responding to their customer base. It was the American people that did it to themselves. Always wanting cheap china crap.

How do you think Walmart and Amazon has grown so large.... think about that for a minute....

That wasn't from the Boomers.

A good part of it yes. But the politicians also ignored China's business practices. Theft of technology and business trade secrets, patent infringement, monopolistic behavior, currency manipulation, etc, etc.

 

[West]

It wasn't the Boomers that did it. It was a capitalistic society, that wanted cheaper and cheaper goods, that did it. Businesses were just responding to their customer base. It was the American people that did it to themselves. Always wanting cheap china crap.

How do you think Walmart and Amazon has grown so large.... think about that for a minute....

That wasn't from the Boomers.

Baloney. Chinese crap would be just as expensive as our crap, if they had as much mandated liabilities, unions, regulations, prevailing wages and taxes on there manufactures etc. As we do !

BS!

Plus they also get most favored nation status and pay way less in both shipping and tariffs as we pay!

BS! I see your blaming capitalist. Tells me alot.

Edit to add.. Walmart and Amazon are also so big, they self insure some of the mandated liabilities that small businesses have to pay premiums on and they don't! Plus they often own there own lawyers. One of many reasons why they are so successful.

 

[Profit of Doom]

Baloney. Chinese crap would be just as expensive as our crap, if they had as much mandated liabilities, unions, regulations, prevailing wages and taxes on there manufactures etc. As we do !

Read this first, thought, sounds like West. Yup.

 

[King Samson]

A good part of it yes. But the politicians also ignored China's business practices. Theft of technology and business trade secrets, patent infringement, monopolistic behavior, currency manipulation, etc, etc.

What do you want politicians to do about it, when private businesses send their designs to China, to get them built cheaply, to make their customers happy? The these same businesses cry when their trade secrets are stolen? Well, that's the cost to do business in China.

Should the politicians just bomb China?

If Americans refused the cheap crap, and ONLY bought American, what do you think would have happened?

 

[King Samson]

if they had as much mandated liabilities,

they self insure some of the mandated liabilities

Congratulations!!

You managed to get your typical "mandated payroll liabilites" RANT inserted in ANOTHER thread.... don't you ever give it a break? I just keep hoping, at some point, you'd show us that you understand how businesses operate in this country, but we haven't seen it yet.

 

[West]

Congratulations!!

You managed to get your typical "mandated payroll liabilites" RANT inserted in ANOTHER thread.... don't you ever give it a break? I just keep hoping, at some point, you'd show us that you understand how businesses operate in this country, but we haven't seen it yet.

I manufacture crap for the community and provide comfort services to the general public.

WTF do you do?

And no, I'll never give evil a break.

 

[King Samson]

I manufacture crap for the community and provide comfort services to the general public.

WTF do you do?

Been there... done that...

I'm retired now, enjoying the fruits of all my years of hard work..

Maybe you should consider retiring, then maybe you wouldn't be so crabby, all the time.

I manufacture crap for the community and provide comfort services to the general public.

But somehow, after all these years, you still haven't figured out that mandated liabilities are a part of EVERY business. You can't escape them. Not sure WHY you still complain about them, in every other thread.

 

[West]

Quote...

"But somehow, after all these years, you still haven't figured out that mandated liabilities are a part of EVERY business. You can't escape them. Not sure WHY you still"

But not in China and Mexico etc..

Dont change the frigging subject. I'll not say your not right about me bitching about mandated payroll liabilities.

I know its capitalism fault. As per your post above. Quote...

"It was a capitalistic society, that wanted cheaper and cheaper goods, that did it."

 

[Old Greek]

I see both side here, but agree more with West. I had two businesses running at the same time for over 15 years. Just closed the 2nd one last year. Both could have grown larger and employed more than just me, but for the cost of having employees.

I was not going to spend the time necessary to grow both to only maybe net 5-10% more money. So I turned down "lots" of work to keep it just me with a lot of very good long term subs. And most of them did the same - no employees.
For the same reasons.

One of them, a plumber just cut 3 employees loose and went back to just him and his partner - for the same reasons.
Now he is pocketing close to the same money without the employee hassle.

Buy the way, I avoid, as much as possible, China made crap. Have not been in a walmart for over 10 years.

And God forbid you look at an employee the wromg way and get a lawsuit filed against you because their feelings were hurt. Sorry. its todays world. I avoided all of that.

JMHO!

 

[West]

I see both side here, but agree more with West. I had two businesses running at the same time for over 15 years. Just closed the 2nd one last year. Both could have grown larger and employed more than just me, but for the cost of having employees.

I was not going to spend the time necessary to grow both to only maybe net 5-10% more money. So I turned down "lots" of work to keep it just me with a lot of very good long term subs. And most of them did the same - no employees.
For the same reasons.

One of them, a plumber just cut 3 employees loose and went back to just him and his partner - for the same reasons.
Now he is pocketing close to the same money without the employee hassle.

Buy the way, I avoid, as much as possible, China made crap. Have not been in a walmart for over 10 years.

And God forbid you look at an employee the wromg way and get a lawsuit filed against you because their feelings were hurt. Sorry. its todays world. I avoided all of that.

JMHO!

Not just your opinion. Your right!

 

[Old Greek]

Not just your opinion. Your right!

I know - thanks - I lived it.

 

[TFergeson]

Must have a short memory.

Here are the receipts:

Most of our dialog was on page 3 which is the link I copied:

ECON - If Republicans Want to Cut Socialists Off at the Knees, Homes Need to Be Affordable Again

One of the things that caught my eye when visiting our two kids that live in Europe is the generational homes. Homes built solidly and that have been passed down for generations. Some several hundred years old, upgraded over time with modern conveniences, electricity, modern plumbing, etc., but...

www.timebomb2000.com

The one doing the whining was you.


And still are.

Sigh.

Yeah, you got me. You are correct. That is certainly a way.

 

[Profit of Doom]

W

They won't get mine anyway. Too used up.
Well, that and I just don't trust them to do the right thing.

You don’t want to wake up in 12 vats of saline.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

What do you want politicians to do about it, when private businesses send their designs to China, to get them built cheaply, to make their customers happy? The these same businesses cry when their trade secrets are stolen? Well, that's the cost to do business in China.

When we let China get away with it in the beginning, it set the standard. Businesses HAD to go to China to compete, or else go out of business.

Should the politicians just bomb China?

We should have done what Trump is doing 20 years ago. Trade policy and national security is the Federal governments job. The politicians blabbed about free trade, but I think it was more about them getting rich under the table.

The original goal was to convert China to capitalism so we didn't have to fight them. It's been obvious for quite awhile that was a failed policy.

Do you think it was smart to allow China to monopolize rare earth metals?

 

[West]

When we let China get away with it in the beginning, it set the standard. Businesses HAD to go to China to compete, or else go out of business.

We should have done what Trump is doing 20 years ago. Trade policy and national security is the Federal governments job. The politicians blabbed about free trade, but I think it was more about them getting rich under the table.

The original goal was to convert China to capitalism so we didn't have to fight them. It's been obvious for quite awhile that was a failed policy.

Do you think it was smart to allow China to monopolize rare earth metals?

Of course it was pay offs. And favors. Especially with the

"De Minimis Exemption"​

Don't tell me palms were not greased.

Check it out.

 

[Old Greek]

When we let China get away with it in the beginning, it set the standard. Businesses HAD to go to China to compete, or else go out of business.

We should have done what Trump is doing 20 years ago. Trade policy and national security is the Federal governments job. The politicians blabbed about free trade, but I think it was more about them getting rich under the table.

The original goal was to convert China to capitalism so we didn't have to fight them. It's been obvious for quite awhile that was a failed policy.

Do you think it was smart to allow China to monopolize rare earth metals?

Yep -political grift - they got rich from it - Look at grifter McConnel!