"boomer" thread

[Maireas]

You've hidden this evening's offensive, ageist thread, stereotyping "boomers". Will this be deleted? Can we have a robust response to ageism on MN?

That isn't the case - a significant proportion of boomers don't own property after 40-50 years of work, a significant proportion of millennials and younger are on the property ladder.

Home ownership rates have dropped enormously from the Boomer generation to the Millenial one, at the same ages.

You don't think people born in 1946-64 were eligible to vote in 1993?

This was the stage at which they were mature adults, running our industries and public services and being our politicians etc, and exactly when they should have been addressing all of these very important issues which were entirely foreseeable and future-proofing the UK to make sure it would be able to manage them.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/29/rishi-sunak-used-helicopter-for-trip-from-london-to-norwich
Born 1980. Just saying. Perhaps focus on him and his mates instead of people living on a small pension in social housing or a home they struggled to buy.

I'm in my 20s and I don't know anyone who thinks like you. I'm glad to say I, and all my friends of a similar age, respect people older than ourselves.
You sound extremely bitter and jealous.

🤣🤣

No.

I have stated economic facts. Objective reality exists, whether people find it upsetting, or not. It has nothing to do with "respect", or "bitterness".

[Baby boomers are now 57-77 years old, I believe. The ones towards the latter end of that spectrum seem to be the worst in terms of more of them displaying the entitled and unpleasant attitudes and wilful ignorance of the situation I've described in my experience - but of course that is anecdotal.]

So your blaming all the woes of your life and others on all people between the ages of 57 to 77 years old , is that correct?
And how old are you may I ask?

Objective reality does exist.
However, it's not the same as generalising or anecdotal points about certain older people of your acquaintance who are not particularly nice.

Just to add that part time workers did not gain the legal unequivocal right to join their employer’s pension scheme till 1994.

Of course that is most! What do you think "most" means?

How do you know they're not? How do measure the engagement and campaigning of a certain demographic?
You really can't generalise like this. It does not hold validity

We know they are not because of statistically valid political polling and voting habits, prior voting, voting intentions, and policy priorities.

And because we see the effects of it all around us daily.

Of course that is most! What do you think "most" means?

I'd be looking at more like 80%.

We also know, @WarOnTheSlugs that younger people are less likely to vote. Maybe that could be improved upon, for a start.

Very true.

I've been extremely clear repeatedly that in my opinion any type of slur whether based on age, sex, disability etc is unacceptable.

However, many of the posts on the thread have objected to people analysing the generational inequality and the behaviours and attitudes and voting and choices that have exacerbated this situation and - in many cases - actually caused these issues. And this is what I am some other posters have objected to, and stated that it is perfectly reasonable to discuss and that it is ludicrous for the response to be "it's not my fault, I didn't do it", "we couldn't do anything about it", "every generation has their challenges, it was so hard for us", "we think we saved the world", "how dare you accuse us all of being like that? I'm an outlier and did do something to try to help, therefore the entire economic analysis showing huge generational inequality must be wrong".

Nice selective quoting and complete failure to engage with the substance of any of the arguments. 😆

Those responses are not ludicrous.

No, it's not. You admitted that it's anecdotal. You don't know everybody aged 55-77 on order to evaluate their personality or morals.

** https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/29/rishi-sunak-used-helicopter-for-trip-from-london-to-norwichh*
Born 1980. Just saying. Perhaps focus on him and his mates instead of people living on a small pension in social housing or a home they struggled to buy.

🙄

Generational economic and social analysis by definition isn't about specific individuals. Why is that so hard to grasp? Classic whataboutery.

You need to allow for turnout. I don’t know the underlying age splits but overall turnout was 72%.

Selling of the gold reserves...?
Wasn't it Gordon Brown that was the worst offender in 1999?

That would be the same Gordon Brown that introduced dividend tax on DB pension schemes, putting the final nail in their coffin.

Also the same one that ramped up tax credits so that everyone and his dog was eligible for them, which has held down wage inflation for years.

Gordon brown , wasn't he labour ? , or am I confusing him for someone else?

They don't vote because they don't believe it makes a difference. BUT they do care are educated about saving the planet. Not all are interested unfortunately . They're much more cynical than we were, perhaps that's a good thing.

That's the man who's beavered away in the background in Scotland and Wales. He was busy in Wales masterminding covid management. He's a strange Machiavellian individual.

Yes he took over from Tony Blair.

Oh @Mrsjayy , thanks, I thought so !
But you never know , and the conservatives are always criticised for ruining the economy, my dad told me labour was as bad previously and I remember Gordon brown being criticised .