I didn't come up with that quote but when I heard it - I knew I had to use it for this week's post. It describes those of us born at the tail-end of the baby boomer generation perfectly. For years I have been saying that when it was time for me to retire they would change the rules so I would have to keep working all because of those "baby boomers" who had sucked the place dry. For some reason they put those of us at the tail-end in the same category - part of the baby boomer generation. We know better. We know that being at the tail-end meant that when it was our turn to feed there wouldn't be anything left but a few tiny scraps.
We were the part of the baby boomer generation that actually had to pay for our education. Tuition rates were on the increase when we got to university/college. The real baby boomers got their education for almost nothing - even accounting for inflation and putting it into present-day dollars their education was still basically a give-away. Not for us. By the time the largest group of the baby boomers went through the post-secondary system governments finally realized that this was costing them way too much and debt was piling up. By the time the tail-end went through it would be the very people that benefited from a cheap, quality education who would be encouraging governments to reduce taxes and start charging.
The baby boomers were also the generation that got the best of jobs as they entered the market when the economy was booming and the older generation were retiring. When the recession of the 80's hit and the tail-end tried to find work, we couldn't get through the door or if we were in the door, we were the first to get laid off because we had the least seniority.
And those baby boomers were the ones that got those golden handshakes when leaving (a lot of them). They could retire early on full pensions and come back and work on contract, pulling in the big dollars. Now that I am within 5 years of retiring on a full pension at the age of 55, guess what? You're right - they are going to change the rules. I won't be able to fully retire at 55 even though I will have worked for that 1 employer for 34 years. Of course it won't affect those already retired - NO, why make those baby boomers pay for a system that they largely created. NO, make the tail-end pay as we have all our lives.
But at least we have a trough. Who I really feel sorry for is the generations after us. Our trough will have a few scraps for us to fight over. The generations after us? There is no trough. Isn't it funny that the generation that spoiled their children the most is the very generation that begrudges their children an affordable education, benefits, job security and pension plans. Let's face it - we are the generation that has the power in corporations and government. We are the ones making the very decisions that are cutting all the benefits and security that we enjoyed (even if it will come to some of us a bit later). We cost the system a huge amount of money and when it was time to pay - we wanted to default on that loan. We wanted governments to chop taxes, corporations to get lean and mean and do everything on the cheap. We don't want to pay for what we have already spent. We want the next generation to pay.
What I don't understand is why we don't see the writing on the wall. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are in our future. Are we that arrogant that we think we won't end up there? For a system that wants everything to be cheap and a system that the baby boomers created, this will be the one bill that we will have to face. And I won't blame the younger generation for letting us wallow in our filth, refusing to pay for our care. As a generation - we are doing it to our parents right now. You only have to read the headlines to know that if the care of our elderly is in crisis now, what will it be like when the largest group in our history - the baby boomers - go through. The tail-end is already used to feeding last and we know our future lot. For those baby boomers ahead of us - if you want compassion as you age, it's time to wake up now and create a reason for the younger generation to care. And if you think you will bypass the fate of your parents - good luck with that. The odds are not in your favour.
That's my rant for the week :) Next posting, I will go back to my "happy place". And thanks to my friend for passing on that great quote from a friend of hers - love it!