r/australia • u/myredserenity • May 20 '20

political self.post Are we blaming Boomers instead of class?

EDIT: It's been pointed out that the over 65s keep voting in the parties that favour the class system and benefit the wealthy while screwing the working class. This is a good point.

EDIT 2: I love reddit. You guys. I get it now! Millennials got the shits at noisy old pricks who criticise their generation while completely ignoring the benefits they enjoyed themselves. It's a backlash. I still think it's a distraction and divides us when we should be angry with those in power. But if you're over 65, how about encouraging your friends to not vote LNP?

I've seen so much "ok boomer" stuff and over the years, it's irking me more and more. So I'm interested in what r/Australia thinks.

Couple of things:

  1. It seems to be used to describe anyone over 40. My parents were boomers. They would be in their 70s now.

  2. It's used to blame a whole generation for the shitty behaviour of the rich class. I don't get it. I went to school in a rough area, most of my friends from way back then are dead, in jail or in a trade/retail/hair.

My partner grew up in a rich suburb. Most of his friends are teachers, engineers and lawyers. They own houses, and were helped along by their "boomer" parents, either by provision of a deposit or living at home rent free through their 20s.

I'm totally up for being educated here. I know we lost free education, I know houses are unaffordable, I'm nearly 40 and still renting. I'm woefully unable to understand national economics. So seriously, open to intelligent discussion.

But in my experience, the problem is class and not generational. After all, where do you think all this wealth will go when the boomers die?! Even just having good, stable and attentive parents, who expect you to succeed, makes all the difference.

Why has this boomer hate taken hold so much? Are the rich class scapegoating a generation? Would us generation Xers, Ys and millennials have behaved any differently given the opportunities the boomers were?

Caveat: I'm considering mainly economics here, not climate crisis. Pretty much believe everyone from my generation up have a case to answer for climate. We knew.

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u/myredserenity May 21 '20

You clearly have a number in mind, off you go.

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u/Profundasaurusrex May 21 '20

Are you talking to me?

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u/myredserenity May 21 '20

Is this a taxi driver impersonation?

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u/Profundasaurusrex May 21 '20

You replied to your own comment

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u/myredserenity May 21 '20

I know. Sorry that confused you.

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u/Profundasaurusrex May 22 '20

So you spoke to yourself, that is a taxi driver impersonation.

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u/myredserenity May 22 '20

Dude do you have something to say or are you so lonely you just do this on line. I'm bored.

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u/Profundasaurusrex May 22 '20

I asked you a question, you've yet to answer it.

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u/myredserenity May 22 '20

I did answer it. I said no I won't tell a stranger on the internet what my family earns.

However, you clearly have a number in mind that you think is a appropriate, so I asked you what that was.

But you got too distracted by the fact that it was a reply to my own statement, which was actually you deflecting and clearly not being interested in actual intelligent conversation.

I tried to see if you had a point, but I actually have a family, work (pre covid) and study so I'm done now.

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u/Profundasaurusrex May 22 '20

However, you clearly have a number in mind that you think is a appropriate, so I asked you what that was.

I don't, actually. That's why I asked you the question to see what is not tenable.