Baby-boomers essentially created the concepts of conspicuous consumption, entitlement to profligate use of natural resources and the live today pay tomorrow or never mentality.
They've spent their parents resources, their own resources, their children's resources and the nation's resources on insane lifestyles while chewing through half the world's oil and much of the minerals.
That and inventing weird financial vehicles which enabled them to enrich themselves assets bought with printed money but are now taking down the whole system.
The entitlement mentality continues well into old age, having typically not saved for their, often early, retirement they're expecting Gen X and Y to fund their continued lavish lifestyle, unlimited medical treatment, frequent foreign holidays, huge inefficient mansions which they don't see why they should sell to fund themselves or free up the property market etc etc.
All funded by final salary index linked pensions - which are no longer available to us plebs.
They've live through the golden (oil) age, have invested nothing for their children or their future, and still expect more.
We're all double screwed because the financial crises have emptied, and then some, the notional retirement funds of most nations.
Tax, medical care and aged care are now a huge ponzi scheme, the boomers are getting their payouts now, X and Y will get less than nothing from their tax contribution.
My father is typical I guess, a cushy govt job, early retirement at 50, index linked final salary pension scheme which pays more than the average wage, and still he gripes.
Last edited by Dilbert_X (2012-05-09 01:07:03)