Blaming the boomers, or the millennials, or any other age group is no more truthful than a horoscope. Focusing on generations creates false conflicts that divert us from the real ones – the rich against the rest of us, the racists against advocates for equal opportunity, the authoritarians against democracy itself.
In public policy, the very definition of discrimination is prejudice based on broad demographic characteristics like race, gender and age. Such discrimination is wrong because the stereotypes connected with such groups are both false and unfair.
The stereotypes connected with so-called “generations” are particularly ignorant, e.g.: “Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) are generally characterized as hardworking, optimistic, and goal-oriented individuals who value loyalty, teamwork, and social change.” Anyone who actually knows more than one Baby Boomer is aware that this description is absurd. How is it possible to believe the same description makes sense for people of a broad age group who are black and white, US and foreign born, gay and straight, metropolitan and rural?
At least the “Baby Boom” is a real thing. When World War II ended and about eleven million soldiers came home from abroad, there was a significant increase in marriages and in the birth rate (which also happened in other countries around the world that were involved in the war). The surge in births dropped off considerably beginning in 1960, so calling individuals born in 1961-64 Baby Boomers is a much later invention. There was certainly an “echo boom” when Baby Boomers had children, but those births are spread over about 35 years, so it does not correspond to any “generation.” In sum, the “generations” are purely subjective.
This stereotypes of “generations” is most aptly compared to the Chinese zodiac, where there are twelve types of people, represented by twelve animals, designated by their year of birth on the Chinese calendar. Right now, we’re in the Year of the Horse. Some people believe that an individual’s personality and love compatibility are closely associated with their Chinese zodiac sign. “The Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.” Seriously, doesn’t this sound very like the stereotype of a Boomer?
Right now, income inequality is at its highest since the gilded age. Billionaires and big corporations flout the law and pay unreasonably low taxes. To protect them, the right wing has to find scapegoats for our nation’s economic problems. Right now, the number one scapegoat is immigrants. But “generations” may be number two.
Within any age group, there are rich and poor, the ideological left and right, whites and people of color, longtime residents and immigrants. Whatever problem someone might complain about, there are at least 40 percent of every generation who are already on their side. Generations are simply too diverse to stereotype.
The Epstein-billionaire class loves it when they can get us fighting among ourselves. They want us to pit the young against the old and vice-versa. They want to tear apart the prospect of solidarity. And this is because they need to redirect blame away from themselves.
Don’t help them do it.