Baby Boomer Myth Gets Debunked In 20 Seconds

The bootstraps myth has been debunked. Jordan Uhl breaks it down on Rebel HQ.

#JohnBolton #RebelHQ #JordanUhl

[lilmsgs]

You can thank Reagan for policies that kick started the productivity/wage gap.

[joshdavis]

If we were lazy, corporations wouldn't be doing _nearly_ as well as they do.

[MrTwentyvideo]

Corporate greed has ruined the opportunity to live a better life.

[philgroves]

I am a boomer - on the tail-end of boomer-time. When I was in my late teens, I was able to work a summer job as a lifeguard at a local country club pool, and make enough money to cover a semester's worth of tuition and fees, plus books, and room and board, at a state university each year.

Minimum wage at that time was about $2.70/hour. I also worked overtime and took extra shifts - it wasn't a big deal. After all, I basically sat in a chair at the pool all day. Additionally, each semester I also worked about 8 - 10 hours/week at our dorm's cafeteria, washing dishes and mopping floors - to make extra cash for playing around. So, I paid for one semester per year, and my parents were good enough to cover tuition/fees/room/board for the second semester each year. I never applied for, or received state or federal financial aid - it wasn't remotely necessary. That was in the late 1970's.

I was considered "out of state" - a non-resident - for calculating tuition/fees. At that time, the late 1970's, tuition/fees at my chosen university was about $750/semester, and room/board was about $500/semester (roughly $1, 250/semester, or $2, 500/year). Today, right now, at that same university, tuition/fees for a non-resident comes to about $13, 800/semester (for a state resident it is $4200/semester). And room/board will set you back an additional $5, 000/semester (same for a state resident). A full year (2 semesters) runs about $27, 600 tuition/fees (for a non-resident) plus about $10, 000 room and board - $37, 600/year. You should know that this university is still considered one of the MOST affordable (least costly) in the nation.

If you worked a minimum wage job during the summer now, you might be expected to rake in - at BEST - about $9, 000. So, you do the math. Can a person working a summer job, and working "off-hours" during the school term, at minimum wage, reasonably be expected to cover college expenses ANYWHERE?! Even if Mom and Dad cover one semester? If you answer "yes", then you are, indeed, an absolute moron, and can't do simple math.

[galerae]

It has always made me angry when people denigrate the younger generations. My 3 older boomer brothers benefited from FREE college tuition. My husb and I were able to purchase several homes during our lifetime, while earning lower middle class wages. Modest homes were available and usually somewhat affordable, even with 1980s interest in the double digits. When my husb divorced me after 30 yrs of marriage, I finally went to college. 4 yrs later, I am 63 yrs old with $60k in student loans and will never be able to afford buying a home. I sympathize with you youngsters!

[timnewman]

As someone who is getting closer to retirement I don't think anyone is "lazy", but intolerant of being used... The worker has been getting screwed for most all of my working life, stand up for your rights!

[johngardner]

As a "boomer" I couldn't agree with these points more.
Well said...its the truth.

[hildeschmid]

I am a Baby Boomer, and been "thanking" Reagan for 35 years. My late husband and I figured out Trickle Down theory in the 80's and knew we would be here. SMH

[canucanoe]

This boomer is also driven crazy by the lack of awareness of much of my generation.

[SuzyEH]

Hi Guys, I'm 72 and I'm on your side. Things are so different for you. When I finished my degree I ended up with only $4000 in loans. In 1971 I was dating an engineer that worked for a local coal fired power plant, he was working on scrubber technologic to reduce harmful emissions (yes there have been people working on the issue for that long), anyway he was making just over $10, 000, that doesn't sound like much today but in 1971 he had no debit other than a car loan for his 240Z.
At the end of 1996 you could purchase a new construction 4 bedroom home, 15 minute north of Seattle for $185, 000, today that house is worth over $750, 000. (Wished I still owed it). The standard down payment on a home used to be 30% that is $225, 000. Here's what kills me no way, no how is that house worth $750, 000 construction wise.
So guys I'm on your side. Thanks are right. Regan killed what should be the middle class and republicans keep it going.

[TakManSan]

My parents sold their house for $64k in 1984. With little improvements it is now worth $1M! Ridiculous!

[macgumpobro]

A lot of us boomers don't say that the younger people lazy. Some of us worked hard and were marginalized and have ended up living on minimal SS. If I knew all my hard work would not pay in the end, I wouldn't have tried so hard. It's much worse now and if I were young, I would not be working today's slave wages.

[henrywestbrook]

Back when I worked at a unionized plant in the early 2000's, the actual cost of living was going up by about 7% a year. But our union kept agreeing to pay raises of 2% a year. So we effectively made less money every year even though the plant made more money every year. When I loudly argued about it with the union executive, I was labelled a hot-head who was being unrealistic.

[TimeSurfer]

My dad bought his first house for $3, 500.00
And Boomers wonder why their grandkids are living with them.

[blakmajik]

I hate it when I hear "nobody wants to work anymore that's why I can't find people" meanwhile they are paying 15/hrs thinking that that's enough to live off of

[alternavent]

Yup. Been saying it for years. Profit for the sake of profit is detrimental.

[FireElement]

Dude I'm Gen X and this crap affects most of us just as bad. I graduated from college with a bachelor's degree and I also have another 2 year technical degree. I was never able to make a living. I was only able to get a house and become middle class in my forties because I ended up married to a person with a PHD, and of course my partner will be paying student debt for the rest of our lives.

[s.crawford]

For years my parents believed I was frivolously spending my money on dumb shit and not saving enough like they did. No! I am working twice as hard as they ever did and barely keep my head above water. Even "good" jobs don't pay shit anymore. Heck I have seen job postings requiring a master's degree for a $17 hour job, no like WTF?!?!?!

[stevelundt]

Im Gen-X and I've been saying since the 1990's that the Boomer Gen is the welfare gen. They had all the best free shit. Employer paid healthcare, employer paid pensions and when they bought a house they didn't need to pass a credit check. just a job and a down payment.

[codymegehee]

It's a constant struggle every day for me not to be obsessively angry at that generation. Their entitlement is only topped by their hypocrisy.