Leave Boomers alone!

Older people are being unfairly blamed for the problems of younger generations

Baby Boomers are often portrayed negatively on social media — and even in the mainstream press — but a lot of the criticism they face simply doesn’t stack up.

According to research by the United States Federal Reserve, the Baby Boomer generation has created substantial wealth that has benefited society as a whole.

They helped build and expand industries, fostered technological advancements, and drove economic growth in the aftermath of World War.

In fact, an Australian academic says the idea that Baby Boomers are to blame for societal issues such as rent increases and inflation is “bonkers”.

Charles Sturt University public ethics professor Clive Hamilton told ABC Radio that younger people are “looking for a scapegoat”.

“It’s hard to identify the problems in the system itself so they blame older people” he said.

“The idea that Baby Boomers are this rich, selfish, greedy generation who have sucked up all the wealth and who are keeping to themselves is just bonkers.”

Professor Hamilton says older generations have always accumulated wealth, simply because they had been in the workforce longer.

It’s also important to note that Boomers have been major contributors to the financial well-being of younger generations through inheritances and intergenerational wealth transfers.

Studies have found that Baby Boomers are projected to transfer trillions of dollars to the next generations, potentially easing financial burdens on Millennials and Gen Z in the future.

And contrary to the idea that they are selfish, many Boomers actively support good causes.

Research in Australia showed that charities and not-for-profit organisations are seeing more bequests from older people, with Boomers being dubbed “the most generous generation”.

A survey suggests that, despite the current cost-of-living crisis, 20% of people are considering leaving a donation to charity in their will.

One in two Australians like the idea of leaving a gift to charity, with 17% actively considering it, and 13% having already named a charity in their will.

In the United States, the amount of funds for charity bequests was US$42.68 billion in 2023.

Research indicates that while members of Gen Z value volunteering and advocacy, Gen Xers and Boomers prefer donating money to the causes they support.

Boomers’ favourite charities across all generations are those related to health, animal welfare and children’s causes.

Finally, it’s important to recognise that generational labels such as “Boomers” cover a wide range of individuals with different socioeconomic backgrounds, political beliefs and values.

There is significant diversity among Boomers — enough, of course, to lead to the distinction between the older cohort and Generation Jones — and to suggest that we all are selfish or out of touch with the needs of younger generations overlooks this complexity.

So the next time somebody says to you, “OK, Boomer”, perhaps the best response is, “You’re welcome!”