Letters to the Editor
Portlander
Published Letters: 303 Editor's Choice: 13
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Didn't miss the point
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I didn't miss the point, and I'm not angry at anyone, nor did I throw a temper tantrum. I was merely responding to a massive dose of bile and vitriol. I have no issue with people of any generation - that was my point. BUT, if you just hate us and don't want to work with us, that's also fine, but don't expect me to get too committed to genrational harmony when this extreme hostility is what I see. I've posted 4-5 times on this thread, but I have not called any one names, have not disparaged any person or group and have not called for the intergenerational warfare that has been a hallmark of this discussion.
We have common problems that need addressing. Failure to address them intergenerationally dooms any possible solution to those problems. Gen Xers whine incessantly about Social Security, but their own approach is 'screw the boomers'. Do you really expect us to spread our cheeks for you when we're approaching retirement. I've paid the max in Soc Sec for 37 years now, and, yes, I do expect to get my piece of the action. Could we make it less burdensome to youger workers? Maybe, but only if we get past this hostility and find common ground. My basic point was that, if you do not want to do it this way, then I'm out.
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born in 70
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Of course it was sarcastic, and I am exasperated. Boomers have not received on thin dime from Soc Sec yet. All we've done is pay for it. Our parents are the ones who increased benefits beyond what was put in so they wouldn't have to care for their parents. We didn't have 401Ks until the mid 80s, our defined benefit pensions have been gutted, and, being 60, I don't have time to make up for what you would steal from me. Personally, I would be OK, but millions would not. If you want to have a rational discussion about Soc Sec, great, but 'screw the boomers' is not something most of us would support.
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X-potfarmer
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Amen, brother.
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Mr Linklatter
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]OK. That's a good point, but that's not what these letters say. What they say is 'boomers suck'. The very thing for which you criticize the LW. If Xers are to be treated and viewed as individuals, and I agree that that would be the good and righteous thing, then boomers also deserve something more nuanced than 'boomers suck'.
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Mr Linklatter
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]See Vetoregon's post. Res ipsa loquitur.
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Very interesting.
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anonymous - Your post was a tad obscure for my aging brain. Are you saying the boomers shouldn't enjoy themselves? That's how I took it, but I could be wrong. Frankly, it sucks to have glaucoma. If I live long enough, it means I will probably end up blind - plenty of punishment for whatever transgressions you believe that I have committed. It also sucks that my wife has Stage 4 ovarian cancer with a 2-3 year prognosis. This is my wife of 35 years, the love of my life. She also smokes some pot to relive the nausea from chemotherapy. Do you begrudge her that? Being older does not mean shriveling up and dropping out. We try to live each day that we have to the max. A good thing, IMHO.
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Mr. Linklatter
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As you wish
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born in 1970
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Left up to me, we wouldn't leave you hanging. It isn't even that hard to fix SS, at least financially, but there appears to be no political will to do that. There are 60 million boomers - I am but one.
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Mr. Deese
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I didn't write the letter or support its statements. No apology from me.
PS - You may call me Mr. Zink
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Bleeding Heart
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just to set the record straight, I am on vacation, my wife is in California seeing her son and my dogs are sleeping.
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Enjoy yourself
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Have a ball, Dick.
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Dave
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You're correct. Thanks. I stand corrected.
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Patrick Flynn
[Read the article: The Gen Xers are driving me crazy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am just one boomer so there is no way to extrapolate any of this response to all boomers.
1- Upperclass/noveau riche is an oxymoron. One is either upper class or one is nouveau riche. The upper class tends to hide in enclaves while the nouveau riche do everything possible to display their affluence.
2- Since I moved into senior management about 5 years ago, my technical skills have waned somewhat, but I'm still quite expert in SQL, C#, Java, PHP, PERL and other stuff. The thing is that I now get paid to be a world class manager not a techie. You would be hard pressed to match my skill set or do my job.
3- I live in a 1471 sq ft 1908 bungalow on a 50x100 lot in the city of Portland, OR. Yes, it is true that my wife and I could afford our house on one month's income, but no McMansion is the point.
4- I have 36 Gen Xers working for me (plus one other boomer and one woman in her early 20s), and they are excellent, hard working and enjoyable employees. Not a one of them wants my job - too many hours, too much politics, too many painful decisions (layoffs, offshoring, etc.) and way too much responsibility.
5- I have no intention of retiring until 65. I like to work, I like my job, I like the people that I work with, and, yes, I enjoy the income. Why do you think that I should give up my career just to make your life a little better?
Sounds more like jealousy or envy or something, Patrick, not some rational response to the way the world is. There are 60 million boomers whether or not you like that. I would be glad to meet you halfway, if that were possible, but your idea that boomers should basically die and go away so your life would be easier is just self-centered, self important crap.