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Ways Generation X fucked over their kids

Mike Pollitt | Wednesday 23 February, 2011 12:44

It’s already pretty well established that Gen X (and Gen X-and-a-half…basically anyone over 40) have made a right mess of things. Here’s the five most heinous crimes they wrought on their helpless offspring.

The economic swindle
They bought a house for a pittance. Some of them bought two. Now there aren’t any left. Yet mention the Nursing Home Option as a constructive, mutually beneficial way to break this impasse and they start screaming about “filial ingratitude”. Whatever that is. Oh, and they expect their kids to pay for said kids’ education and the parents’ pensions at the same time. Thanks. For. That.

They raised awareness…
…without actually fixing anything. Are you aware of Cancer in all its forms? Are you aware of poverty in the developing world? Are you aware of pretty much every social, medical and cultural problem on the planet? You are? Then why the hell didn’t you do more to fix it? Thanks, parents, for pointing out that the bus was about to drive over the edge of a cliff, and then slamming your foot on the accelerator.

They ruined the planet
I think they know they really dropped the ball on this one, so I’m not going to rub it in.

They killed God…
…and didn’t replace him. The second half of this being the graver sin. I know he was on his way out by the 60s anyway, but still. It’s all very well breaking free from crushing repression and odious hierarchies, but where the hell was the Reconstruction Plan? What happened to all the morality? They did the exact same “destruction without replacement” thing with political certainties in the early 90s, and with the internal systems of Iraq in the 00s. Not learning.

They gave us just enough sense of entitlement and self-pity…
…to ensure that we’re doomed to repeat their mistakes. Great.

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