Generation-X culture vs Boomer culture

[Marc]

With most everything, I think we'll kick the can down the road until we can't anymore; even with something like Italy, we can probably "kick the can on the monthly payments" via stealth methods if we must for a decent while, although not forever. —Best regards, Marc

[Trevor]

which is exactly what they're doing, but I don't think they can do it much longer. There's a growing anger in Europe, particularly in Germany, where they are sick and tired of bailing countries like Greece out, especially since it's evident that they will do little, if anything, to get their budgets under control.

That's the other factor: even if they might be capable of it, public opinion is turning against these bailouts, which could affect how this goes.

[Marc]

which is exactly what they're doing, but I don't think they can do it much longer. There's a growing anger in Europe, particularly in Germany, where they are sick and tired of bailing countries like Greece out, especially since it's evident that they will do little, if anything, to get their budgets under control.

That's the other factor: even if they might be capable of it, public opinion is turning against these bailouts, which could affect how this goes.

All very true, or at least essentially so. I think that Germany and some other European countries would secretly like the Fed to stealthily carry the ball with bailouts due to fears of hyperinflation as well as the citizens' insistence on prudence there. And, while public opinion is no doubt growing increasingly antagonistic to all the bailouts, it's worth stating that since 2012 is a critical election year for Obama and various countries, I think that there will be heroic efforts this year to find some way to keep economic collapse at bay. Just my opinion again there.... —Best regards, Marc

[Trevor]

Maybe, but I'm talking about the European countries. Many of them are in an election year and most of them are tired of bailing them out. Obama may well try, but it's getting more difficult as time goes on.

Where bond interest rates really made a major spike is Portugal. Far as I can see, it didn't have a major effect on the others, but now that their bonds are junk, I think it's going to make a big difference.

[Marc]

Maybe, but I'm talking about the European countries. Many of them are in an election year and most of them are tired of bailing them out. Obama may well try, but it's getting more difficult as time goes on.

Where bond interest rates really made a major spike is Portugal. Far as I can see, it didn't have a major effect on the others, but now that their bonds are junk, I think it's going to make a big difference.

Indeed, the European countries, especially the PIIGS nations, are the gravest concern here financially. The trick of a successful bailout of such countries (that is, successful for at least a significant while) is in funneling enough money to them so that a bailout is believable to the financial markets. That's the rub, and the huge challenge, assuming that it is politically (and financially) possible to pull this off. Thanks again for the valuable insights. —Best regards, Marc

[John]

Dear Trevor,

> Admittedly, I've never seen the Breitling commercial, so I can't
> render judgment on that one.

I posted it earlier in the thread, and here it is again:

Breitling commercial -- Too Late Baby



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhhQP6_yrBk

As I wrote previously, I found this commercial really shocking,
because it apparently sells a lot of watches, and it's about a wealthy
Gen-X male into conspicuous consumption, and feeling free to screw
anyone he likes.

http://generationaldynamics.com/forum/v ... 903#p10908

John

[Trevor]

Yeah, I see your point. I've never understood why a commercial about screwing people over is considered fun and appealing. It certainly wouldn't motivate me to buy a watch.

[John]

To all:

I've completed a first draft of my book, and posted it here:

http://generationaldynamics.com/gx113

I would appreciate the help of anyone willing to take the time
to read it and provide comments, either here or in e-mail.

John

[Trevor]

Okay, I just looked through the first draft, read it over a couple of times, so I'll give you a complete review of it.

For chapter one, it seems like if you're a boomer dealing with a member of Generation X, you just can't win. If you show yourself to be intelligent, the X-er will consider himself disrespected (or "dissed", as some refer it as) and will do everything he can to get even. If you prove yourself to be incompetent, he'll figure that he can screw you over. Doesn't exactly leave a lot of options.

I think Obama's policies are going to end up backfiring on him. He's already proven he can't listen to anybody, even the people he appoints. That doesn't exactly look good for a sitting president. Not only that, he's infuriated the Boomers and what are they going to do come election day?



I would agree that the 1950's are probably the most misunderstood decade of our history and this is true on both sides of the political spectrum. On one side, it was the golden era of the United States, where social values reigned and poverty was nonexistent. On the other, it was a time when women and minorities are oppressed. Both are far too simplistic.



With the woman asking you out, that was the right thing to do, making sure that there are witnesses to the event, so it's more difficult to claim that you're making advances on her and harassing her. It doesn't always prevent it, of course, but it makes it more difficult to screw someone over that way.

I will admit that Brietling commercial was nothing short of disturbing. That is what gets people to sell watches? Someone who's completely self-absorbed, willing to abandon a woman because she's slightly late? I'd certainly never buy anything from them, but if it didn't work, they wouldn't run it. I think there are still some Boomers who would approve of that attitude, but they would endure moralistic, self-righteous condemnations from other Boomers.

What I wonder is this: how does Generation X survive in that kind of environment? Yeah, they hate Boomers, but they're still human, meaning that this can't be easy. I guess it's kind of like high school: you keep your head down and see absolutely nothing.

The workplace experience you describe sounds to me a lot like the Dilbert cartoons I frequently look at. I'm wondering if there's a generational angle in these cartoons. Scott Adams is a late-wave Boomer and worked in the corporate world through the 1980's and 1990's, so he's got to have at least some experience with X-er employees. I'll use some of his characters as examples.

Pointy Haired Boss- he's unethical, uncaring, and completely oblivious to even the simplest facts of running a business. He doesn't know how the employees are scamming others, but doesn't care, as long as he's making lots of money, so I would say he's an example of a Boomer.

Catbert- he's of a similar type, but actually has some competence. However, he's far more vicious and his policies are designed to screw over employees, in large part because it amuses him. He has no respect for anyone, even the PHB, so I would mark him as an X-er boss.

Wally- he'd be the X-er employee. He's lazy and uncaring about all the unethical behavior going on around him. In addition, he realizes that hard work is not going to get him anywhere in the company, so he doesn't bother trying and just drinks coffee all day.

Dilbert- he'd be a Boomer employee. He likely knows that working hard isn't going to get him anything, but he continues to do so anyway because he still hopes that his work will be rewarded. He also talks about the odds of a project failing, which they usually do, only nobody listens or cares.


With what you said about people ignoring a generational explanation, I think it's due to multiple factors. One is our tendency to believe that the next decade will be a continuation of the last one, that the next generation will be a copy of the previous, etc. The other is that it interferes with people's political views.

What I still can't believe is how all these criminals were excused, that either they were too inexperienced to know what they're doing or that they were forced to do this by their Boomer managers. That's a giant load of crap, but the people saying this are either liars themselves or they're willfully blind; personally, I'd bet on both of the above.

Just one suggestion: perhaps you can mention what investigations were attempted before the housing bubble fully burst and how they were silenced. There were some people, both in the private sector and in Congress who tried to blow the whistle on Credit derivatives and Subprime housing, or at least were concerned about what was going on.

Okay, that's the first part; I'll post the second half of the review/thoughts later.

[CrosstimbersOkie]

John, Generation X is the most incarcerated generation in human history.