Are the baby boomers the most selfish generation in history?

I can't believe everyone's being so nasty! I've heard Mumsnet is like that, but surely not my beloved Gransnet?!

I'm 60 and voted to Remain - I've spent the past 40 years working toward a retirement which includes happily swanning back and forth between UK (GS, DD) and Spain (friends, sun, great coffee) knowing that my healthcare over there is covered by virtue of our EU membership.

I'm appalled by the vote to leave, particularly as I keep hearing (on TV, in the papers) that it was apparently a protest vote and not so much about the EU. I can only hope that the team put in place to negotiate our exit at least manage to secure all of the current benefits of membership that we enjoy - but I think I'm living in cloud cuckoo land.

I'm also appalled at students having to pay so much money for their education, thus starting their working lives in so much debt that they won't get it paid off until the age at which they should have finished paying off their mortgage - except they can't get one of those because the houses are all too expensive now.

I'm not sure the baby boomers are entirely to blame for this state of affairs - at least, not all of us - but definitely the gap between rich and poor has never been wider (at least in my lifetime) which I see as a step backwards. I'm afraid I largely blame a certain Tony Bliar for this, as everything I've read says that the gap widened most under his watch.

As for the NHS - anyone who believed that Brexit claim about £350m (gross) being diverted from the EU to the NHS was naive at best. I still see a picture of Gove sat in front of that poster in my mind's eye, and we all know he's spent the past 10 years trying to dismantle it. And this government is sneaking privatisation in by the back door...

I would remove all managers (who've done nothing but drain the NHS and make a pig's ear of it, while lining their own pockets) and put the system back in the care of the doctors and nurses. The best hospitals are run by Matrons, the best ward are run by Sisters, and that leaves the Doctors free to do their work.

Sorry, just my two penn'orth!

I do get annoyed at people who whinge about the older generation. I went back to college in 1986 when I was a single parent, I got a Grant for myself & DD which meant I could not claim benefit during the long summer break - I had to find work & struggle with childcare. I then became a Civil Servant until I took Early Retirement to care for my late Husband. I now live on Benefits as I am unable to work due to health problems.

I had many part-time jobs before I left school & worked until my daughter was born - I then worked part-time until my partner left leaving me with a 5 year old which is why I went back to college so that I could better support her. My late Husband worked from aged 15 until his retirement at 65.

I think we've paid our dues & earned the right to NHS & benefits including Pensions.

I voted Brexit as I thought we had a better future outside the EU - did anyone want to be governed totally by EU who had plans to take over our Taxation & National Insurance. The aim of the EU was to create a Federal European State.

I know not everyone will agree with me but that's your prerogative

Look it's upsetting what has happened I know and I voted to stay in for my daughter and my grandaughter more then me cause yes I won't be here anyway. But let it go for goodness sake what's happened has happened we may be better off anyway and the youth ones will have grow up and get on with they need a bit of a push anyway.

Assuming that it was the older people who were the only ones who voted Brexit is pointless supposition. I know younger people who also voted Brexit . It was the older people who gave the younger generation the Britain they have today. We have the right to vote as we chose without fear of reprisals. If you can't see what is happening in the EU the way the unelected hierarchy want to rule us I suggest you look further than the end of you nose .if you are thinking that by being intolerant and nasty is a good quality to take with you into the future I pity you

What a silly, ill informed post!

That's what's good about gransnet we all have different views that's not a bad thing is it

Anya - totally agree.

Oh dear - did you miss getting dropped off on the school run again!

Dear All young people - Nellie Moser and many others are expressing a balanced view. I'm a life long Labour Supporter and a Remained, so was the whole of my family. We see ourselves as European / British and don't belong to the "Little Englander" ideas of the past. Some of us recognise the values of the past that people once held, mutual respect, common decency and above all putting others needs before ourselves. But you blind ignorance and naiveté believes everything in the media and it seems you're only too willing to generalise us all as selfish and uncaring. Far from it! All I think about nowadays is the future of the young and following generations, hoping things will improve for your them. There are challenging times ahead for all of us, we should be working together for better futures instead of being divisive. The media has a place of responsibility too....quote the Telegraph last week "A widely reproduced table indicating how many years voters of different age demographics have left to ‘live with the decision’. ‘The wrinkly bastards stitched us young uns' up good and proper on Thursday’, wrote restaurant critic Giles Coren in The Times. ‘We should cut them off. Rewrite the franchise to start at 16 and end at 60 and do this thing all over again"
Yes, young adults’ lives will be shaped by the way in which things evolve over the next few years – just as they will be called upon to shape those events.

Well , ATYP ....I voted remain, as I live in France, so it is important to me .....and also for the next generation.

One question to you " do You not have parents/grandparents who receive NHS care, and a pension, and maybe other benefits .....will YOU EVER get off your whining backside and contribute to YOUR OWN health care, pension, housing, etc or will you expect the taxpayers of the previous generations to pay for everything you WANT (not need, WANT _ ...... and if so, then why should our taxes go to keep you in benefits,drink, drugs, all the high tech gadgets you need ?

Plently of care homes (those that are left !_ need workers on the minimum wage, and charities need volunteers ,,,,get off your lazy backside and help someone else .........

If this were a genuine post, and your parents/grandparents/could read it, I bet they would be delighted at what a caring person you will grow up to be ....

Can't stand cheeky kids

My husband was in the city this week and was told that all four of the post Brexit scenarios they were dealing with ended in economic growth. Looking at the financial news this morning the stock exchange is up 6% on where it was just before the referendum, many European, worldwide countries and the USA are clamouring to make trade deals with us and, finally, the weak pound is fuelling exports.

In contrast, the moribund Eurozone is continuing to tank. The IMF has predicted UK growth to slow from 1.7% to 1.3% for the next year but this still outdoes the predictions for our major European competitors: Germany, France and Italy.

This is not a narrative you will see on the BBC or in the Guardian.

Perhaps the Snowflake generation needs fewer emotions and more facts.

I find it unbeleivable that young people feel they can place all the blame on the older generation.
I am sure they would not stand up in public and say what they have said in the post as they would surely be verbally attacked.
This seems to be the problem with the younger generation, they all want everything their way, we live in a democratic country.
Our country was fine before we joined the EU and I am sure we will thrive outside the EU once again.
All young people get a life and stop placing all the blame on other people, young people are not always right.

This thread is hilarious!

It began with an obvious wind up and people have risen to the bait. If the OP was looking for material to write an article about stereotypical oldies and their attitudes to young people, he or she certainly has plenty to work on now.

Is this dude for real? or someone having us on. Surely this impudent, spoilt brat, cant be real, if so he needs to be sorted out,taught a lot of manners.
I am glad Im too old to worry about the likes of him getting to rule the Country.
Grow up you spolit child.

Young people's fault actually for not turning up. I was a granny remainer, and could accuse you, if you represent all young people, of causing me to be on the losing side.

Dear oh dear, mollycoddled from the cradle to the grave seems to be the expectations of this sad piece of humanity. We now have a percentage of young people who have lost the excitement of being risk takers. The wonderful expectations of a life where you are your own master, not ruled by faceless uncaring men in grey. Take responsibility for your own life for once not blaming anyone and anything for your future going wrong. It's all to live for for goodness sake. Get out into the real world and stop making a fool of yourself.

I voted to remain and so did all the 'baby boomers' I know. So don't blame one particular generation . Especially as we have no idea who you are. Remember, my generation was the most enlightened in history. Making it safe to be gay, giving women equal rights and doing away with apartheid , against war , more politically aware and more adventurous then you are so called young person.

Nannyanny. To paraphrase that -- get of your arse, and get a job !

off

My first reaction was to ignore such an ignorant post.
I voted to remain and the result would have been different had young people actually gone to a polling station and bothered to vote!
I certainly didn't vote to cut any of the things that I seem to be accused of!
OP seems to forget that we did without. As an adult I didn't have a TV or even a phone. We furnished our house with parents cast offs- nothing was new and nothing matched!
Now we are paying for our DCs to go to university, helping them with deposits, giving them rent free accommodation to save up for deposits, giving free childcare so they can work and at the same time we are looking after elderly parents.
I don't know who you are OP but you seem very entitled and bitter for someone who is young. Most people don't, and never have had, everything handed to them on a plate.

Anya with you all the way your comments really get to the crux of the matter.
I totally agree with you.
I thought this site was "Gransnet" ? In relation to that who or what is..........
AllYoungPeople........sounds like a baby throwing their toys out of the Pram to me.

??

And this thread reads like the transcript of the Grumpy Old Gits AGM. Seriously, grans are supposed to be wise and mature. It has to be a wind-up, so rise above it.

When's the walking sticks versus baby toys match?

Hello please can someone tell me what OP stands for.thanks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdlkunflRs