Forty-Something
By: K. Michael November 26, 2009 -May of 1945 not only marked the end of World War II, but also was the last generation who enjoyed the American Dream, in the sense of a country united, working towards the same common goals while sharing actual values. Before we go any further, it should be pointed out that the United States still had a few issues that needed to be resolved, such as equal rights. However, the young men and women of 1945 truly enjoyed the best as they started their families.
The mid 60’s brought us the Korean and Vietnam Wars that truly seemed to be the beginning of the end in reference to unity, values and common interest. The 60’s brought us a counterculture of drugs, deifying authority, free love and “Turn on, tune out, drop out” as many of the youth challenged conventional wisdom and values as the “all about me” generation was born. It wasn’t until the youth of the 60’s became the leaders of the free world did we see things fall as the United States gave away technology, exported jobs, imported goods, religion, values and accountability went out the window as people like Dr. Spock told us how to raise our children with the government overstepping its bounds into our households while the Social Security system went bankrupt.
Now, leaving the forty-something generation dealing with the lack of jobs, we have become a service orientated country selling imported products, contending with unruly and disrespectful youth and pay into a Social Security fund that keeps moving the age of eligibility further away as the middle class is eliminated and the leaders of the 60’s enjoy their Social Security benefits and pension checks while working part-time in the limited job market as the average life expediency increases with the help of Medicare.
With any luck, the Forty-something generation will be known in history as the generation that put America back on track as they pay into a Social Security fund they more than likely will never see, in addition, supporting Medicare while attempting to put their kids through college in an economy where Wall Street, Main Street and Washington politicians are galaxy’s apart.
