Natasha Cica’s article about “selfish baby boomers” has finally made me snap.

Despite her protestations, this is another shot fired in the generation war that encourages one group in society to abuse another. This disgraceful crusade is all the more distasteful because the generation that the “X-ers” are attacking is their parents’ – a generation whose biggest failure seems to have been to bring up a generation of whingers.

Dr Cica, who has the attractive position of visiting fellow at a university (I should be so lucky), thinks Baby Boomers are “selfishly” taking up all the jobs that her generation would like. Well, I'll happily retire – as soon as I've paid off my modest home and saved enough for my self-funded retirement. I think that’s what most of my cohort are doing. In the mean time, like the thirty-somethings, we work because that’s how we support ourselves and make some contribution to society. Selfish? Can't see how!

But I’m one of the lucky ones. My work is interesting. Thirty-somethings don’t have a monopoly on McJobs. Baby Boomers work in every area and level of employment – those lucky enough to be employed. Those middle-aged down and outs on the streets are also Baby Boomers. So are the Vietnam vets suffering from post-traumatic stress. So are the heads of charities and service organisations.

Frankly, I can’t think of anything more selfish than insisting that one group of workers give up their jobs so that your bunch can get ahead, or that the needs of your group are more important than those of others. I truly sympathise with younger people trying to make a career today, especially in the crumbling tertiary education sector, but I have to say that their expectations are far, far higher than ours ever were.

I hate this fake generation war, which divides society into warring tribes and vilifies people for something they can’t help – their age. It’s against the best values of our society: respect and opportunity for all, regardless of race, colour or creed – or age.