Similar discussion to one here a few weeks ago. As a BB I'm happy to acknowledge the good fortune of my life especially in a country as blessed as Australia. But, while we BBs are often branded as the 'counter-culture generation' for things that occurred in the 60s & 70s, that was always an exaggeration, as most of us have always been hard working and quite materialistic and quite keen on success in our careers. Unless one holds that materialism and careerism are unethical, there is nothing to apologise for.

Whatever characteristics can be ascribed to subsequent generations now, it can be assured that these will be judged differently in 20 years time. In their 50s and 60s, will they be so different than we are now?

I am 55 and in a management position that I worked hard and studied hard to achieve. I help and develop younger staff around me so that they will be better prepared when their time for promotion comes. If they are waiting for me to move aside and let them drive now though, they have another think coming! I still have plenty of energy and experience to contribute, as do many of my generation.

Trish Bolton wrote “Wouldn’t you know it - the generation that hoped they’d die before they grew old are still hogging the limelight at 60.”

So what. If you had something of relevance to contribute, the “limelight” might fall on you.

“The lucky generation had access to jobs, permanent ones, with sick leave and holiday pay thrown in”

Green Eyed Envy is not an endearing quality

“There’s less opportunity to study politics and philosophy” – there is plenty of opportunity, for those who know how to manage their time.

“Move over Baby Boomers, it’s time to let someone else drive the car.”

If you want to drive, I suggest – you buy your own car, instead of expecting a collection of baby boomer benefactors to pick up the tab.

This illustrates the difference between Trish and say, my daughter.

Without asking for assistance, my daughter recently decided to spend a lot of money on a new(ish) Mini-Cooper S. She decided she wanted it and as she has her house in order (which she bought 4 years ago, ie small mortgage) and had been promoted at work (which she found through her own efforts) so, at the ripe age of 25 she decides to indulge herself in what she wants (she does not ride her Kowasaki so much these days) without demanding her baby boomer Dad “move over” or suggest I was in any way blessed with more “luck” than she.

Her philosophy – very much like mine
Her politics – her choice but very much like mine

As for "Limelight" - she radiates personality when she enters a room, she is a "limelight magnet".

I guess poor, pitiful, unlucky Trishee Pooh missed out there too.

Then again, comparing to the photo, my daughter is blonde and they do say, blondes have more fun.

So, maybe a bottle of peroxide is all you need Trish.

I don't think it is fair to blame economic rationalism introduced by the Reagan and Thatcher years on the baby boomers. There are more factors in the mix than just generations. Conservative agendas on an international level and were really a throw back to the Eisenhower days of the early 20th century republicanism, and neo-Darwinism. There was of course Mac Carthyism in the meantime, which conveyed a retro-agenda.

In a way, the dream of the baby boomers was sabotaged by their previous generation who were over zealous in the fear of the "reds-under-the-bed" and the "domino theory" and other propaganda.

Then economic rationist: Milton Freedman, a selfish New Yorker with a heart of ice, came along. Satan then inherited the planet. No more dreams of peace, love and a welfare state. The suckers bought his rubbish "hook line and sinker", even when the application of his theories ended in disaster. No more talk of creativity. No more dreams of making things better with long term planning. No. These were "communist ideas", therefore must be destroyed at all costs. This gave birth to John Howard and Malcolm Frazer after the Whitlam sacking. It was nasty. Sir John Kerr was not a baby boomer. The baby boomers introduced the Whitlamesqe dream, yet their older generation sabotaged it.

The baby boomers' dream, possibly seen in Nimbin, Byron bay, and via Dr Jim Cairns, was actually more selfless than generation Y or X, put together. I don't know which generation I'm in. I'm in a sandwich somewhere.

Don't push the baby boomer off the driver's seat due to unfair prejudice. Invite them on the bus or train. That is, afterall, better for the environment. Lets not get all ageist about this. To assume a 'driver's position' in itself, is a selfish aspiration. The article contradicts itself. There are too many flawed generalisations here.

Trish - just exactly what are you going to do when you get old??
I presume you are aware that is happening to you too!
When you cant walk properly anymore, and there's no public transport near you (as is often the case in this large country!), and some clown says you cant have a licence anymore, how do you propose to get to the Elderly Citizens club - the Doctors - The supermarket - etc??
Please explain?

What total rot. I was born in early 1953 when we still had to suffer from the consequences of WW11 when so many were killed and so much poverty prevailed. Most women still couldn't go to university unless they were rich, almost no-one my age went to university at all, Bob Menzies was the entrenched PM and it was bloody stifling.

We had to suffer decades of the paranoic cold war, the Vietnam war, the mental bashing and abuse for daring to oppose it, the first Iraq invasion, the invasion of Afghanistan, the second in Iraq, East Timor, Solomons and so on.

WE have had a lifetime of Israel/Palestine and hatred fed by the ugly old cold war warriors.

Look at the protests today and who do you see. The young people? Not a fat chance in hell - it is the maligned and hated baby boomers keeping the flags of decency flying in Australia when we want decent work laws, don't want to lock up refugees, don't want the bloody wars and want Aborigines to be treated with respect and decency.

The old folk are reliving the white Australia policy thanks to John Howard and the young just don't give a stuff.

Give me a break.

Marilyn Shepherd and Shell say it all for me, too, but why does this myth endure that any one generation is different from the next? Humans don't change! The conditions do, throughout time from Rome to Washington. If later generations want someone to blame then look closer, they're bleating just like we did! Concentrate on the real villains, the greedy, psychotic power structure that lurks under all this smoke, hiding in plane view. 'People learn from history' - another myth, sadly.