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In Obama, many see an end to the baby boomer era
When George W. Bush lifts off in his helicopter on Inauguration Day, leaving Washington to make way for Barack Obama, he may not be the only thing disappearing into the horizon.
To a number of social analysts, historians, bloggers and ordinary Americans, Jan. 20 will symbolize the passing of an entire generation: the baby boomer years.
“Obama is one of those people who was raised post-Vietnam and really came of age in the ‘80s,” says Steven Cohen, professor of public administration at Columbia University. “It’s a huge generational change, and a new kind of politics. He’s trying to be a problem-solver by not getting wrapped up in the right-left ideology underlying them.”
It’s been a while since historians spoke of generational change in Washington. Fully 16 years have passed since Bill Clinton, the first boomer president, took office. Before that, presidents from John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush — seven straight — were part of the World War II generation, or what Tom Brokaw has termed the “Greatest Generation.”
Obama is “a walking, living prime example of Generation Jones. He’s a classic practical idealist. It’s not the naive idealism of the ‘60s.,” says social commentator Jonathan Pontell.
Now all he has to do is woo the Boomers in Congress. Generation Jones?
#14 Mr. Fusion I think the line comes from the birth statistics. An argument can be made that the number of people of the same age (big numbers between 1945 and 1964) and the age difference between boomers and their parents (the WW2 generation) created alot of similar behavior traits. There’ a long list, some good, some bad. But the similarities are there.
#21 – Yes, “boomers” really came from parents who where young adults during WW2. Technically, it is when you are born though.
We are not quite boomers and the X’ers think we are old already
To young to have protests much over civil rights or the Vietnam war, unless you had a very PC Jr High. Our older sibs and parents made Elvis and the Beatles what they were.
for us
Zeppelin in a great band not an air ship from WWII, The Clash and Bob Marley filled the cassette tapes in our Walkman don’t confuse us with that 8-track generation or the kids that loaded up on those Hair bands.
Three Mile Island and Chernobyl still give us cause for concern about nukes.
We agree Reagan was a minor deity, but for evil of good we are divided on that. …(evil)
Seems like John Paul II was pope almost forever.
We started buying our own gas during the last major oil crisis
We’ve always liked Japanese products the Boomers use to laugh at them. The X’ers don’t care where things were built just what they are.
We missed out on Free Love but that might be for the best.
Being openly gay is no big deal but Boy George is just silly.
We thought if Egypt and Israel could learn to get along there was hope for the Middle East(Carter tried so hard)
Jaws, Star Wars and The Rocky Horror Picture Show got lots of our summer money.
The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family told us what family were supposed to be like in Hollywood, not the The Cosby Show and
Family Ties or Leave it to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet.
We don’t have religious convections, pseudo patriotism or materialism of the X’ers(sorry) Nor can we take credit for beating back the cultural conservative norms of the 50s the boomers did that(thanks)
Yup we don’t quite fit in and now we will be running this place I couldn’t be happier. Wish us well its for your own good.
It’s an end to baby boomers alright. What has George Bush done that they’re not going to get when they are ready to retire, and what is the economy going to be like when they do.