‘The worst generation’

Our gift to future generations is the shaft.

Wince. That’s only one indictment Dennis Byrne makes in his scathing review of what Boomers have wrought. Some future author several decades from now, says Byrne, 

will brand them as perhaps the most selfish generation in American history. That author would accurately nail them for their greedy, miserable selves because he and hundreds of millions of others will be living in the cesspool of debt that they leave behind.

Every time you take a breath, President Barack Obama (he’s on television more frequently than the weather forecast) is pushing through another costly program, rescue, bailout, giveaway — whatever you want to call it — that we can’t afford to pay for ourselves. So, in a magical example of time travel, he — we, I should say — will deliver the bill to the future, with nary a thought of how the future will pay for it.

No need here for a tedious recounting of the huge, impossible debt that we’re passing off; it has been outlined enough, but the figures seem to scare few. Our official national debt, the one you hear occasionally debated in Congress, is a sliver under $12 trillion. Sounds like a lot? Then get this: Our true national debt, when you include every cent of benefits promised to seniors, Baby Boomers and other entitled beneficiaries, amounts to nearly $62 trillion, according to the Northbrook [Illinois]-based Institute for Truth in Accounting. That’s $202,000 for every man, woman and child in America.

No excuses, either.

We could talk about how paying the interest on the national debt we now have is one of the largest items in the federal budget, already draining billions from all those education, welfare and other programs so dear to the progressive agenda. But future interest payments will gobble up so many of our resources that we won’t be able to afford new cars, homes and the rest of the consumer cravings that fuel our economy. Our economy will be in shambles

The truth hurts, and Boomers have avoided it most of their lives. With reckless disregard.

Truth is, we’ve become so frightened of bad things happening to us that we’ll do anything, no matter how reckless, to avoid just the perception of risk. Our fear of discomfort or sacrifice is contemptible beyond description.

The Greatest Generation gave their lives so that we might enjoy our liberties and prosperity. We show our appreciation by imprisoning future Americans in a dungeon of debt from which they may never recover.

We’ve heard for the past year or so that it’s time to re-make America. How about using the mold set by the Founders?