# Boomers are gonna start dropping like flies **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 20, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670 "2009-02-20T03:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/61 "2009-02-21T04:25:26Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I don’t see how it’s a far cry at all. Would you care to explain? Sure. Gringo, for one, while mostly innocuous in the Spanish-speaking world, is almost always used by Americans to put racism into the mouths of hispanics. And while you said "may not care . . . " the tone of your post was that they won’t care. You don’t know that. > [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > My apologies for upsetting you by bringing the ugly reality of ethnic and racial politics to your attention. Do you seriously believe that Hispanics won’t practice racial and ethnic politics? Sadly, after being pushed by divisive people like you, I do expect them to push back (though I don’t think it’s inevitable.) It’s really too bad, and unnecessary, but will probably be a reality for the next couple generations as they try to find their place in a country that largely hates and fears them because of the color of their skin and the language they speak. Most Americans just cannot grasp the concept that Mexicans aren’t nearly as racist as we are in most respects. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/62 "2009-02-21T14:27:09Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I am sorry to hear about your grandmother. You have my sympathy. Thank you. It was a blessing - lung cancer is a painful way to go - and she spent her life playing the martyr and making her family dance around her - she didn’t have it in her to make her last months as pleasant for everyone else as they could be. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/63 "2009-02-21T15:14:27Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Spoken like a true boomer, contempt for your parents and contempt for your children. 😃 That made my day! 😃 Yes, I am a nasty crabby bitter annoying Gen-Xer. But I know truth when I see it. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/64 "2009-02-21T16:28:07Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Yeah, unfortunately that’s an inversion of how civilization is supposed to work. The old are supposed to bequeath wealth to the young, not the other way around. But of course Baby Boomers aren’t called the “Me” generation for nothing. Who cares if there’s enough for hte kids and grandkids right? As long as there’s enough for ME!!! Exactly. So long as there is enough for me, I don’t care at all if there is enough for you. And I’m not even a boomer; I’m older than the boomer generation. And, I planned to continue working until I became 75; unfortunately I was rear-ended by a much younger guy and had to have spinal surgery as a direct result. Now, I am deemed to be disabled and can’t work. So, stay healthy, work hard, and continue paying into SS so I can be well fed and comfortable for the rest of my ever shortening life. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/65 "2009-02-21T23:27:04Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Given the absurd assortment of meds, i dount it will be much good. I am an organ doner, and I am willing my corpse to whatever agency wants it. At least some anatomy students can have a good laugh:p > > I have corneal scarring, so I doubt they will want them. I have very nice skin, so I would be good for grafts, assorted bits of bone to sterilize and use as structure, my kidneys are shot, my lungs are shot [something about lungs and phosgene not getting along …] my heart is pretty good now … assorted blood vessels are ok … > > Im sure that parts of me will get used. You are a yoot. I am old. 65. I have a friend who’s wife recently died. They determined she was too old for a transplant so she got dialysis 3 times a week for 12 years. With an occasional hospital stay for complications, she went through 3 million dollars of health care. Ponder that. She led a miserable existence . ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/66 "2009-02-22T03:08:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > You know, I’ve never really seen a fly drop. Anybody see a fly just drop, mid-flight or something? Enter a room with a bunch of pesky flies buzzing around. Grab a can of Raid and fog away. Watch those buggers drop like… Well, flies 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/67 "2009-02-23T15:28:42Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Sure. Gringo, for one, while mostly innocuous in the Spanish-speaking world, is almost always used by Americans to put racism into the mouths of hispanics … . And blah blah blah. All you’re doing is shouting “Racism!” Get back to me when you have an actual point. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/68 "2009-02-23T15:36:25Z")
> [@D-bear](#): > > Enter a room with a bunch of pesky flies buzzing around. Grab a can of Raid and fog away. Watch those buggers drop like… Well, flies 😃 If you’re outside and nowhere near a populated area or other people, a 12-gauge shotgun works too. 😃 I will say that one of the good things about Compulsory Voting is that it means Old People can’t “Outvote” younger generations- _Everyone_ has to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/69 "2009-02-23T15:44:18Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > And blah blah blah. All you’re doing is shouting “Racism!” Get back to me when you have an actual point. :rolleyes: You asked me to explain. Don’t cry because the explanation doesn’t leave you smelling like a rose. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/70 "2009-02-23T16:59:21Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Given the absurd assortment of meds, i dount it will be much good. I am an organ doner, and I am willing my corpse to whatever agency wants it. At least some anatomy students can have a good laugh:p > > I have corneal scarring, so I doubt they will want them. I have very nice skin, so I would be good for grafts, assorted bits of bone to sterilize and use as structure, my kidneys are shot, my lungs are shot [something about lungs and phosgene not getting along …] my heart is pretty good now … assorted blood vessels are ok … > > Im sure that parts of me will get used. That’s why I love you Aru, it’s that sort of practicality that makes you a Logistics Queen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/71 "2009-02-23T19:44:23Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > …My apologies for upsetting you by bringing the ugly reality of ethnic and racial politics to your attention. Do you seriously believe that Hispanics won’t practice racial and ethnic politics? And do you seriously believe that won’t have an effect on boomers like you and me? Your assumption that the demographics will always be entirely on the side of the boomers seems rather shaky to me. Here in Houston, we’ve got Hispanics of all ages. Not just young ones. Where do you live? ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/72 "2009-02-23T20:57:46Z")
As a general rule, us boomers will not last into our 90s. Our parents’ generation just had to stay alive through WW2 and Korea and they had it made. They simply had to minimally satisfy a large corporation’s or governmental division’s requirements to enjoy a good salary for life followed by a generous pension. The economy was still good enough when we boomers came of age that when we moved out it was for good. And their parents, the ones who REALLY bore the brunt of the Depression, died in their 60s or early 70s. No constant fights over hanging up the car keys and/or “Why did you take me out of my home. It was just a LITTLE kitchen fire.” Most boomers are living with the double whammy of constant fights with senile parent(s) and The Nest That Won’t Empty full of adult kids who don’t make enough money to maintain today’s rents and utilities. The latter is partially our fault. We grew up in mega families that all shared one bathroom and the only way to get one’s own room was to be the only boy in a houseful of girls or the only girl in a houseful of boys. So when we had kids, we had 3 at the very most and spoiled them with plenty of privacy and material goodies. Hell, if all I had to do when between jobs or between marriages/relationships was move into Hotel Mom and Dad instead of a slumlord special, I’d have done it at several different points in my life. Add to this the effect of the global economy that allows people to get to almost early-retirement age before jerking the rug out and putting us back on the job market at 45-50 to face barely-past-zygote personnel people who are convinced that we’re all over-privileged and lazy. Many of us are making less than we did 10 years ago. I make just what I did back then, but only because I work 1 1/2 jobs. People who got early retirement buyouts a few years back have seen them evaporate in the stock market. A lot of us will work til our first massive coronary and die 2-3 years after that. You GenX people need to watch the politicians very closely. They have been overcollecting Social Security for years–justifying this asset grab with the specious argument that the boomers will live forever. When we start dropping like flies, demand a payroll tax cut. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/73 "2009-02-23T21:00:03Z")
**zenith** Wow what a stereotype. I moved out of my parents house when I was 18 and have lived with them a total of 1 month since then. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/74 "2009-02-23T21:32:23Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > And while you said "may not care . . . " the tone of your post was that they won’t care. So while he plainly said one thing, you _knew_ what he was really thinking and so you attacked him for that, eh? Hmmm. Can you guess what I’m thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/75 "2009-02-23T21:48:02Z")
> [@furt](#): > > So while he plainly said one thing, you _knew_ what he was really thinking and so you attacked him for that, eh? > > Hmmm. Can you guess what I’m thinking? :rolleyes: Pray tell, what did he “plainly” say? If the tone of his post was anything less than completely obviously implying that hispanics aren’t going to want to take care of a bunch of old “gringos” to you, then I’m afraid I’m not going to enjoy discussing this with you, and probably won’t spend much time or effort doing so. Edit: and in fact he confirmed what he meant in subsequent posts, which makes your post that much more baffling. Post with a little more coherence next time. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/76 "2009-02-23T21:56:45Z")
> **[Boomsday: Buckley, Christopher: 9780446697972: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Boomsday-Christopher-Buckley/dp/0446697974)** > > Boomsday \[Buckley, Christopher\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Boomsday Boomsday (Paperback) by Christopher Buckley (Author) “Incensed by the financial burden soon to be placed on her age bracket by baby boomers approaching retirement, she proposes on her blog that boomers be encouraged to commit suicide.” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/77 "2009-02-24T02:02:13Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > That’s why I love you Aru, it’s that sort of practicality that makes you a Logistics Queen. 😉 awwww /me has the warm fuzzies.. now go back out, we need trit. /me cracks the whip ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/78 "2009-02-24T11:10:54Z")
> [@](#): > > **mswas** : But of course Baby Boomers aren’t called the “Me” generation for nothing. Then many forget that many Boomers served in Vietnam, joined Volunteers In Service To America and the Peace Corps. They Volunteered at Drug Counselling Centers and in schools. The became activists for civil rights. They advocated for the poor. It really is unfair to think of them as being only self-indulgent. > [@](#): > > **Cisco** : Sadly, after being pushed by divisive people like you, I do expect them to push back (though I don’t think it’s inevitable.) It’s really too bad, and unnecessary, but will probably be a reality for the next couple generations as they try to find their place in a country that largely hates and fears them because of the color of their skin and the language they speak. Nashville has become one of the main centers for Hispanic immigration. It has been for several years. Nashville voted 2:1 _against_ an “English only” referendum that would have affected many aspects of our lives, but especially our schools. We welcome HIspanics here! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/79 "2009-02-24T15:25:03Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Nashville has become one of the main centers for Hispanic immigration. It has been for several years. Nashville voted 2:1 _against_ an “English only” referendum that would have affected many aspects of our lives, but especially our schools. We welcome HIspanics here! Good for you guys. I wish my area was so accepting. ---
**Author:** ![Bolt\_the\_Nut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bolt\_the\_Nut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bolt_the_Nut)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670/80 "2009-02-25T06:58:50Z")
For those who are interested, the retirement age has been increasing (at least according to the Social Security Administration’s definition): [http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/retirechart.htm](http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/retirechart.htm) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670.md?page=3)