The U.S. is a divided nation. Our politics are highly partisan, our religious differences are hotly debated, our wealth is an issue of immense concern, and the battle between Team Edward and Team Jacob shows no sign of slowing down. But, as a New York Times article astutely points out, we have another dividing line that gets little recognition. That would be the generation gap.
Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, younger and older adults voted in largely similar ways, with a majority of each supporting the winner in every presidential election. Sometime around 2004, though, older voters began moving right, while younger voters shifted left. This year, polls suggest that Mitt Romney will win a landslide among the over-65 crowd and that President Obama will do likewise among those under 40.
The wealth gap between households headed by someone over 65 and those headed by someone under 35 is wider than at any point since the Federal Reserve Board began keeping consistent data in 1989. The gap in homeownership is the largest since Census Bureau data began in 1982. The income gap is also at a recorded high; median inflation-adjusted income for households headed by people between 25 and 34 has dropped 11 percent in the last decade while remaining essentially unchanged for the 55-to-64 age group.
I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, senior citizens are without a doubt the most selfish age group in this country. They always vote for the candidate that promises them immediate gratification, often to the detriment of our country's future. On the other hand, if I was going to die in ten years, I wouldn't give a shit about the future either. Furthermore, I've been working my ass off for the past twenty years, and I plan on working my ass off for the next 30 years. If I can't sit back and relax at age 65, I'm going to be pissed. What's the point of working hard now if you can't enjoy your life later on? So in conclusion, the older generation is selfish. Selfish like a fox.
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