Are the young suffering for the old?

[Polak]

I am not making a statement here, rather asking a question, so don’t shoot the OP.

It does however seem this theory comes up quite often every once in a while, that the younger generation are having to ‘take hits’ for the poor.

In the UK it was Brexit, that the older generation voted for something the majority of the younger generation did not want, and would have to live with.

Now we have this pandemic and some could might again be thinking, that this is generally something that affects the elderly, so the shutting down of the economy is essentially being done to protect them for the most part, but doing so will ruin the lives of many younger people, cause a recession and even potentially cause another ‘great depression’ style of life for years to come.

Would you say that is a justifiable argument, or a very unfair way of looking at it?

 

[Lou2U]

I think it’s very unfair. The lives of the old are not worth any less of the young. The elderly deserve to have their lives valued and protected, just as the young do, and just as the young will want, when they become old themselves.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s not “ruining the lives” of young people that they have a 2-month interruption from school or going to the beach. They’re not marching off to be killed in some war.

Furthermore, there are quite a few people in their 20s and 30s who have been very sick from this and may have some ongoing health issues as a result, even if they didn’t die. It’s a myth that nobody under age 40 or 50 becomes ill. In my area, the group who tests the most positive is age 50-59, the next largest group is age 20-29. Up until relatively recently you had to be sick and have a doctor’s referral for a test, so these weren’t folks just blithely going about their business with no symptoms. They were sick enough to need medical care.

 

[Beryllos]

but doing so will ruin the lives of many younger people

I imagine that the lives of young people would have been more severely impacted is we had let the pandemic freely run its course.

a very unfair way of looking at it?

Not unfair, but self-centered, which I think is the trend. The human race prospers when we help each other, and suffers when individuals put their own interests first.

Good questions!

 

[Ralph]

Honor your mother and father. Any other questions? Oh, and we protect the unborn but not the elderly? Why even the question?

 

[Polak]

Why even the question?

Because I have seen this sentiment from a lot of people so I brought it up. It’s basically a view that the older generation, who are now the elderly (I’m talking people born in the late 40s and 50s particularly) had it easier than young people do now, at least from a financial perspective. For instance they could buy a house quite easily, while young people now find it almost impossible to do unless they are very well off. They could walk into a job easily, while now it seems much tougher for a job and there is much more competition for even basic jobs. I remember seeing a video interviewing people from the 50s and 60s talking about how many of the non skilled jobs back then could actually provide people with good lifestyles. Those same jobs wouldn’t be able to offer that now.

I think some of the younger generation now feel like they too would like to have similar benefits. I also think many of them are unfairly being labelled as self-entitled or thinking they are owed things for doing nothing. While some might be, I think many are also very hard working. I encounter this frustration from people I know. They feel they are being forced to stay inside, forced to go out of business, forced to lose their jobs etc. when they are perfectly healthy, able bodied and ready to work, but as I say, they feel forced into this because of old people (I know not just old people die but in most countries the highest deaths are among older people) who they must protect and they feel those old people have already had great lives and now they are having to sacrifice their life for them.

Of course I don’t think that view is in line with our Catholic beliefs. We should do what we can to take care of people, old or young, just as we shouldn’t be performing euthanasia on old people just because at their age they are less ‘productive’ society. I do however understand the frustration sometimes, even if I feel it is misguided.

 

[Ralph]

Old people have had great lives? Who are you listening to? My wife and I both worked quite hard to provide for our children. We didn’t drive a FourRunner we drove used cars and held them together best we could. We didn’t buy a $200,00. Starter home. We rented a duplex. We didn’t go to proms in a limo. Our parents drove us. I’m sorry cry me a river. Having said all that we owe it to anyone who needs help to provide it if we have the means to do so. This country, I feel, is soft and spoiled materiality and becoming weaker Spiritually in the process.

 

[anchorhold]

Thank you and your last sentences are so true. Any “pity party” talk is coming from the young not us old ones. covid and the needful regulations are not the end of the world for healthy young folk who are capable of picking up the pieces, facing a challenge and starting over. Time to show some grit and gumption

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s basically a view that the older generation, who are now the elderly (I’m talking people born in the late 40s and 50s particularly) had it easier than young people do now, at least from a financial perspective

Back in the 80s and early 90s, young people said the same thing about people born in the 20s and 30s. I said such a thing to my mother once (Born in the 20s) and she laughed for an inordinately long period of time.

Also, for every person born in the 40s and 50s who is doing well, I can show you one, possibly two, who has health problems, little or no insurance, and is lucky if they can find some hourly wage job to keep their basic bills paid.

Young people are often self-centered and often think they have it the worst of any generation ever because they’re having to grapple with the fact that life is difficult. I know this because I was one of those “young people” once and they haven’t changed.

 

[Polak]

I’m sorry cry me a river.

Any “pity party” talk is coming from the young not us old ones.

You’ve proving my point when I say old people often look down at the younger generation with contempt, believing they are a bunch of spoiled self entitled brats.

Young people are often self-centered and often think they have it the worst of any generation ever because they’re having to grapple with the fact that life is difficult. I know this because I was one of those “young people” once and they haven’t changed.

Fair point.

 

[anchorhold]

Please do not put words and opinions I have not stated in my mouth! It gives a totally weak argument!

I do not hold anyone in contempt., Nor do I call anyone the names you attribute to me. Saying they are living a pity party is not to hold them in contempt. It is a sad fact is all. We all have to get on with this situation as it is. Complaining is no use. Better to look around and see who needs help. Far easier to adapt downsize at a young age. I am nearly 80 and I have had a tough time healthwise etc but just have adapted and got on with life whatever it threw at me. That is what young folk now need to do

 

[Sarcelle]

Because I have seen this sentiment from a lot of people so I brought it up. It’s basically a view that the older generation, who are now the elderly (I’m talking people born in the late 40s and 50s particularly) had it easier than young people do now, at least from a financial perspective.

#killallboomers?

It’s a kind of lazy generalization to characterize all boomers as having had it all easy.

Try being born African American in the Jim Crow South in the late 40s and 50s. Economic opportunities weren’t just handed to all baby boomers. Life was hard back then and life is still hard now.

For the record, I’m not a boomer.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Yes, the young are suffering. They’re scared and don’t know what the future holds.
Yes, the senior citizens are suffering. A lot of them are lonely and isolated.
And those of us in-between feel like it’s on us to monitor our parents and kiddos emotional state.

All true.

But isn’t fighting amongst ourselves kinda the worst thing we could start doing?

 

[Polak]

I do not hold anyone in contempt., Nor do I call anyone the names you attribute to me. Saying they are living a pity party is not to hold them in contempt. It is a sad fact is all.

No it isn’t a sad fact. Do you have some source to back up this supposed ‘fact’.

 

[libbeylu]

No…No…for if it weren’t for the old, the young would not be here…enough said!

 

[Polak]

Well that could be understood in many different ways.

What exactly do you mean by that?

 

[libbeylu]

Well…the old have made many, many contributions to this earth…way beyond the young…and we must all remember…Every human being is a very precious gift from God, no matter what their age!