Hey, it was their idea -- I'm not kidding. Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson begins his column with a discussion of the presumably humorous suggestion that baby boomers be paid to kill themselves. The column gives the standard baby boomers breaking the bank generational warfare story that appears so frequently in the pages of the Post.
Regular readers of BTP know that the generational story is not really any big deal. Our children and grand children will on average enjoy much higher standards of living than we did. The real threats to their living standards are the growing inequality that could leave most of them worse off, a dysfunctional health care system that is responsible for the huge projected deficits that so bother the Post, and of course global warming. But, addressing these problems would require attacking powerful interest groups, so the Washington Post would rather publish columns telling baby boomers to kill themselves.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. For over 30 years, The American Prospect has delivered independent reporting that exposes corporate power, investigates political corruption, and analyzes threats to our democracy. Unlike many media outlets, we’re not owned by billionaires or corporations—we’re powered by readers like you.
Today’s independent journalism faces unprecedented challenges. Your support makes our reporting possible and keeps our work free and accessible to all. Whether it’s $5 or $50, every contribution helps sustain our nonprofit newsroom.
Join our community of supporters and make a donation today to help keep independent journalism thriving.
Copyright 2025 | The American Prospect, Inc. | All Rights Reserved