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A question for Brits, from someone in the US who knows nothing about your history or politics: do you have an analogue for the Baby Boomer phenomenon that we have in the states, with an aging population who "got theirs" and actively works to prevent the younger generations from receiving the same opportunities they had, with similar political leanings? It seems to me like you might not since you have the NHS and other social safety nets that give me the perception that as a whole, you care more about each other, but I'm guessing it's not that simple? I know I could just Wiki it and I will, but first I would like to hear some perspectives from people who actually live there.
The Baby Boomer phenomenon happened here too... Although class plays a large role here too. When they talk about a retirement age of 71 they are talking about the working class that are dependent on a state pension.
I think ideology plays a big role too. The Conservatives have been desperate to sell off the NHS for decades. You could argue that it has already happened. The reason for this is that, to some extent, they represent a predatory upper class.
They frequently sell off nationalised assets and cushion themselves with kickbacks, although the main purpose is to massage the perception of the economy. For example, in the 80s Thatcher brought in the "right to buy" which enabled occupants of social housing to buy their homes. Effectively privitising the safety net, which no longer exists.
A generation got to buy reasonably sound and cheap homes at the expense of the next.
Similarly the rail network was privitised, and the post office and the telecoms industry. Now we are surrounded by scandals, paying over the odds for essential utilities and getting worse service than ever before.
But a few wealthy folk got wealthier and had their tax cut, so it's not all bad.
It's basically the same yeah. Our parents bought their first homes for a fraction of what they go for now. Extortionate rent, mortgage payments (if you manage to get property), bills, transport etc keep the young poor unless you were born wealthy enough to get a big leg up and/or inherit.
I don’t think it’s even as simple in the states. This whole business of monolithic ‘generations’ with homogeneous economic prospects and political beliefs needs to be taken with a massive pinch of salt. It’s just another specious example of divisive tribalism that seems to infect so much of public discourse.
Not a Brit, just living in the UK, but yes, we have Boomers. The safety nets are not that good and steadily declining, but not everyone of Boomer age is ok with that.