Penna Dexter

Like it or not, it’s a Boomer world. The huge and influential baby boom generation is still the most powerful presence in American society.

Members of the Boomer generation were born between 1946 and 1964. That puts President Trump — born in ‘46 — at the generation’s leading edge.

As part of a recent symposium on Boomers, cultural commentator Aaron Renn contributed an essay: “The Boomers’ World.” He says Boomers “empowered the craziest of politics, but have also been the political ballast holding back that crazy.”

Boomers are not a monolith. Many of us work against damaging phenomena like the green transition, DEI, and the LGBT agenda that were ultimately enacted on our watch.

Boomers are often criticized for not stepping aside in a timely manner, for not making room for succeeding generations in neighborhoods, organizations, politics, and corporations.

Mr. Renn lists some Boomer stereotypes:

One, he says, is “their refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of anyone’s views but their own.…..To them, their own perspectives are simply the obvious truth.” He continues, “They don’t think anyone else could possibly be as good at leading as they are.”

Another rap on Boomers is “they’re selfish.” They’re leaving succeeding generations with a $37 trillion national debt, which, Mr. Renn argues, “will be a millstone for their successors.”

Boomers have allowed mass immigration. Aaron Renn points out that “When the Boomers entered their 20’s around 1970, America was at its lowest foreign-born population share ever. Yet they created a world in which their own children will be racial minorities.

Theologian R. R. Reno writes that early on, “Boomers cultivated a spirit of rebellion” against the establishment.

Ironically, Boomers’ now look at the recent elections and worry that younger generations are driving us too far left.

OK, fellow believing Boomers. We’ve done some damage. Since our generation still sets the cultural tone, we should use our influence to undo some of it.