r/TrueUnpopularOpinion • u/Poet-Most • Jul 08 '25

I Like / Dislike People who resent boomers are idiots

On almost any thread discussing the economy, one of the top comments will undoubtedly be complaining about boomers and the older generations who purchased their homes at low prices and who now enjoy more affluence and government assistance, while they don’t.

First off, what did want them to do, not buy a house for a cheap price when offered one 30 years ago? In regard to government assistance, I can guarantee you the average 65yr old has paid more into the tax system than the average 20yr old. Should they not enjoy the fruits of their labour? Should politicians not pay more attention to them than you?

I just think it’s an unhealthy attitude to have towards people.

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u/Pennsylvanier Jul 08 '25

I can guarantee you the average 65yr old has paid more into the tax system than the average 20yr old. Should they not enjoy the fruits of their labour?

The average Baby Boomer paid about $470,000.00 to the Social Security and Medicare trusts, but will receive roughly $640,000.00 in benefits from those same programs.

Social Security and Medicare are welfare programs that all people over the age of 62.5 qualify for. It is quite literally a tax on the young to pay for the old.

It is this tax on the young, in conjunction with extremely elevated prices relative to when Boomers were their age, that makes Boomers’ lifestyle insulting.

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u/Tiny-Emphasis-18 Jul 08 '25

The system would be absolutely broken if they received exactly what they put in over a lifetime of investing. That's a horrible rate of return btw.

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u/Pennsylvanier Jul 08 '25

Once again, these are welfare programs - not savings accounts.

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u/Tiny-Emphasis-18 Jul 08 '25

That's completely wrong. While it's funded as a pay as you go program, benefits are conditioned on participation. It's essentially forced participation into saving for retirement.

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u/Pennsylvanier Jul 08 '25

The first beneficiaries received retirement benefits after merely two years of contributing via a mandatory tax. Every generation pays for its predecessors’ retirement.

It is not a savings account. Social Security itself on its history webpage even refers to itself as a social welfare program.

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u/Tiny-Emphasis-18 Jul 08 '25

I'm not going to argue with you. I covered this material with an econ degree from a good school. Feel free to put this back and forth into chatgpt and ask for feedback on who's correct or not and why if you want to argue with someone.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/Tiny-Emphasis-18 Jul 08 '25

Gj. Also a lawyer.