The Aftermath: The Last Days Of The Baby Boom And The Future Of Power In America, Bump - B

                     A nation of 140 million saw 76 million births over a nineteen year period beginning in 1946. The boomers dominated their era, and are now fading from the scene. This book explores the cultural, economic, and political consequences of the millennials replacing them. The post-war boom led to massive economic changes. In the field of education, for example, millions of teachers and hundreds of thousands of classrooms alone were needed around the country. Size begets power. Today, the boomers who constitute 29% of the population hold 56% of the seats in Congress, and 70% of the nation's wealth. The end though is in sight. The Census Dept. calculates that there will be only 2.5 million boomers left in 2060, a mere 1% of the population. The fact that boomers are mostly white and  conservative points to a future whose political inclinations will change. The younger generation is considerably less white. Non-Hispanic whites are 70% of boomers and 55% of millennials. Because of the xenophobic immigration laws that existed from 1924 to 1965, boomers are less likely to be immigrants or the children of immigrants. Millennials tend to be better educated and boomers more religious.

                     It is in the arena of politics that we are seeing the greatest difference in the generations. Trump was elected by older whites without college degrees, who  focused on having lost their status in America. Immigrants, Blacks, Hispanics and women are cutting the line, leaving a minority that is fighting vigorously to maintain its position. Theirs is a "nativist reaction" similar to so many instances in our national past. Shockingly, MAGA supporters believe that white people are discriminated against. 

                     Culturally, the boomers created the modern film and music industry. Every aspect of the boomer's life growing up was inextricably linked to the emergence of rock'n'roll. They are still identified with it and, surprisingly, performers like the Beatles, Stones, and Jimi Hendrix still resonate with the millennials. However, the entire distribution system of both films and music have changed and has been fully adopted by today's younger generation. Financially, the boomers will eventually transfer over $70 trillion to their heirs. They already are  gifting significant assets to their Gen X and millennial offspring. There is a fly in the ointment though, and it is that the wealth is unequally held and it is the pampered children of the wealthy who will receive most of these bequests. As many, many younger people struggle with college debts, and the Social Security/Medicare financial structure requires either more workers or more taxes, the boomer wealth transfer may not be a panacea for the millennials. Politically, America has functioned under a minority rule system for decades, and is now faced with the possibility of a right-wing takeover. However, the threat is fleeting because the millennials are overwhelmingly opposed to the Trump/Republican agenda.

                    "What we can say with the most certainty is that the America into which the baby boomers were born is long gone and that the America they built is crumbling. The uncertainty is whether that America is replaced by ashes, once again, a phoenix." Some interesting points along the way, but not worth the effort.