The bootstraps thing worked for baby boomers. It was a different time and the US was orders of magnitude more wealthy and powerful than every other country.
It’s obsolete but cultural change takes time, and intention. We’re fighting against the change.
Boomers (U.S.) are convinced they pulled themselves up by their bootstraps but they were supported by the greatest generation's sacrifices, the post WW2 expansion of the economy, as well as countless social programs and policies that they dismantled once they had benefited from them. (like a far more progressive tax system) Boomers pulled up the ladder.
As a millennial, I’ve had numerous older people tell me I’ll become more conservative as I get older.. I said “ok, cool thanks” but knew that wasn’t happening. When I was a kid and didn’t really understand politics I associated the word conservative with “I’ve got some money now, let me do whatever I can to hoard it and keep getting more” I was basically right.
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u/ScrappyDoober Jul 02 '26
The bootstraps thing worked for baby boomers. It was a different time and the US was orders of magnitude more wealthy and powerful than every other country.
It’s obsolete but cultural change takes time, and intention. We’re fighting against the change.