‘Dear boomers: thanks for all your hard work’
Welcome to the column where you provide the content. Troy Bramston loosed the dogs of generational war and unleashed a frothing boomer brouhaha with his column this week suggesting that for the sake of our national interest, boomer self-interest must end. Brett’s message for boomers:
“Thanks for all your hard work and for creating the modern world. We’re so stupidly rich in lifestyle and modern amenities these days. That’s half the problem. There is no meaning in not struggling for anything. The government has taken away so much meaning for so many people. Even those doing well.
“If I have any criticism it’s maybe that you could have put up a little harder fight against the Marxists. Wasn’t me that let them through the institutions and into all of our lives and wallets.
For the nation’s sake the government needs to be stopped and people given the freedom to do with their lives, work and wealth produced from it as they please. And suffer the consequences of their poor decisions too.”
Just my opinion opined:
“My parents were 10 pound Poms and I grew up in a state housing commission home, going to what is politely described as a ‘difficult’ state high school. I went to school, to university (one of 6 from my final year, from a first year cohort of over 400), and then straight to work. I worked in my both senior high school year holidays and in uni vacs.
“I took no gap year, nor years off in my 20s or 30s (or 40s or 50s for that matter). I married at 23, had 3 children and worked for 39 years. My wife gave up her career when our first child was born and devoted her time to raising them as my work took me away from home often and for extended periods. I took no long service leave during my working life and few holidays. I was frequently called back from holidays when I did take them.
“My working week averaged somewhere between 50 and 70 hours. In my last year of work I paid just over $1.5 million in tax, on a gross of just over twice that. In my working life I have paid well over $10 million in tax. (In 2023 $ terms probably two times that).
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I was given that enabled me to earn the amounts that I did. For most of my career I paid between 45pc and 49pc tax. I also remember the taxes that were not taxes … flood levy, budget repair levy, that we had imposed on top of the marginal rate of tax that we paid. We have taken nothing from the State – no first homebuyer loan, no paid parental leave, no childcare, no job seeker nor job keeper – and now no pension.
“Independent and proud to be so, and also proud in the knowledge that I have contributed significantly more than average to the common good. Please do not lecture me about entitlement and assert that what I or others have came about easily or without cost. Or that some sleight of hand, or tax evading bastardry has enabled me or my generation to get where we are. We paid up front for what we have now – and deserve every hard-earned penny.”
William added:
“I tick most of the same boxes, and am tired of the whinging of younger generations, who really need to take a look at themselves.”
TMLC wasn’t impressed:
“Your comment is riddled with the very privilege that the article states.”
Mike of Mollymook’s Wife didn’t mollycoddle:
“We worked. We saved. We paid our debts. We didn’t go to Bali, or Noosa, or Europe. We didn’t have a gap year. We paid our way through university by working any crummy job you could get at the time. We didn’t have any time out of the workplace for children, or study, or travel. And now we don’t work and live exclusively and modestly on the accumulated savings of a lifetime without any access to any government benefits except Medicare, for which we are levied in our annual tax bill. So Troy, tell me which part of that makes me a greedy boomer?”
Andrew offered:
“The bit where you may not want to pay an extra 15pc tax on a (super) balance over $3 million ... oh and by the way I was born in 1963.”
Kay L was clear:
“Super is there to accumulate savings for retirement, not to dodge tax. If you’ve got $3 million or more it’s not longer a retirement fund.”
Scraggle was sick of it:
“All these poor struggling entitled millennials have been brought up with the benefit of us boomers’ hard work and saving. How many new homeowners these days have sheets for curtains, bean bags, no massive tvs, no new cars ... Well, the coming situation may give some young people a taste of what our life was like. What about the inheritances and leg ups from the bank of mum and dad. Give us a break. Get a job.”
Andrew’s solution:
“Better to be an activist at university, then move into the union movement and politics. No need to work, except the back room.”
Here comes Murray:
“I’m 77, an original Baby Boomer. I have never had government assistance, have not retired, still active and yet to touch my super. All I ever wanted was for government to get out of the way.”
Kat looked back in angst:
“Things for those born say 1940-1960 were not actually that easy (were you there?). Most saved hard for a house, and lived very frugally, and hence have saved. Superannuation was not compulsory at that time.
“I am just after that generation, but we were on a farm, one pair of shoes lasted multiple years, public school, no sports days, one car which was kinda rationed (had to walk or ride push bike to school).
“Food was very limited and were we often hungry, mum cooked, cannot recall getting new clothes (handmedowns from cousins), no purchasing pre cooked meals etc, no takeaway, no holidays, no grog, no internet or phone. School was not free. Life was simple, church family and not much more.
“Today, adults and kids get everything and want everything too. New house, latest phone, streaming services, fashionable clothes, holidays multiple times a year, the latest car, multiple cars, cleaners and lawn mower guys, fast food, private schools, fashionable clothes and the latest brand names for everything and shoes (LV handbags $4000).
“Stop having a go at people who have worked hard, and sacrificed and lived within their means (and rules) to have a better life, and for their children.”
John said:
“If I have accumulated a lot of funds to prevent my wife and I from been a burden to the public it’s because I worked 70 hours a week, never stopped studying, sometimes during two jobs and moved around this great nation for employment opportunities. If you generation don’t like it, well cry me a river.”
Franking Credits fulminated:
“And many of us have paid the top Marginal Tax Rate in our working lives to fund the conga line of so many passengers in the country who view welfare as a right rather than a privilege.”
Russ hit back:
“Congratulations to you. However that does not equate to the right for tax concessions on millions. Keeping in mind that those concessions are paid for by younger generation who will not have the endless government largesse of the boomers. Don’t like paying a fair share? Cry me a river.”
Gee gee was irate:
“The whole economic model has been developed with policies allowing wealth creation by one generation at the expense of future generations. Policies which support housing as an investment vehicle, policies which support tax minimisation, policies which allow one-off environmental destruction for profit.”
Silent Majority warned:
“Venezuela here we come, thanks to this kind of contempt for those that built what you now enjoy.”
Vote No set the record straight:
“You need a few facts Troy, about the Baby Boomer generation. 40 hour work week, no RDOs, no LSL, Bereavement Leave, Parental Leave, 4 weeks AL, 5 days SL max.
“Interest Rates were seldom below 4pc, most women stayed home raising family, dad worked two jobs. No gap year, straight from school to job or uni. You forget, before the socialist era of Whitlam we had to pay for education.
“You purchased your car on Hire Purchase, 16pc interest. Your little brother, sister, got your school uniform and any other clothes you grew out of. Your savings were coins in a Commonwealth Savings tin.
“We were caned if we misbehaved in school and 2 hours detention. You walked to school and home, all by ourselves, not delivered and picked up in Mum’s SUV.
“Get a grip mate, yes the Baby Boomers are a successful generation, we made ourselves successful, we didn’t wait for a handout or special treatment.”
Susie said:
“And I wonder if these ‘entitled’ younger people ever think how their indulged lifestyles will be paid for when there is no longer a strong private sector to pay the taxes to pay their salaries?”
Mannheim Rocket said:
“Having started this war, the Left needs to be careful what it wishes for. A tradie was here last week to make some minor repairs to faults in our new home. We talked about this and he said, ‘I voted for Morrison in 2019 as a first time ever Liberal voter; if Labor touches superannuation AT ALL I’ll vote again for the Coalition’.”
Life of Jeff:
“Born in 53. Grew up with four children sleeping in one bedroom until we were in our late teens. My wife was born in 57. Her father built their house. Until it was finished, five of her family lived in a shed. Won’t go on lest I sound like Monty Python’s ‘Four Yorkshiremen’ sketch but in our old age, we are now very comfortable through our own efforts and a series of good decisions – basically of the good ol’ middle class, deferred gratification type.
“And now I read a number of articles and hear a number of speeches like this. To slightly misquote Jack Thompson in ‘Sunday too Far Away’: ‘It’s not just the money. It’s the bloody insult.’”
Michael hit back:
“Jeff, that dodges the point. I don’t begrudge you the least for having accumulated some wealth. No one is talking about taking that off you. But why should you not pay the same tax as a wage and salary earner on the income you make off that wealth?”
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Greg Sheridan heralded as brilliant a reported new deal which will see Australia buy up to five US nuclear submarines first, while working with the British and Americans to develop a common submarine design for longer term. Credit where it’s due, said Bruce:
“You cannot give all the credit to Richard Marles and Labor. All the groundwork was done by Morrison and Dutton and the Liberals, Labor just coasted in on their shirttails.”
Gary reckoned:
“We should think of Morrison and Dutton every time we send a cheque to the French not to make subs for us. The sort of groundwork that cost us $5 billion of our money.”
Matt backed Marles:
“Marles has shown himself to be an outstanding Defence Minister. Sure, credit to Morrison for setting up AUKUS, but the detail and delivery is down to Marles.”
Nick reckoned:
“In the end it took a massive effort for all sides, except the pathetic immature Greens who were rightfully ignored and sat in the corner.”
Cool your jets, said Skitragic:
“Let’s wait till we hear it from Biden’s mouth that this is what’s been agreed. The real good bits I like is the expansion of sub building facilities in the US and then another yard to be built here. That will increase capacity dramatically. All we need then is the skilled workforce to do the hard stuff. Let’s hope the unions don’t stuff this for Australia.”
Pamela was in the dark:
“We will not have any electricity, certainly not enough for industry needs. Bowen and Albanese should be questioned strongly on this point.”
Martin mooted:
“We can run electric cables from the nuclear subs to power our cities when the grid collapses.”
DoomPatrol agreed:
“I was going to propose the same thing. Get those jumbo-sized jumper leads on order now!”
E was impressed:
“This is one of Morrison’s greatest achievements and a huge legacy. I feel no one else could have conceived and initiated AUKUS so meticulously. It’s wonderful Marles and Albanese have been able to support this and take it to the next stage. Great bipartisan effort for Australians, our national security and industry.”
Four Fried Chickens and a Coke reckoned:
“How about we ditch Adelaide and just buy everything from the US and UK ? It will then likely work as advertised, won’t be 9 years overdue due to union action, and we will actually have a fixed price. The price will go through the roof with Australian unions involved.”
Another Peter wasn’t positive:
“Great concept but unfortunately we have anti-business unions and a failing electricity grid which will make this an expensive pipe dream. Also build it in a place where there is already infrastructure and a larger population source of skills rather than mendicant South Australia. Which also has stupidly allowed a massive Chinese spy centre to be built and operate.”
Tod said:
“In Parliament yesterday, Marles advised Dutton of the comments he was going to make, invited Dutton to ask for indulgence so he could make comments and also credited Morrison for initiating AUKUS.
“Despite the vitriol directed at the government in these pages this government gives credit where credit is due and creates space for the opposition to speak to their contribution. Marles is an excellent Defence Minister and should be given credit for his bipartisan approach and ability to get a deal that far exceeds the expectations at the start of the AUKUS process.
“It is also worth noting that Morrison was asked by Biden and Boris to ensure that AUKUS was bipartisan. He did not do that and only advised Labor 24 hours before making the announcement. Something that really pissed off the Americans. Labor of course immediately supported AUKUS despite Morrison keeping it secret from them.”
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ended months of confusion over the titles of their children Archie and Lilibet by revealing that they have started to refer to them as prince and princess. MikeB was baffled:
“Doesn’t look like Charles is going to bite the bullet on Harry and Meghan and simply take their titles away for their bad behaviour and numerous attacks on the royal family and thus the nation ... Instead titles are to be bestowed upon the children and they are invited to his coronation.”
John’s view:
“There is nothing more important to the Markles than Royal titles, nothing. Without them they are nothing.”
Ian’s take:
“California now has a Royal Family.”
Jan was confused:
“H & M don’t want anything to do with the Royal family or Royal roles but want Royal titles for their children – doesn’t make sense to me.”
A reckoned:
“Over to you, South Park. Comedy gold awaits.”
Amanda agreed:
“More content for South Park! The privacy tour will continue. Like old rockers they will tour once money gets a little low.”
Andrew explained:
“To be clear this was always going to happen once HM QE II passed on. It is a birth right created in 1917 by George V. To be clearer the Duke and Duchess have made it clear they will not use the titles unless official circumstances require and will allow their children to decide in the future to decide.
“To be absolutely clear the British monarchy now has its first American Princess, yes that’s right Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor born in the USA and therefore a US citizen and passport holder automatically, baptised by the Archbishop of Los Angeles in a private ceremony at the home of the Duke and Duchess. The King, Queen Consort, Prince and Princess of Wales were invited but did not attend.”
Last word to Ed:
“I understand they are perfectly entitled to the titles but they have been bagging the institution for months. They obviously are suffering from cognitive dissonance.”
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