Name: swlthll

Contribution: Intergenerational Transfer of Wisdom, Not Wealth, is the Problem

Rational debate is always obscured by trying to blame what at the time, were historical normalities, for situations we now look at differently. Blaming the ‘Baby-Boomers’ (of whom I am not one) for political actions and economic situations which were almost historically inevitable, is an easy way to avoid confronting the problems we face now. Every generation has tried to do the best it could, with the information available, to cope with its’ economic and social situations, and it is no good wringing our hands in Greek Chorus of doom to ascribe blame.

We need to look forward, not backwards, and be doing positive education to show that greed and jealousy do not provide a basis for a better, happier and more equal society. Intergenerational Transfer of Wealth is a catchy phrase to to head up academic and media articles, but it really has no meaning or content, when it comes to formulating an approach to help our children and grandchildren have a happier, more predictable life and eventual retirement.

We should be concentrating on an Intergenerational Transfer of Wisdom, so that our successors do not fall into the trap of rabid, superficial consumerism, that is the real cause of the deteriorating lifestyle and happiness, not the fact that social conditions two or three generations ago, produced an advantaged group. We should learn from the past, but not endlessly dissect it to excuse our present, self-made problems.