It's not about generations

The "boomer hate" is not that serious.

The frustration many people my age feel is due to the opportunities that were available to (Baby Boomers), opportunities that seem out of reach for us today. It’s not their fault times are tough. Times have always been tough, but they are particularly challenging now.

As a young man, I am faced with the need to save $40,000 to purchase a home, which is 70% of the average annual income. In contrast, in 1980, one needed $3,700, or 8% of the average annual income, to buy a house.

I acknowledge (Baby Boomers) faced high mortgage interest rates, and paid 70% of the average annual income towards a mortgage in 1981. I would be paying 90% of the average annual income towards a mortgage today if I could afford one.

Younger generations understand no-one is here to spoon-feed us. Similarly, we may not be able to spoon-feed you in your later years, given that many healthcare workers are not earning enough to live comfortably, resulting in a shortage of caregivers. Who's going to change your diaper?

Perhaps the reason my generation isn’t buying electric vehicles is simply due to financial constraints. Yes, (previous generations) were tough, starting work at 15 and couch-surfing. That’s commendable. Many of us, including myself, also worked full-time throughout high school and now work 60 hours a week, yet we can hardly dream of building a house by Okanagan Lake.

The challenges we face are not the fault of any particular generation or even isolated to one generation. They are the result of poor legislation and leadership. Rather than arguing about political divisions or generational differences, we should focus on supporting each other and overcoming these divides. Politicians and corporations are exploiting us all. Why do we let them?

We need to take care of our neighbours. Who knows if they have enough to eat? We need to support local businesses that barely made it through the COVID pandemic and are still struggling. We need to volunteer in our communities, attend local events and use local services instead of relying on mega-corporations. And we need to help those in need and foster a spirit of community.

If we all do our part instead of feeding into the divisive narratives propagated by media and two-faced politicians, we can make this country a better place for everyone, regardless of which puppet we elect.

Times will continue to remain tough until we support each other.

Christopher Hamer