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> (The baby boomers generation) really did a large portion of the work involved with building out the physical infrastructure that allows our economy to operate

> (The baby boomers generation) really did a large portion of the work involved with building out the physical infrastructure that allows our economy to operate as it does today: buildings, roads, power lines, mining, machinery, warehouses, etc > How can we forget there was an entire generation of people who turned the 1940's USA into the one of the 1970s? The baby boomers were just entering the work force in the 1970s. You are conflating two generations. Everywhere in the US that I am well familiar with (Portland Oregon, Minneapolis, Southwest VA, San Jose CA, greater Los Angeles) built most of their infrastructure between 1945 and 1970(schools, roads, highways, bridges). Anecdotally speaking, the infrastructure that came after 1970 consists of strip malls, suburban housing and airports. some highways were built in LA and San Jose. The 85 is the only one i can think of off the top of my head though. Lots of road projects to widen, adjust and fix earlier mistakes though.

dripton 14y ago
Actually, not a lot of major US airports were built after 1970. Denver International Airport is the only big one I can think of. NIMBY makes it really hard to build airports except in the absolute middle of nowhere, where there's no need.
- Androsynth 14y ago
  they werent built, but they sure as hell were expanded upon.
Helianthus 14y ago
>Anecdotally speaking, the infrastructure that came after 1970 consists of strip malls, suburban housing and airports. some highways were built in LA and San Jose. That's not an anecdote at all, you're just apologizing for arguing from your experience and then doing it anyway. Nitpick maybe, but I'm tired of this "anecdotes don't matter" when clearly they're important enough that we keep relying on them.
rdl 14y ago
What did the baby boomers accomplish besides fighting in Vietnam and presiding over the general decline of the US in the 1970s-1990s? They still have their final act of bankrupting the stae left, true, but I'd argue they've done more than their share already.
- hudibras 14y ago
  "presiding over the general decline of the US in the 1970s-1990s" Over half of the current Congress are baby boomers.
  - rdl 14y ago
    They were a pretty potent political/economic bloc even before that (from 1968 on), but yes, they now have the government officially too. The worst generation to walk the earth, IMO.
    - nateabele 14y ago
      I've actually spoken to a number of baby boomers who have referred to themselves as The Worst Generation. Couldn't agree more.
- twoodfin 14y ago
  Decline of the U.S. in the 1970's-1990's? What a bizarre claim. By every measurable standard, the U.S. was a far, far better, richer place in 2000 than in 1970, and occupied a more significant and more secure position in the world. I sometimes worry that the demographic of places like HN is shifting young enough that statements like yours can actually seem authoritative. Even someone merely old enough to have been paying attention from 1990 to 2000 would realize that "general decline" is an absurd description.
  - rdl 14y ago
    Technology has undoubtedly improved, but most other elements of society have gotten worse. I'm 34, and first hand there was a decline (other than technology) from 1990 to today, and from statistics (inequality coefficients, relative competitiveness, political system, etc) those trends accelerated rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s.

dripton 14y ago

Actually, not a lot of major US airports were built after 1970. Denver International Airport is the only big one I can think of. NIMBY makes it really hard to build airports except in the absolute middle of nowhere, where there's no need.

Androsynth 14y ago
they werent built, but they sure as hell were expanded upon.

Helianthus 14y ago

>Anecdotally speaking, the infrastructure that came after 1970 consists of strip malls, suburban housing and airports. some highways were built in LA and San Jose. That's not an anecdote at all, you're just apologizing for arguing from your experience and then doing it anyway. Nitpick maybe, but I'm tired of this "anecdotes don't matter" when clearly they're important enough that we keep relying on them.

rdl 14y ago

What did the baby boomers accomplish besides fighting in Vietnam and presiding over the general decline of the US in the 1970s-1990s? They still have their final act of bankrupting the stae left, true, but I'd argue they've done more than their share already.

hudibras 14y ago
"presiding over the general decline of the US in the 1970s-1990s" Over half of the current Congress are baby boomers.
- rdl 14y ago
  They were a pretty potent political/economic bloc even before that (from 1968 on), but yes, they now have the government officially too. The worst generation to walk the earth, IMO.
  - nateabele 14y ago
    I've actually spoken to a number of baby boomers who have referred to themselves as The Worst Generation. Couldn't agree more.
twoodfin 14y ago
Decline of the U.S. in the 1970's-1990's? What a bizarre claim. By every measurable standard, the U.S. was a far, far better, richer place in 2000 than in 1970, and occupied a more significant and more secure position in the world. I sometimes worry that the demographic of places like HN is shifting young enough that statements like yours can actually seem authoritative. Even someone merely old enough to have been paying attention from 1990 to 2000 would realize that "general decline" is an absurd description.
- rdl 14y ago
  Technology has undoubtedly improved, but most other elements of society have gotten worse. I'm 34, and first hand there was a decline (other than technology) from 1990 to today, and from statistics (inequality coefficients, relative competitiveness, political system, etc) those trends accelerated rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s.