Growing up as part of Generation X, we were often told by our Boomer parents that if we followed our passions, the money would come later. It was a comforting lie, one that many of us bought into as we pursued skilled trades or other hands-on work. But as the years went by, the promise of financial security never quite materialized. For many of us, despite our technical skills—often self-taught—we ended up living meager lifestyles, scraping by rather than thriving.
Our Boomer parents were the original protesters, the generation that challenged the status quo in the 1960s, making changes that they believed would shape a better world. Yet, when it came to passing the torch, they seemed reluctant to let go, often clinging to their positions until the very end. The idea that we would step into their shoes, take over their roles, and finally enjoy the fruits of our labor was another myth. Boomers weren’t going to retire—they were going to die in their office chairs, leaving little room for us to advance.
The protests of the 60s weren’t just about civil rights or ending the Vietnam War; they also ushered in waves of feminism and other social movements. But what did these movements really achieve? For many in Generation X, feminism, as it was practiced by the Boomers, seems to have left us with a society where traditional roles were questioned, but no real alternatives were built. The idea that women never needed men, while empowering on the surface, ignored the fact that men were behind many of the innovations that make modern life possible. From housing to cars, it was men who largely shaped the world we live in.
We are not a generation plagued by racial animosity. We grew up in diverse communities—schools like the one I attended in Queens, which was among the most racially diverse in the nation. We got along with everyone, except for those who were bullies or troublemakers. Race wasn’t the issue; character was. That was our reality.
As Boomers made their mark, they also left behind a mess. They dismissed the real power that citizens of this country were supposed to have. The protests of the 60s were loud and visible, but they overlooked the ultimate form of protest that the Founders valued: the power to withhold taxes. This was the protest that hit where it hurt—right in the government’s pocket. Yet, over the last century, we’ve become so conditioned to comply that we’ve forgotten this right even existed.
In many ways, Generation X might be the last generation to learn about the founding of the country, the principles of liberty, and the importance of civic duty. We grew up with a sense of history, a belief in the ideals that shaped this nation. At our core, we’re libertarians who value our independence and just want to be left alone to live our lives.
But there’s something else we need to address: the tendency today to dismiss the founding of this country because of the inequalities of its time, particularly regarding African Americans. Many argue that because the founding wasn’t perfect from the start, it should be discredited entirely. But even our Founding Fathers acknowledged that the Union was not perfect, especially in the beginning. They had to start somewhere.
For those who believe the ends justify the means—a concept popularized by the radical author Saul Alinsky and embraced by many progressive Democrats—it’s clear that the founding of this nation, though flawed, eventually led to the equality we see today, just not in the time frame everyone would have liked. To discredit the entire foundation because it didn’t start the way some people wanted is a cop-out. The idea that we should tear everything down 300 years later and start over because it wasn’t perfect from the beginning is absurd. We were given a framework that has evolved over time, and that evolution is something to be acknowledged and respected, not dismissed.
And let’s talk about another myth we were fed: the idea that jobs were plentiful and easily obtained. I got so tired of hearing from my Boomer relatives and uncles about how easy it was to quit a job and find another one across the street whenever you felt like it. Maybe there was some truth to that in their time, and to some extent in mine, but it was never as simple as they made it sound. The jobs I found never paid that well, offered zero benefits, and were nothing to brag about.
This ties into the broader difference between our generations: The Boomers lived by the mantra of “live to work,” while we, Generation X, have always been about “work to live.” For us, work was a means to an end, not the end itself. We sought balance and valued our personal lives, understanding that life is more than just a paycheck.
Liberty isn’t just about freedom from government intrusion—it’s also about financial freedom. And that’s where we were sold the biggest lie. We were told that money would follow if we just did what we loved. Instead, we’ve watched as the Boomers held onto power and wealth, leaving us to struggle and fend for ourselves. It’s time we recognized the truth: that money, and the freedom it brings, is something we have to fight for, not something that will just come if we wait long enough.
