The people who built the system are often the ones pulling the emergency exits closed behind them.
Talk to anyone under 40 long enough, and it’ll come up: the sense that boomers climbed to comfort, then sealed the hatch behind them. It’s not just about avocado toast or student loans—it’s about an uneven playing field that somehow keeps tilting steeper. The rules changed right after boomers benefited the most.
What’s left is a younger generation playing catch-up in an economy that feels like it’s been emptied of upward mobility and empathy.
1. They bought homes before the market broke.
Boomers snatched up homes when prices were measured in the tens of thousands, not millions, according to Sean Illing at Vox. Mortgage interest rates were sometimes higher, sure, but salaries stretched further and college debt wasn’t eating half a paycheck. They built equity while younger generations were still in kindergarten—and now, those same boomers are gatekeeping the housing market. They scoff at rent prices they’ve never paid and offer advice based on a market that hasn’t existed in decades. Meanwhile, Gen Z and Millennials are budgeting like accountants just to afford a studio and ramen. The real estate ladder? It’s not just pulled up—it’s been sawed off and repurposed into boomer-owned Airbnb listings.
2. They rigged college to work for them.
College was once a golden ticket—affordable, accessible, and promising a direct route to the middle class. Boomers cashed in, attending university without mortgaging their future, as reported by F.H. Buckley at the New York Post. Then they helped usher in an era where tuition ballooned and state funding shriveled. Now they shake their heads at student debt, forgetting they paid less for four years of school than some kids now pay for textbooks. The institutions changed, the price tags changed, but the expectations? Still sky-high. Degrees are practically required, but the payoff keeps shrinking—unless you happened to graduate before everything got monetized and corporatized to death.
3. They dismantled pensions but kept their own.
The dream of retirement used to involve a pension—a steady, employer-funded stream of post-career income, as stated by Luis Brent at LSE Blogs. Boomers benefited from these generous plans while also being the architects of their slow demise. As the corporate landscape shifted, so did the retirement model. Pensions disappeared, replaced by 401(k)s and DIY financial strategies. Now younger generations are expected to become investing pros just to avoid working until death. Meanwhile, the very people who retired comfortably on company promises act confused about why today’s workers feel anxious. The ladder to retirement security didn’t just get yanked—it got replaced with a treadmill.
4. They froze wages but grew their portfolios.
Boomers sat at the top during decades of growing inequality. Executive pay ballooned, profits soared, and yet wages for most workers flatlined. Raises became a myth, and promotions started feeling like unicorn sightings. As employers cut costs, boomers—many in management—called it “leaning out.” Their 401(k)s and investment accounts swelled thanks to decisions that hurt the average employee. Now younger generations are told to “just save more” in an economy where rent, food, and health care devour entire paychecks. The wealth gap isn’t an accident—it’s a symptom of decades of selective prosperity.
5. They turned starter jobs into dead ends.
Entry-level jobs used to be launching pads. You’d start in the mailroom, maybe, but you’d move. Now? The entry point is the endpoint. Many boomers climbed the ranks in companies that invested in people. Training programs, mentorship, and long-term growth were expected. Today’s workers inherit a gig economy patched together by unpaid internships, contract roles, and jobs with zero benefits. Stability has been swapped for hustle culture. Boomers built careers on ladders. Gen Z and Millennials are handed step stools—with one leg missing.
6. They voted for policies that burned the planet.
Environmental warnings have been sounding for decades. Boomers heard them first—and often ignored them. They prioritized short-term convenience and economic growth over climate preservation. Now younger generations face an existential crisis while boomers reminisce about gas-guzzling road trips and disposable everything. The consequences are showing up in record heat waves, rising sea levels, and eco-anxiety that’s baked into every Gen Z calendar. Sustainable choices now come with a price tag that wasn’t needed before. The environment wasn’t just damaged—it was sold off for parts.
7. They sold out public infrastructure.
Boomers grew up with strong public systems—libraries, transit, schools—that gave everyone a shot. But then came decades of privatization, budget cuts, and policies that gutted those very institutions. As boomers climbed higher, they supported measures that shrunk government services they no longer needed. Now Gen Z and Millennials are left with crumbling roads, underfunded schools, and transit systems stuck in the ‘70s. Access has become a privilege, not a public right. The ladder didn’t just get pulled up—it got turned into luxury condos.
8. They clung to power long after their expiration date.
Boomers didn’t just take seats at the table—they superglued themselves to them. Boardrooms, political offices, institutions of power are packed with people who refuse to hand over the mic. Meanwhile, younger leaders with fresh ideas are sidelined or expected to “wait their turn.” It’s hard to innovate when the gatekeepers are allergic to change. Boomer dominance in decision-making isn’t just persistent—it’s become structural. The ladder to leadership? Still occupied—and held up by outdated ideas about who gets to lead and who needs more “seasoning.”
9. They treated mental health like a punchline.
Boomers came up in an era where emotions were meant to be buried, not discussed. Now they watch younger generations prioritize therapy and mental wellness with confusion, eye rolls, or outright dismissal. “Toughen up” remains the refrain. But younger folks are living with the fallout of ignoring mental health for decades—burnout, anxiety, trauma unprocessed by a culture that saw vulnerability as weakness. The support structures simply weren’t built, and when they finally started taking shape, boomers balked at the cost. The emotional ladder? Chopped off and replaced with the same old bootstraps lecture.
10. They cashed in on low taxes and left the bill behind.
Boomers enjoyed decades of tax cuts and deregulation that helped them build wealth. But public debt, climate costs, and frayed safety nets didn’t vanish—they just got handed to the next generation. Now Gen Z and Millennials are stuck trying to pay for everything with less. Less pay, fewer benefits, and no promise that the systems they’re funding will still be around when they need them. The boomer-era tax policies were great—for boomers. Everyone else is stuck footing the long-term tab.
11. They gatekept entrepreneurship.
Boomers love to celebrate entrepreneurs, but they often slam the door shut behind them. Regulations and red tape have ballooned since they launched businesses in garages and diners. Health insurance costs, licensing fees, and legal barriers make it harder now to start small. Meanwhile, the startup landscape they once helped create is dominated by venture capital and who-you-know networks. Young dreamers are told to take risks—by people who had a much softer landing if things didn’t work out. The risk ladder? Missing several rungs, especially at the bottom.
12. They called it “character building” instead of fixing it.
Everything inconvenient or broken got repackaged as a “life lesson” for the next generation. Can’t afford rent? Build character. Burned out at work? Learn resilience. No benefits? Welcome to the real world. Boomers reframed systemic failures as personal growth opportunities, dodging responsibility in the process. It’s a condescending coping mechanism that shifts the blame and shrugs off change. And it’s exhausting. The ladder they pulled up wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, too. And in its place, they left a brochure on grit and a half-hearted “hang in there.”