Boomers and Bootstrapping - interesting article. As a boomer, I went back through the years - mentally only - as my time machine is broken at the moment - and counted the number of times I used that expression. Once. That was during Speech class in 10th grade and I copied the passage from an encyclopedia. I can only speak to what I do and what I've heard - and this was an expression of my parent's generation. Considering that the phrase originated in the mid-1800s - that would make sense. Also considering that my grandparents spoke Italian - it didn't come out often. I laughed at the concept to be honest - because if you do it well enough - you'll pull yourself up off the ground and land on your ass. It didn't motivate me.

I read through your article twice to make sure I was getting the points. And I agree with most of them. Times and reality have changed. I just disagree with your Boomer connection. I think it's misleading.

I am a Boomer. My first job paid me $1 an hour. My parents bought a great house in 1960 for $18,500. A new VW Beetle cost around $1800 in 1968. That same house is now worth over $800,000. If Boomers know nothing else - they know everything has changed. Wages have not gone up 20-30 times over the last 50 years. Most Boomers are struggling in retirement and have gone back to work. Some Boomers (too many) are simply ignorant and arrogant - a volatile combination. With age they've become less discerning with facts - translation: they've stopped looking and simply listen. We've all gone through tough times in our life - no job, little money, debts, depression. Anyone who has lived through those experiences - generally respects a job well done and a decent day's wage.

There's truth for sure in what you're saying. There are simply other truths as well. Worth mentioning - is all. Ciao.