Europe's population decline.

[cleller]

Many years ago (maybe 15 years) I read something about the population decline in Europe, and the consequence it would have. The author mentioned that with fewer workers and more retirees, things would get bad. I forgot about it until the mess in Europe became so evident. Wish I could remember exactly where I first read that.

I did find this article from 2005, which predicted much of the same:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/14/AR2005061401340.html

The more I read, the worse it looks. Not just for Europe.

[yermom]

the baby boomers are going to kill us

[KantoSooner]

Pay as you go social welfare programs are always a bad idea.

[pphilfran]

Don't pay as you go social welfare programs are even worse...

[badger]

What will save us from becoming Europe:

1- Hurry up and retire. Yes, we realize that you have been spending beyond your means for years, and not on our college educations, either. But, that's no excuse for hogging the jobs. We need to start working and bringing in income right away to pay off massive student loans. So, stop clinging to your cushy well paying old fart job and let us start on the ladder already.

2- Spend your money already. Yes, we realize that we just chastised you for spending beyond your means, but we also acknowledge the penny pinchers and thrifty savers out there who simply cannot and will not relinquish the money that we young folks know that all you old farts are holding out on us. If this economy is faltering, it's not the young people's fault, because there's a reason advertisers cover the 18-35 demographic: We spend like there's no tomorrow. So anyways, start spending money, or we're gonna yank the plug on your precious favorite TV shows like we did 50 years ago. Bawwww, miss your Bonanza? TOO BAD!

3- Morbid thoughts. I'm not going to come out and say it. That's just too cruel and heartless. But, you and I both know exactly what the government, health care providers and others are counting on and it isn't testing the Holy Bible's "No more Methuselahs, only live 120 years" verse. When we let some of you retire in your early 60s or heaven forbid, your 50s, we weren't planning on supporting you indefinitely. So... yeah. Awkward!

Personally, we probably just have to let this play out. But it will be ugly, because there is no chance in hell that this will end well.

[Fraggle145]

the baby boomers are going to kill us

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[olevetonahill]

the baby boomers are the ones who Built this country


FIFY :very_drunk:

[pphilfran]

the baby boomers are going to kill us

The refusal to realize that the inevitable declining birth rate was going to decimate entitlement programs built on increasing birthrates is going to kill us...

[OULenexaman]

messin with my Bonanza and Andy Griffith reruns is gonna be a bigger problem.

[pphilfran]

Don't forget Gunsmoke...

[OULenexaman]

and The Rifleman...

[badger]

messin with my Bonanza and Andy Griffith reruns is gonna be a bigger problem.

When dad was watching (for the umpteenth time) Bonanza when I was over at their house, I mentioned that the reason Bonanza, the highest rated show of the time, was canceled was because it wasn't attracting the right type of audience for advertisers, he had a big scowl on his face, hehe.

And really, that's what you old farts have to look forward to. Sure, the Viagra and Lipitor advertisers will still target you, but everything cool will be focused on us young, spendy spend spend consumers.

[olevetonahill]

When dad was watching (for the umpteenth time) Bonanza when I was over at their house, I mentioned that the reason Bonanza, the highest rated show of the time, was canceled was because it wasn't attracting the right type of audience for advertisers, he had a big scowl on his face, hehe.

And really, that's what you old farts have to look forward to. Sure, the Viagra and Lipitor advertisers will still target you, but everything cool will be focused on us young, spendy spend spend consumers.

Enjoy your youth while you have it

Just dont blink

[OULenexaman]

what's funny is what you think is cool and what you think is a rerun is the opposite of what I think.....example....a 1969 Chevy Camaro Z-28 to me is cool.....damn cool.....a 2012 Chevy Camaro is just a damn rerun.:excitement:

[badger]

Enjoy your youth while you have it

Just dont blink

Oh yeah, totally. My daughter is already getting old.

Two months old. :P

[Position Limit]

europe aint got nothing on japan.

[olevetonahill]

Oh yeah, totally. My daughter is already getting old.

Two months old. :P

And just the other day you were trying to decide where to go to College.

[S.PadreIsl.Sooner]

Don't forget Gunsmoke...

Not to mention "Star Trek".

Oops, I'm getting ahead of myself. Sorry!

[KantoSooner]

How about set up social programs that are paid for out of money we have already. And then admitting that, if we don't have the money, we can't afford to do whatever it is.

Why, just the other day, I walked into my local bank and told them that I wanted to live in a $2.5 milliion home and drive Maserati's. I told them I wanted to 'pay as I went'. Insistent, I was.

Hard were the calloused hands of the security people who threw me into the street.

[texaspokieokie]

what's funny is what you think is cool and what you think is a rerun is the opposite of what I think.....example....a 1969 Chevy Camaro Z-28 to me is cool.....damn cool.....a 2012 Chevy Camaro is just a damn rerun.:excitement: i like both.
altho, in quality & performance, the 69 can't hold a candle.

[pphilfran]

i like both.
altho, in quality & performance, the 69 can't hold a candle.

If I am wanting a driver I take the new one...if I want to turn heads I take the old one...

[tator]

What will save us from becoming Europe:

1- Hurry up and retire. Yes, we realize that you have been spending beyond your means for years, and not on our college educations, either. But, that's no excuse for hogging the jobs. We need to start working and bringing in income right away to pay off massive student loans. So, stop clinging to your cushy well paying old fart job and let us start on the ladder already.

2- Spend your money already. Yes, we realize that we just chastised you for spending beyond your means, but we also acknowledge the penny pinchers and thrifty savers out there who simply cannot and will not relinquish the money that we young folks know that all you old farts are holding out on us. If this economy is faltering, it's not the young people's fault, because there's a reason advertisers cover the 18-35 demographic: We spend like there's no tomorrow. So anyways, start spending money, or we're gonna yank the plug on your precious favorite TV shows like we did 50 years ago. Bawwww, miss your Bonanza? TOO BAD!

3- Morbid thoughts. I'm not going to come out and say it. That's just too cruel and heartless. But, you and I both know exactly what the government, health care providers and others are counting on and it isn't testing the Holy Bible's "No more Methuselahs, only live 120 years" verse. When we let some of you retire in your early 60s or heaven forbid, your 50s, we weren't planning on supporting you indefinitely. So... yeah. Awkward!

Personally, we probably just have to let this play out. But it will be ugly, because there is no chance in hell that this will end well.

Are you ****ing serious? Hogging the jobs? Spend your money? These are your solutions?

[texaspokieokie]

If I am wanting a driver I take the new one...if I want to turn heads I take the old one...Not sure which i'd take. Have always liked camaros, but have never had one.

[Fraggle145]

Are you ****ing serious? Hogging the jobs? Spend your money? These are your solutions?

Do you know where I can get a boomer sooner ringtone? TIA

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Ask Armando Montelongo. He has the answers.