Are wealthy baby boomers undermining younger generations? Or is the real enemy the politics of austerity and privatisation sponsored by an elite? There’s a lot to be said for the polemic. The very form – the word comes from _polemos_, the Greek term for “war” – is a recognition of the possibility that through writing, we may take part in a struggle or take sides in a conflict. A polemic is partisan, unashamedly impassioned, and – since it typically carries a greater sense of urgency than other modes of writing – often has the virtue of being short. John Sutherland’s self-described polemic is a quick and provocative read. Its central argument is that the young today have it hard, very hard, and that this is neither an unalterable fact of life nor an accident or blip: rather, the young are the victims of a concerted attack perpetrated by their elders, above all the selfish baby boomers who enjoyed goods (such as free higher education and affordable housing) that they now conspire to deny their children and grandchildren. Continue reading...
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