Ageism Much? Don’t Blame Boomers for An Unqualified White Male Republican President

I’ve been feeling my age more in the past two months than I have in the past ten years. And not just in the physical body pain and occasional mental fog that apparently arrives with a vengeance upon turning 65. I’ve felt it in many ways as an author, but the blatant ageism I’m constantly confronted with online is appalling. Especially after enduring decades of sexism.

Specifically, it’s the suffocating age-bashing atmosphere on Bluesky that quite frankly infuriates. I was born in 1961 and that unfortunately dumps me at the tail end of Baby Boomers (1946-1964). I say unfortunately simply because I’m sick of being part of—without any fault of my own—the generation that members of Gen X (1965-1980) apparently adore vilifying and blaming for all ills of the world, specifically all problems stemming from the current administration simply because the president is an aged imbecile—as if he wasn’t just as horrifically awful when he was young. And as if the majority in his cabinet aren’t among the most vile Gen Xers—and Millennials—to ever walk the face of the earth, both male and female.

I’m the same damn age as Obama, and he was a great president despite being a Baby Boomer, but does that matter? Not when a prominent male on social media posted last week about how we need to not have any more Baby Boomer presidents. How dare he simplify the atrocities we’re currently experiencing under this administration as having merely to do with age?

Here’s what Adam Kinzinger posted: “Can we maybe try a Gen X next? Right now boomers have had 6, X has had zero presidents. And we have 40 trillion in debt because of it.”

I replied: “Ageism much? How about we try a female president of any age?”

I should have added, how about we maybe try a woman before you try to usher in anyone in the next generation simply because of their age. After all, this president was never qualified to begin with, which should emphasize that experience counts, not suggest that you throw experience out the window in favor of youth without regard for qualifications.

And how about Adam Kinzinger recognize that it’s his fellow Republicans—presidents and members of Congress whom he served with—who sent the national debt skyrocketing, not “boomers.” Because Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden are not the reason we’re 40 trillion in debt. Not by a long shot, and not because of anything to with anyone’s age.

The irony is, many folks on Bluesky left Twitter because of its toxic environment when it comes to bigotry and rejecting diversity in all forms. Except now the self-anointed, so-called enlightened on Bluesky are brazenly bashing Baby Boomers as if it’s perfectly fine to paint us as all the same (and the same age) when the youngest Baby Boomer is only one year older than the oldest (although not more mature, apparently) Gen Xer. As if this obnoxious discrimination is deserved because of the current cretin in the White House.

It’s not okay to discriminate against folks because of their age. Period. And Adam Kinzinger should know better. After all, I could have easily never paid attention to a word he said simply because he is young, not to mention male and a former Republican member of Congress. And as long as he remains a member of that party that now supports pedophiles and disrespects his own decorated veteran status, he has no business blaming “boomers” for what’s wrong with this country, or the size of its debt.

He will also never have this aging lady’s vote. Because I am not about to take the blame for old white male Republican presidents simply because I’m lumped into the same generation as them. And why should I respect anyone who thinks it’s okay to blatantly disrespect me for my age? It’s bad enough the GOP is overrun with misogynist punks who don’t respect women of any age, race, or political affiliation. Color me disappointed and disgusted, Adam. Not that you care, because I’m one of those “boomers.”