Sociology

When Hard Work Was Enough, at least for the Boomers

Boomers benefited from strong wages, cheap college, and near-full health coverage, then labeled younger generations “entitled” for wanting the same protections in a much harsher economy.

T Jackson

29 Dec 2025 — 3 min read

Photo by Shoeib Abolhassani on Unsplash

Abstract

Boomers benefited from strong wages, cheap college, and near-full health coverage, then labeled younger generations “entitled” for wanting the same protections in a much harsher economy.

Baby Boomers often say that if you work hard and make good choices, you will have a decent life. If someone is unsuccessful, they claim it’s because they didn't try hard enough. But this view misses an important fact. Boomers grew up with strong social supports that made success much easier than it is now. Many who benefited from these systems now criticize younger people for wanting the same entitlements.

Boomers benefited from the conditions of that time, not because they didn't work hard, but because the system was better. Jobs paid enough to cover basic rent, food, and transportation. Many entry-level positions came with health insurance and pensions. You could afford college without being drowned in debt. Housing costs were in line with people's earnings. Work hard, don't screw up, and you most likely live the American dream.

For example, minimum wage. When Boomers entered the workforce, it actually meant something. You could work full-time and cover rent, groceries, and gas, and still have something left over. One income was often enough to support a whole family. People saved money, bought houses, and built up some wealth. You didn't need to be lucky or have a fancy degree. Just show up, put in the work, and you could make it happen.

That is no longer true.

Wages haven't kept pace with what things actually cost now (housing, healthcare, education, everything). Try living on minimum wage full-time. In most places, it won't even cover the rent. A lot of people are working two to three jobs, and still not really getting by. But when younger generations ask for better pay? They get called entitled. Lazy.

Take healthcare. Back in the '70s and '80s, if you had a job, you most likely had health insurance that actually covered things. Deductibles were low, and sometimes nonexistent. Copays were nothing or very little. Getting sick sucked, sure, but it didn't bankrupt you. Even if you were starting in some entry-level position, you had decent coverage.

Fast forward to now. High deductibles. Small networks. Massive out-of-pocket costs. With insurance, people are delaying doctor visits. Younger people say, "Hey, maybe we need universal healthcare or at least better public options." And what do they hear? "That's unrealistic." "That's socialism." Never mind that most Boomers had it better.

Same story with college. When Boomers attended public universities, tuition was barely more than the minimum wage. You could work a summer job and pay for it all, or a good chunk of the year. Most people graduated with little to no debt. Education was seen as benefiting society, not just the individual.

Since then, tuition has exploded while wages have stagnated. Student debt follows people for decades, making it nearly impossible to buy a house, start a family, or save anything for retirement. But younger people still get told they chose the wrong major or didn't work hard enough, as if the math works the same way it did back then.

The biggest contradiction is in retirement programs. Boomers strongly advocate for Social Security and Medicare. These programs help shield them from poverty and medical bankruptcy. At the same time, many oppose funding changes that would keep these programs afloat for future generations. They accept help for themselves but criticize younger people for wanting similar support earlier in life.

This creates a double standard. When public systems helped Boomers, they called it opportunity. When younger people ask for fair wages, affordable healthcare, or debt-free education, it’s called entitlement.

The truth is uncomfortable but simple. Boomers lived in a time when hard work and basic skills were enough to succeed. That system doesn’t exist anymore. Allowing ignorance to propagate gives people a sense of moral superiority. It helps them avoid responsibility for the problems they have allowed to erode.

Entitlements aren’t handouts. They’re shared investments that once made society more stable and fair. The real question isn’t whether younger generations are asking for too much, but why older generations won’t admit how much they have received.

References:

https://www.epi.org/publication/webfeaturessnapshots20070718/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomeownershipintheUnitedStates
https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds/has-intergenerational-progress-stalled-income-growth-over-five-generations-of-americans.htm
https://wallethub.com/edu/d/student-loan-debt-statistics/130210
https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2010/10/socialtrends-boomers120805.pdf