The future is being stolen from the millennial generation. Baby boomers have much to answer for: a legacy of economic instability, poor job growth, and an environmental disregard.
The future is being stolen from the millennial generation. Baby boomers have much to answer for: a legacy of economic instability, poor job growth, and an environmental disregard. Confessions of an Old Man is a statement of collective guilt that places the responsibility on the author's generation for dealing a bad card to its children.
This is a call to action for the MI generation (defined as those born between 1980 and 2018)-a generation with the most to lose if the United States continues with its current domestic and foreign policies. Millennials are paying the bills for their parents' neglect and they must have a say in their own future. Confessions of an OldMan is also a call to those parents and grandparents who want to leave a better America for their children and grandchildren.
The elections of 2018 and 2020 will be the most consequential elections of this generation. The US House of Representative is filled with aging representatives (many of whom have held office for at least 20 years have become part of the permanent political class) who are out of touch with the priorities of the coming generation. At least 51 incumbent congresspersons are not seeking reelection in 2018—a record and the best chance for turnover in congress. We can effectuate change. Now is the time. This book challenges the MI Generation to take charge of its destiny or have the future decided by rich old white men.
Excerpt
I am full of guilt, frustration, and anger, and I feel helpless as I turn sixty-five with three millennial sons. I must confess that my generation is robbing future generations. This book is about how their future is being stolen right in front of their eyes and what the younger generations can do about it. It is not a personal exposé, as one might expect from the title, but a statement of collective guilt that places the responsibility on my generation for dealing a bad card to future generations. I would like to think that this book speaks for a significant number of my generation, most of whom will agree with the observations and reflections made here.
This is a call to action for the MI generation—who has the most to lose if the United States continues with its current domestic and foreign policies. Millennials and the iGeneration combined are called the MI generation in this book.They are defined as those who were born after 1980, and they represent almost half the US population.1 It is also a call to those parents and grandparents who want to leave a better America for their children and grandchildren. Members of the MI generation are paying the bills for my generation. Therefore, they must have a say in their own future. However, that right has to be demanded by engaging with the private and public sectors at all levels, especially at the federal level.
My generation is leaving members of the MI generation a mountain of national debt to pay down for the rest of their lives, a very expensive higher education system that does not provide a decent return on their money, and an un-affordable and inaccessible health-care system. They are left with a planet that is getting warmer and two unwinnable wars primarily financed by money borrowed from foreign countries. If that is not enough, the Beltway has created a political system where politicians are too busy dividing Americans and making them afraid of one another just to win their next election.
Professional Reviews
Kirkus Review
A spirited critique of American politicians’ treatment of younger generations, and a plan of action for youth empowerment.
According to Moon (The Beltway Beast, 2014), a 65-year-old former financial industry executive and father of three, his generation’s stewardship of American democracy has been a moral disgrace. Its greatest victim, he says, is the “MI generation,” which includes millennials and the “iGeneration,” defined as “those born after 1998.” The current crop of American political leaders, he says, has given MIs a dangerous environmental policy, a widening chasm of economic inequality, and a toxic culture of rigid partisanship. The author particularly focuses on the damage caused by student-loan debt and an incoherent health care system. In both cases, he asserts, industries are permitted to engender unchecked hyperinflation. The United States government makes billions in profit annually from student loans, he says, which threatens to financially cripple an entire younger generation. And the health care system, he writes, seems designed to deliver the most onerous costs and the most limited choice. He does offer good news, though, noting that the MI generation is loaded with talent and diversity, that it has a penchant for entrepreneurial and technological innovation, and that it will soon become a dominant voting bloc. Moon recommends a political-action plan that focuses on winning vulnerable congressional seats and offers a set of criteria for selecting suitable candidates. Despite admitting his “guilt, frustration, and anger” at the current state of things at the outset of this book, the author supplies a surprisingly sober analysis—one that’s consistently reasonable and pragmatic. He also avoids obvious partisan allegiances, dispensing plenty of criticism for both major parties and decrying an electoral system that makes it extraordinarily hard for a candidate outside the two-party system to prosper. That said, this is a very brief study that covers an expansive stretch of political terrain, and as a result, some of the arguments, particularly in the sections on health care and student debt, are more exacting than others; a section on foreign policy is sensible but covers familiar ground. Overall, though, this is an intelligent call for practical reform.
An inspiring, provocative encouragement to younger generations to exercise political clout.
Manhattan Book Review
Confessions of an Old Man is a thought-provoking warning for Millennials and the iGeneration from a knowledgeable Baby Boomer who appears genuinely concerned about the future of America--even after he's gone. I recommend this book to all who desire imminent change, but I deem it a must-read for Millenials. Munir Moon starts out by identifying his audience--the MI generation. The “M” refers to Millenials and the “I” to those born in the iGeneration. By Moon's definition, these are all who were born after 1980.
Moon's compassion for the younger generation is evident; however, he doesn't hold back and will spark a sense of urgency in any reader. All critical issues are covered in the book: inequality, immigration, politics, student loans, climate change, gun control, healthcare, unemployment, outsourcing jobs, national debt, foreign policies, sexual harassment, retirement, and social security. Moon forces MIs to take a hard look at how America reached its current state--national debt, partisan politics, etc. He points out that “Congress and The White House have been living on the backs of the younger generation since 1980 by continuing to spend more than they collect in taxes.” Their premise is that “they will be long gone before any serious problems from uncontrolled national debt can surface,” therefore leaving MIs to figure out how to repay the debt. He points out that tax breaks providing relief today essentially buy time for the older generation while prolonging financial disaster for MIs. Not only does Moon help the reader comprehend the coming crisis, but he also proposes ideas to help change its trajectory. He suggests that MIs start by voting; "the process of change can start by firing congresspersons and senators, most of who are rich old white men and are part of the permanent political class," Moons says. He even offers an appendix listing representatives who have been in office for twenty years or more and those who are 70 years or older. The appendix provides mind-blowing perspective on why MIs concerns are not being addressed appropriately; a white male senator born in 1933 who has served Congress for 44 years may not wholly grasp the issues a Native woman born in 1985 faces. Moon also offers a NextGen Protection pledge in his appendix. He proposes that candidates running for House of Representatives and Senate sign and post the pledge on their websites. The first item up for pledge--relief for student loans!
In his confession, this old man is guaranteed to convince the reader that serious issues can be conquered by working the democratic process--but the people must act.
Reviewed by Johnna Rocker-Clinton
San Francisco Book Review
If you’re a millennial with an interest in economics or politics, Munir Moon’s Confessions of an Old Man will be an enjoyable read. Exploring the ways that the baby boomer generation has robbed millennials of future economic stability, Moon uses in-depth research to quickly establish himself as an authority on the subject. Yet, his writing style is easy to read. Even someone with little to no background in economics will find it simple to follow along.
Sprinkled throughout the book are quotes, summaries, and key questions, helping to guide the reader through the data-driven material. In a chapter on healthcare, Moon primes the reader by asking, "Why are health-care costs continuing to go up at a much higher rate than inflation?"
The book piqued my interest when Moon began a lively discussion on student loans. Delving into the history of federal loans in higher education, Moon exposes the fact that keeping the government as a sole lender prohibits students from refinancing, thus allowing the government to keep sole control over the price of loans. Student loans are a huge source of frustration to nearly every millennial, and learning the history of how they came to be was both enlightening and frustrating. The truly delightful thing about this book is the fact that Moon does not stop at simply being informative. He offers frequent calls to action, encouraging Millennials to vote and take charge of their future in practical ways. Occasionally, the book strays away into what seems like tangents—pausing for a brief moment to talk about how women are treated in the medical system, for example, or explaining racial bigotry or inequality in the government. Yet, Moon finds a way to tie all these components back to the main point. The result is a book that is both challenging and informative.
Though Moon makes it clear that he’s writing this book for Millennials, it seems to be just as much geared for Baby Boomers and anyone seeking to learn a little more about our current political and economic state. Describing the array of challenges that have been set up for the Millennial generation, the book thoughtfully explores many aspects of our present-day system that have been affected by the decisions of the Baby Boomer generation. Anyone who is interested in learning a little more about economics, government, the environment, and the implications of the so-called “American Dream” is sure to enjoy Moon’s Confessions of an Old Man.
Reviewed by Ashley Simon
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Reviews for "Confessions of an Old Man: How Millennials are Being Robbed"
You describe yourself as, "a former financial executive." That would clearly place you as part of the problem. My observation is that when accountants (the big eight) and money managers took over consulting in the 1980s from engineers and scientists, along with the regulation sponsored by a very popular president and his financial supporters, the meltdown of America's greatness began.
I agree with all of the premises described in your description. I, too, have many suggestions for how we can move forward. I believe that income inequality and global warming are the two greatest threats we face. And, that money has too great an influence on the political process.
I come from a family that is always been frugal. While I don't have children to face the future, all of my great nieces and nephews are doing very well and most of them finished college with little or no debt. All have very good jobs that benefit society and their children are growing up in a loving, two-parent environment. When the effects of global warming become painfully evident, that generation will rise to the challenge, forget piling up personal wealth, and save the planet.
From the land of the milked and honeyed here’s a few political faux pas and a bit of attitude exposed to the harsh light of a Canadian who actually has their own opinion.
