Joe Klein writes for Time Magazine. I suppose he's a pretty good writer. But in this article, he demonstrates the quintessential way to undermine your own argument. His choice of poisons? Boomer self-importance.
Here's a sampling.
For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp. In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age — say, 80 — all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give you our driver's licenses. (I mean, can you imagine how terrifying a nation of decrepit, solipsistic 90-year-old boomers behind the wheel would be?) We'll let you proceed with your lives — much of which will be spent paying for our retirement, in any case — without having to hear us complain about our every ache and reflux. We'll be too busy exploring altered states of consciousness. I even have a slogan for the campaign: "Tune in, turn on, drop dead."He goes on to present a very detailed and convincing case for the legalization of marijuana. But, by the time he gets there, he's already used 3 column inches waxing self-important on just how wonderful his "generation" is. Were it not for my personal belief that the War on Drugs is an immoral and wasteful exercise in futility, I wouldn't have continued reading to see what his take was. As it was, it took every fiber of my being to suppress the urge to throw up in my mouth.
Boomers, please. STFU about how "wonderful" and "enlightened" and "special" you are in your own eyes. Everybody who isn't you hates you! You're the Chris Berman of generations: all bombast and self-congratulations all the time. Please just stop.
