Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has suggested that the rise of socialism among younger Americans is a direct result of dissatisfaction with the world inherited from the Baby Boomer generation. However, this assertion has been challenged, with an opposing viewpoint arguing that Millennials and Gen Z are experiencing an era of unprecedented prosperity and safety, and that the notion of a uniquely grueling economic period for them is "utterly delusional."
The argument posits that the middle class has not been gutted, but rather expanded into the upper middle class. In 1980, 36% of American families were classified as middle-class, a figure that has shifted as the upper middle class grew from 10% to over 30% of households. This expansion, combined with real median income growth across all classes over the past 40 years, suggests a significant economic inheritance for younger generations. The average American family in Mississippi, for instance, now reportedly has a higher per-capita GDP than the average family in France, Britain, or Germany.
Concerns about housing affordability are acknowledged as a genuine issue. However, homeownership rates are presented as being no lower today than in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1990s, and most of the 1980s. The ownership rate in 1980 was 65.5%, and by 2025, it was 65.4%. Temporary spikes in the 2000s are attributed to government policies incentivizing purchases by individuals who could not afford them. Housing shortages are framed not as a generational failing, but as a consequence of high demand in desirable urban areas.
Environmental improvements are also cited as a benefit inherited by younger generations. The environment is described as being "infinitely cleaner today than it was 30, 40, 50 years ago," with widespread reforesting, wetland restoration, less litter, and drastically improved air and water quality. When Baby Boomers began driving, leaded gasoline was common, and catalytic converters were rare. Gen X, by contrast, grew up with concerns about "nuclear winter" and "acid rain."
Spending patterns show that the average household today dedicates less of its budget to clothing and food than previous generations, while having access to substantially more choices, including international and nutritious options. While healthcare costs have risen, partly due to policy and partly due to prosperity leading to longer life expectancies and better care, overall safety has significantly increased. Vehicular deaths per 100,000 have been halved since 1980, and fire-related deaths and workplace fatalities have plummeted. New York City, for example, recorded 305 murders last year, one of the lowest totals in its recorded history.
The article counters the narrative that Ocasio-Cortez's generation experienced financial crises that inherently pushed them left. Since Ocasio-Cortez turned 18 in 2007, the U.S. has experienced only two years of negative economic growth, one of which was due to a global pandemic. This contrasts sharply with the period from 1970 to 2007, which saw a recessionary year roughly every three to four years. The current era is characterized by shorter and less severe recessions, suggesting that younger Americans are living in a period of relative economic stability.
Ultimately, the piece concludes that while challenges exist, by most quantifiable measures, Americans are living in a "uniquely wealthy and safe world." It suggests that Ocasio-Cortez should acknowledge the advancements and economic stability provided by previous generations, particularly Baby Boomers, rather than attributing societal issues solely to their legacy.