Why the Review-Journal is launching “Boom”

Baby boomers — the nearly 80 million men and women born during the post-World War II baby boom years of 1946 and 1964 — are entering or into their golden years.

They’ve lived through the civil rights movement, feminism, Vietnam War protests, and calls for gay rights and rights for the disabled. It’s not surprising that many researchers characterize boomers as positive countercultural social and political rabble-rousers.

Yet there were many boomers who moved in more conservative directions, particularly those who impacted society through business, blue collar trades, law enforcement, the military and Republican Party politics.

It was also boomers who created an $18 trillion national debt that will take generations to pay off — if ever. And it was a large number of boomers in the ’70s — supposedly disillusioned by the Vietnam War — who became the “Me” and “Now” generations that got too many hooked on drugs.

Because boomers were part of some of the nation’s greatest cultural changes — even the face of the workplace began changing from a largely racially homogenous, paternalistic environment to one of expanded gender and racial diversity — it makes sense to look at what boomers, expected to live longer than any other generation in history, will do next.

Today, the Review-Journal launches a new page called “Boom,” journalism zeroing in on a generation that in earlier years was dissected and analyzed like no other. There is so much ground to cover.

Do the “adult teenagers” of Las Vegas plan on fulfilling dreams that could once again force cultural change? Will there be an economic slowdown if many boomers leave the workforce in unison? How are they handling saving and debt management? Will self-esteem or money issues keep them from retiring?

So many questions about a generation that moves to the beat of rock ’n’ roll and Motown. Starting today, the Review-Journal introduces you to people who can help provide some answers.

Paul Harasim’s column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Friday in the Nevada section and Thursday in the Life section. Contact him at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Follow him on Twitter: @paulharasim