Baby Boomers have always possessed a great social conscience carefully directed into areas bringing them peer acceptance by costless displays of compassion. Their hijacking of the civil rights movement provides a clear example. The hallmark legislation affirming human equality was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which became law just as the first Baby Boomers graduated from high school. Eisenhower made the first efforts during his administration only to be thwarted by LBJ and other Southern Democrats. The generations, which came to maturity in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s, are the ones, which paid the price and triumphed against formidable opposition.

Baby Boomers have an unprecedented focus on self. With that generation coming of age, the divorce rate first exceeded the marriage rate, and there was first enacted a nationwide Federal Support Enforcement program to track down deadbeat dads. In the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s syphilis and gonorrhea were the widely known venereal diseases. Now over thirty diseases are transmitted, and only professionals can keep track.

The Baby Boomer generation has achieved self-actualization through moral exhibitionism and militant self-absorption, and has strained the survival of this country as much as our Civil War.