For decades, Baby Boomers were painted as America’s most fortunate generation. Born into postwar prosperity, they inherited a world of expanding suburban homes, steady jobs with pensions, and an economy that—at least on the surface—offered endless opportunity. Yet, for the vast majority, reality diverged from the myth. Many entered adulthood in the stagflation-riddled 1970s, invested during the flat stock markets of the 1970s and early 1980s, and later watched secure pension funds erode as corporations shifted to 401(k) plans. By the time they reached retirement age, they were often staring at meager balances, insecure Social Security prospects, and rising medical costs.

This financial disappointment—compounded by decades of work without the expected payoff—turned into bitterness. It is no coincidence that a large swath of disillusioned Boomers found themselves drawn to the rhetoric of “Make America Great Again.”

The Economic Betrayal

Boomers were told that loyalty to the system—working hard, buying homes, saving diligently—would yield security. Instead, they lived through:

• Market stagnation: Many of their early prime earning years coincided with flat equity returns and double-digit inflation.
• Disappearing pensions: Employers shifted responsibility for retirement from guaranteed pensions to individualized 401(k)s, leaving workers exposed to market volatility.
• Housing illusions: Though some enjoyed housing booms, others found themselves overleveraged, hit by foreclosures, or unable to extract the equity they expected.

The dream soured, and with it came resentment toward elites, institutions, and politicians who seemed to prosper while they struggled.

Self-Inflicted Wounds

Yet, to blame only external forces would be too neat. A counter-argument looms: many Boomers failed not just because of macroeconomic betrayal, but because of personal financial decisions shaped by culture.

• Credit card debt: The first generation to fully embrace consumer credit, many racked up balances they could not repay.
• Keeping up with the Joneses: A culture of visible consumption—bigger houses, newer cars, brand-name lifestyles—often took precedence over saving.
• Poor money management: Surveys consistently showed inadequate retirement planning, with millions never calculating how much they’d need.

This culture of consumption masked financial fragility until retirement revealed the gap.

From Resentment to Populism

Enter MAGA. When Donald Trump offered a nostalgic narrative of “taking back” a country from unseen enemies, many Boomers heard not just politics, but personal absolution. MAGA became a balm for the bitterness:

• A scapegoat for failure: Instead of admitting that decades of overspending or undersaving played a role, they could externalize blame onto immigrants, globalization, or liberal elites.
• A return to myth: “Great Again” resonated with the memory of their youth, when prosperity seemed automatic and America’s dominance unquestioned.
• A community of grievance: For those feeling cheated by Wall Street, Washington, or their own children’s criticism, MAGA provided a tribe that validated their anger.

The Irony of the Movement

The irony is rich. A movement led by billionaires and fueled by corporate donations became the vessel for those who feel most betrayed by capitalism’s failures. Many struggling Boomers, angry at their lack of retirement security, flocked to leaders who offered them anger, not policy. MAGA, in practice, rarely delivered the pensions, healthcare, or housing relief they craved. What it offered instead was identity—a sense of belonging, of righteousness, of finally being heard.

The Legacy of Bitterness

As Boomers age into their final decades, the embrace of MAGA may be remembered not as a political awakening but as a bitter coda to a generation that once promised progress. The tragedy lies in how personal disappointment metastasized into national division. Their financial frustrations were real. Their sense of betrayal was valid. But their chosen political refuge has not solved the very problems that fueled their discontent.

Instead, it has hardened bitterness into ideology, leaving a legacy of resentment for future generations to inherit.