The well-known columnist David Brooks recently wrote a provocative op-ed piece in The New York Times, titled The Geezers’ Crusade.

Although the piece is more balanced than the title and quote below may give impression of, Brooks is obviously not afraid of stepping on anyone’s toes.

One of the keys to healthy aging is what George Vaillant of Harvard calls “generativity” — providing for future generations. Seniors who perform service for the young have more positive lives and better marriages than those who don’t.  (…) We are naturally inclined to serve those who come after and thrive when performing that role. The odd thing is that when you turn to political life, we are living in an age of reverse-generativity. Far from serving the young, the old are now taking from them.

Read the full article here.