ThefirstofthoseborninthebabyboomfollowingtheSecondWorldWarcameofageintheradicalsixties.Notsince1918hadtheyoungtalkedseriousrevolutionarypoliticsastheydidthen.Butin1918,themenwhocamebackfromthewarknewthattheworldwasamiss,andwhattheyhadtodoaboutit.WhenatlastthegenerationthatfoughttheGreatWarcametopower,theychangedtheworld.Bycontrast,thegenerationthatcameafterdecayedfast.ForthefirsttimesincetheSecondWorldWar,therewasmoney,therewassafesex,therewasfreedom,andnoonebotheredtostopandrememberthepriceearliergenerationshadpaidforthis.Mostofthemhardlyrealisedtheprivationsoftheirparents,andthestrugglethathadtakenplacetoensurethattheywerenotequallydeprived.Whatbeganasthemostradical-soundinggenerationforhalfacenturyturnedintoarandomcollectionofyouthfulstylegurus,sharp-toothedentrepreneursandmanagementconsultantswhobelievedrevolutionmeantnewwaysofsellingthings;andThatcherites,whothoughtfreedommeantfreemarkets,notfreepeople.AtlastitfounditsmostcompleteexpressioninNewLabour,whichhadnoideawhateitherrevolutionorfreedommeant,butratherlikedthesoundofthewords.Whilethephilosophyofthesixtiesseemedprogressiveatthetime,thebabyboomerswerememberarenotthepoliticalreformers,butthemillionaires.InWhatDidtheBabyBoomersEverDoforUs?FrancisBeckettarguesthatthechildrenofthe'60sbetrayedthegenerationsthatcamebeforeandafter,andthatthetruelegacyoftheswingingdecadeisashes.