Put Away Childish Things, Especially Those Dopey Chants
By David Bittinger
April 4th, 2025
Children are often adorable. Childish adults are never adorable.
I’m lucky to have one of that former population in my life. My five-year-old grandson James is already a good reader, fortunate that his parents gave him early reading lessons and that he isn’t trapped in the school system of a cratering single-party city. His imaginative little songs are more enjoyable than songs featured on Grammy broadcasts now.
Unfortunately, 2025 America is better populated by that latter population: childish, tantrum-fueled adults, many of them tattooed and unhealthy-looking. Their favorite dialectical technique is mob chanting.
Demographic disclosure: I’m a Boomer (not a “stardust” or “golden” one) who —
— wishes America had sustained more of the values and behavior portrayed in Leave It To Beaver
— feels he didn’t quite deserve the advantages he had by coming of age when America was still mostly functional
— keeps trying to filter his baseball team through his sappy dreams over many decades (miraculously coming true only in 2005) and has trouble processing the 2024-based reality of The Worst Baseball Team Ever.
Granted, we Boomers minted the whine coin and still seem to feel the world should revolve around our generation. But in this century the grown-up nurseries are getting larger and louder.
In the name of justice, they form human blockades of roads, blocking drivers trying to get to their jobs. They complain that their degree in Sexist Capitalist Studies attracts no job offers. And they chant their hatred of a tiny country trying to survive on a sliver of land the size of Belize. (I had to look up the location of Belize.)
More justice: They also vandalize great works of art to publicize weather predictions that always turn out less accurate than those of The Farmer’s Almanac.
These arrested-development mob protestors have strong opinions on current events yet piddling historical knowledge. But they sure know how to chant. Three of their favorites (with translations):
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” (Destroy Israel. Disperse / dispose of Israelis.)
“By any means necessary” (Paragliding murderers are a legitimate battle tactic.)
“Zionism is racism” (My professor at Columbia says Zionists are bad.)
You might want to ask one of them what they’re driving at. Then again, you might not.
Here’s the gist of a conversation I once had with one of the adult children who despise Israel. I started by trying to discuss with him some historical background of the conflict between Israel and its enemies. Our conversation was limited and impossible to transcribe, but it went something like this:
Me: Do you know the major alliances in World War II — which nations fought with the United States and which were our enemies?
Childish Adult: Sure. Wasn’t the enemy England? And we dumped their tea or something?
M: No, in this war England was our ally.
CA: So they changed sides?
M: Ummm . . . why do you hate Israel so much?
CA: Well, a guy in my dorm told me those people have too much money. You know, like the Rockerfellows.
M: Maybe you should read up on Germany in the 1930s and what happened to —
CA: I know, I know. The Zionists lost that one. A professor told me.
M: (Sigh . . . .)
The childish adults have another object of hatred almost as strong as the one they have for Israel: the threats posed by the new Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to people who work — or technically work — for the federal government. With fascinating elasticity, their declared boogie man here is the same guy who was their hero of woke environmentalism just a few years ago, Elon Musk.
What is Musk’s current sin against Woke-ism? Did he move on from producing Teslas to monster SUVs with gun racks?
No, he merely exercised a professional expertise he’d exercised before.
Musk, one of the most productive entrepreneurs in human history, forayed into the world of unproductive jobs when he bought social network service Twitter. First, he gauged the efficiency of Twitter’s staff of 7,500 desk jockeys and censorship editors. His “What would you say you do here?” inquiries weren’t comical like the ones in “Office Space,” but Musk did quickly make Twitter work more efficiently with a staff of 1,500.
The tightly unionized and entitlement-gorged federal workforce reacted to DOGE with more rage and legal machinations than did the staff of the movie’s fictional Initech. Their protests included splendidly embarrassing folk songs.
Why did DOGE give special scrutiny to the Department of Education? Maybe because its steady increase from a $56.9 billion budget in 1980 to $268 billion in 2024 has coincided with a disastrous period in American education. During that period, our country’s worldwide ranking in education dropped from 1st to 24th.
Oh, so that’s what they do there.
There’s another way to look at the childish-adult protests about these initial efforts to reduce the morbid obesity of the federal government. The United States’ debt problem is serious, even though it’s been treated for decades as a bookkeeping nuisance.
Maybe we should look at numerical digits, all 14 of them. Our federal debt — the amount we taxpayers owe to U.S. debt instrument buyers (including shrewd Chinese communists) — is above $36,000,000,000,000, moving by the second toward $37,000,000,000,000.
What are the adult-child protesters really raging about in the efforts by President Trump and DOGE adviser Musk? In effect, $36,000,000,000,000 of national debt is not enough, nor will $37,000,000,000,000 be. Even though the Biden Handlers Administration propelled America through hyper-inflation and $7 trillion annual budgets toward some form of national bankruptcy, they’re telling us now that $7 trillion annually (adjusted upwards annually) is not enough spending.
Spend more, retain every federal job and pension. More spending and debt, even more. Don’t consider what happened to the money-printing zombie of Germany’s Weimar Republic. Don’t consider what happened to Greece in 2007-08, when they were finally forced to reckon with the entitlement fantasies demanded by their childish adults.
The protestors are now chanting for the sacrosanctity of every federal position, however non-productive or counter-productive, plus the continued “work at home” euphemism. They demand even more billions spent by the Department of Education to produce more poorly educated students.
Humble suggestion to the government worshippers: Maybe you should try something more resourceful than more Trump impeachments, vandalizing of Teslas, harassing of Jewish students, cringeworthy folk songs.
Please consider reading some factual 20th century history, especially issues involving Russia and Germany. Consider outgrowing the allegiances they taught you in college.
-30-
David Bittinger lives defensively in Packers country but still feels deep affection for the Chicago he moved from shortly after the kingdom of Daley The First. As a young advertising copywriter in Chicago, he was advised by the Tribune’s wise Managing Editor to write newspaper commentary. This good advice took 15 years to sink in. The great, open-minded Tribune Commentary Editor Marcia Lythcott published him a number of times. His op-eds were also published at the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and elsewhere. Today he posts articles on his seldom-visited website curveballcommentary.com and political poetry on “X.” He’s remained a faithful White Sox fan since the Louie-Nellie era, but is now embarrassed even to wear that fine logo.
Comments 30
The whiners of the ignorant Left always rehash the “Hey, Hey; Ho, Ho….” chant and one really sets this old Boomer off.
Wonderful piece!
But “Hang Mike Pence” was perfectly fine, wasn’t it? Did you chant along with them? And how about those working gallows they carried?
Nice work here sir. I think it’s time I added your postings to my reading list.
Outstanding column. Was with lots of boomers the other night at the Ryman aka the mother church, to hear the farewell tour of the Righteous brothers. Sadly Bobby has passed, the torch picked up well by Bucky Heard. They were an opening act at the Amphitheatre for the Beatles in September of 1963. We had no inkling of what was to come on Nov 22nd that year nor subsequent ones to this day but we have worked hard to embody the spirit of our parents, the Greatest Generation who travelled the world – many to die preserving freedom for people we did not know nor places/names they did not recognize. Today our grandkids line the pathways of once places of challenge and learning, not libspeak indoctrination. No clue the price of that freedom.
Thanks for a great column. And thanks as always to Kasso for widening our horizons with new contributors.
Very well said.
From one boomer to another, David, you are a refreshing slap of wisdom on this Friday morning. God bless you pal. Just checked out your website. it’s a delight, thanks!
Thanks, Mike! I’m trying. And I’m sure t’would provide me refreshing wisdom to see you in a Shakespeare production, perhaps the role of Macmorris? Glad to have an opportunity to raise a glass to mighty Mike, perhaps a Temperance Irish Coffee.
The interest due on the national debt costs $3 billion — A DAY! That can’t be chanted away. DOGE is way, way overdue.
Absolutely brilliant and the illustration is perfect too.
I won’t indict the whole college-age demographic because of a very loud and increasingly violent minority, but would appeal to the common sense crowd of all ages to start demanding that our laws be enforced.
I grew up in the 60s, came of age in the 70s, and I’m good with peaceful protests, however, the minute the first lane of traffic is blocked, the first Tesla set afire, the first window broken, or the first frozen water bottle pelted at cops,consequences should be served up quickly. Go Pam Bondi!
Yes to everything you stated. One of the most glaring differences between the protesters of the 60’s and the dimwits now, is the ones of the 60’s could explain why they were protesting.
But the J6 “protesters” are exempt, right?
Sir:
It’s shameful,but I like what you say here about the Department of Education .
Thank you,
Our average reading and math scores are hovering at less than a 30% proficiency rate. At my last count in school, below 70% was an “F” grade. And they want more money! For failing our students, I think not.
As “Boomers” we only have our selves to blame for the silly, rhyming chants. Who can forget, “Hey, Hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” Aging professors never forgot. They are the ones inspiring the madness, as they celebrate what the rest of us moved on from long, long ago.
So how many gooks did you kill for Christ in that war, Jimmy?
Listen to the little chickenhawk Ruddnik squawk from his parent’s basement. I dare you Rudd to explain where you were during the war in Nam, I will bet not on the front lines, probably 4f.
Never served in that immoral racist war. But tell us how gooks/slopes did u kill for Christ.
Excellent column. Thank you for sharing this. Knowledge of history and facts are not the strength of the woke mob. Well written.
Remember we were once “Baby Boomers?” Now we are just “Boomers.”
They aren’t concerned with facts. World History? I give you the 1619 Project.
David,
I am one of those 78 year old boomers, who have not stood on the street chanting, protesting, carrying Soros made signs for “fairness” or “equality!” I was taught by my Greek immigrant parents that you must work for everything, so as not to be a burden to your country and family! It worked, and I raised two wonderful “kids” (now almost 50) who are raising their kids with installation of the same work ethic! It amazes me how many millions of our generation continue to behave like spoiled brats, demanding this or that – but most importantly, to be heard! So they bang their drums loudly, stand in the way of trucks or cars – which are driven by folks just trying to get to work to make a living. These boomers feel they are “entitled,” for which I blame an entire generation of parents. Give the kids whatever they want so they’ll stop nagging…was their idea of parenting. Don’t dare punish the kids for fear of being accused of being a child abuser – God forbid. At this ripe old age, I guess the old adage rings true ‘ “spare the rod and spoil the child!” Now we must deal with the aftermath!
I always felt there was a small halo of conceit that enveloped the Baby Boom. But that has been a miniscule price to pay. The Boom has been like an ice breaker for the rest of us so our sailing through life has been smoother, but also so colorful and fulfilling. This is so real I can reach out and grab hold of it.
I fortunately cut my adult teeth at the hip of Conservative Boomers!
Boomers are great mentors and I learn so much even now.
Most of us who follow in this wake can’t really fully comprehend what this generation faced after World War II. Mr. Kass’s family’s oral tradition of the Greek Civil wars is a fine illustration. WW II was like a massive earthquake with MASSIVE aftershocks that can still be felt.
We don’t know how lucky we are, believe me. And now we have a conservative Boomer in the White House. Another icebreaker, and look at all the many younger generations in his administration following along. See what I mean. This is so familiar to me and I am so grateful!!
Well stated. The left continues down the path of idiocy, yet they can’t understand why they are so unpopular.
Me? I’m enjoying every minute of it all.
I don’t share your optimism. Despite Trump’s talk of a landslide, the fact is that the November election was damn close (a few percentage points or less in all the pivotal states). As more of us boomers “leave the scene”, we’ll be replaced by scores of ignoramuses like the individual David interviewed. Imagine the types of candidates they’ll elect.
Yes, it’s hard to be optimistic about the new generations when they are so obviously clueless about how the real world works, and how it got here. David’s descriptions of the ignorant LGBTQ+ ‘adults’ coming out of current academia (24th and falling fast) and “office spaces” (a movie favorite) is right on target. They clearly have no idea how the world survived through several 20th-century atrocities, and has been failing because of their recent leaders’ self-serving malfeasance. Joseph Goebbels would have relished having them for a willing audience. Musk, DOGE and Trump’s high-quality team members are huge rays of hope to reverse the US fall. But they have to work fast, and communicate more with the 60% middle voters.
Well, the Dems miscalculated Trump supporters- thought it would be much less than 2020’s since their only campaign issue this time was Trump. So, they printed only the same number of ballots for Kamala like last election and lost. The real votes for HH Harris would be half of what was counted!
I am a firm believer in (actual) “Peaceful Protest”- if we didn’t have it available to people for the media to chronicle, we’d probably still have Black people sitting at the rear of the bus and drinking from separate water fountains, we’d probably still be involved in the Vietnam War. Peaceful Protests are a way for people to share their concerns in a non-violent and legal manner.
Watching some of these (allegedly) “educated” anti-Israel protesters, however, has added a new wrinkle. Instead of just protesting, they are taking over buildings and physically assaulting people with whom they disagree, both of which are crimes, as I recall.
I was watching an interview with one of these “protesters” not long ago. The reporter conducting the interview asked the “protester” this question: “You have been chanting From the River to the Sea during your protest, and you have those words on many of your signs. To which River are you referring?”. This idiot looked at the reporter and said “The Nile”, while all of her idiot buddies behind her nodded their approval. Pathetic
I noticed the healthy abundance of “non profits” operating in Chicago a few years ago. Always ready to mobilize a crowd of shrieking screaming millennials for the cameras at a moments notice. These unpaid, unemployed college graduates raged against the machine. Any machine. They received the “non” part of the “nonprofit”. The people running the “non profit ” always seem to be well compensated. They drive late model BMWs and live in loft condos in the hip West Loop. You never seen them standing out in the cold rain with a sign. A successful” non profiteer” for a food bank in Minnesota recently resigned her “non profit” position after it was revealed she gifted herself with a salary over 700 grand a year. And this is where our taxes are going. And this explains why these grifters are crying the loudest. I’d bitch too if I was losing a 700 grand a year salary thanks to Eli Musk and his DOGE department.
Lets keep ’em crying…
Great column, David! What of the childish adults who become governor through his family’s billions unencumbered by fiscal restraints through their hotel industry fortune and who have 62 NGOs – I think it’s 62; I’ve lost count – many of them catering to butchering prepubescent children and their moms with a certain shade of hair color not on L’Oreal’s chart?
Yes our federal bureaucracy is much too bloated and inefficient and should be given a haircut … just on principle. But the real money is not there. The real money – over 60% of our debt – comes from mandatory spending. That would be SS and Medicare/Medicaid … the “infamous” third rails of politics. And neither Trump nor Musk has meaningfully dealt with this. Until politicians actually develop the cojones to deal with these “entitlements” all else is mere fiscal kabuki.
Excellent view of today’s whiners. It is truly incredible to me that anyone who works for a living, and pays taxes, could possibly be against the work of the DOGE. I doubt you could find a rational person in this Country who would actually believe that there is no wasteful spending by our Government. It only took one visit to the Gallery of the U.S. Senate in session to show me how much money our Government could waste in a matter of minutes.
In addition, I spent a few years working in a Government job. During that time I was able to view, first hand, just how easy it is to be employed by the Federal Government, but get by on doing as little as possible.
Keep up the good work and I will be checking out your website.