I am nearing mid-life now, and on my birthday I write this letter to you to apologize for what my generation has done to the country that you will inherit.

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The people of my generation were selfish and were appropriately dubbed the “Me Generation.” We fought no wars, we built up the citizenry’s dependence on government and we spent money on ourselves for which we will leave you the tab. For that, I am eternally apologetic. I did my part to avoid this by working hard, paying taxes, and never asking the government for anything but to leave me alone. And I wrote a column that tried to educate people on the power of capitalism, minimal government, and prudent fiscal policies. It took our country 230 years to rack up $5 trillion in debt, and only two presidencies to double that to $10 trillion.

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Then, when the Republicans lost their way and became Democrats, we elected a charismatic president who promised an undefined agenda of “hope.” A fawning media never asked him any hard questions, and they became his cheerleaders. In 2008, journalism died.