The boomers came of age in an era of unprecedented prosperity and focus on individual self esteem.  They were really the first generation to grow up as beneficiaries of the New Deal and with promises of governmental and societal support.  Despite all the benefits they had received, by the 1980s, they managed to convince themselves they'd done it all with out any help from anyone and set out dismantling the society that had enabled their prosperity.

The pity of it all isn't so much that the Boomers were (and are) entitled brats, but that they have no recognition of the benefits they received.  As a generation they were born on third base and have spent the rest of time thinking they hit a triple.