How the Cleaver family destroyed our S&Ls; low mortgages, high CD rates, and money market funds allowed Americans over 40 to take the rest of us to the cleaners

There may be another way to identify the gold medalists. Once again, we can turn to Money magazine for leadership. It describes one of its target audiences for advertising this way: "The ranks of Americans aged 50 and above have doubled in the past 40 years--from 33 million in 1950 to 63 million today. While these 50-plus consumers represent only 35 percent of total U.S. adults, they control over half of the nation's discretionary income, 77 percent of all household financial assets, and 40 percent of all consumer demand." That's it--a big chunk of the generation that produced some of the greatest financial competitors in American history! But how to weed out the winners? "Now," continues Money, "you can zero-in on the affluent heart of this key consumer target . . . and establish an exclusive franchise with today's highest discretionary income marketplace." Sounds good. Uncle Sam should invest in the mailing list, and start sending out bills.

James Bennet is an editor of The Washington Monthly. Research assistance was provided by Kierstan Gordon and Margaret Gray.

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