Working Past 65 is Nothing New

Could it be that more seniors are working because the pensions they were promised 20 – 30 years ago have either shrunk or disappeared altogether (as in stolen)? For those over 65 could it be that while Medicare is a lifesaver it only pays about 80% of health care expenses and the cost for seniors caring for sick spouses could bring bankruptcy were it not for expensive supplemental insurance? Could it be that seniors under 65 are opting to work longer in order to keep employer-sponsored health care insurance?

Sometime ago it was “decided” by suits and ties that normal Social Security retirement age would be 65. Workers had no say in the matter. Those same suits and ties raised it to 67, and again workers had no say, Now the deficit commission is talking about raising it to 70! Raising Social Security retirement age will not affect those of us who are already retired. It, would, however, sentence our children and grandchildren to more years of hard labor. As seniors we want future generations to have no less than what we have, and hopefully they will have more.

Working them to death won't get the job.

If a person chooses to work beyond 62. 65, or 67 that decision should be a matter of preference, not a condition of economic need. The key here is choice, not necessity.

We have a looooooooong way to go before we as a nation become an enlightened civilization. It would be wise if vox populi heeded the words of Jack Hall: “Know your class and be loyal it.”

Rich of WA 12:32PM October 16, 2010