When the U.S. tallied up the results of its 2010 census, a new version of America came into view. Ethnically, we are increasingly diverse; as a population we have aged tremendously, thanks to the 76 million baby boomers. More than any other fact, I was shocked to learn that America's "old-old," those persons 80-100 years old, are the fastest-growing population, percentage-wise, in the U.S.
There's really no reason for anyone to be surprised about the growing number of seniors. We've been told that American longevity is increasing, and we see older members of our families living longer and longer because their cancer was removed, or they stopped smoking, or they survived their first heart attack and changed their diet and life style. We are engaging in more preventive medical care, and we're finally beginning to focus on wellness.
And, as an aside, if you're not focusing on wellness, you can always focus on pharmaceuticals. The evening news is almost always sponsored by a new drug aimed at seniors--something for your bladder, something for your wrinkles, something for your memory loss, and maybe even a little something to increase male sex drive! What about all those middle-aged and older women who want to boost their libido? Sorry, ladies. Nada.
Although our aging population is working really hard to appear young, the overall picture of America today is very different from the nation that initiated Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. Americans live longer lives, and thanks to improved health, many are able to be more active than their parents and grandparents were. That's good, because most of us will be working throughout our 60s and well into our 70s.
I grew up with a picture of America that included retiring at 62, or at 60 if a good pension was involved. I looked around at my grandparents' contemporaries, saw most of them dying in their late sixties after a five years of Social Security payments, and started to build my life on that image. Later, I looked at my parents' contemporaries, realized that some sort of a corporate pension would be necessary, so I added that into the mix for my future. I kept re-framing my picture of what America and its opportunities would look like for me, and today, that picture isn't looking pretty.
I didn't start my pension savings until I was in my mid-30s, a big mistake that most 20-year-olds today can easily understand. But until I was 35, I didn't have a "real" job. I worked as a wife and mother until my family could no longer afford me, and then I went to work in higher education. Like others, I lost a lot in the Wall Street debacle of 2008, but because I keep re-framing the image of my future, I know I will manage. With a good education, a little pension, and the willingness to keep working, I'll be okay.
But what about the portion of my cohort--early baby boomers--that has no higher education? In today's world, unless you own the company, it's hard to get and keep a job without a college degree. What about the portion of my cohort that--after years of physical labor--is unable to continue a backbreaking job? Many are looking to Social Security and Medicare for their income, and they just now beginning to re-frame their image of America.
It's time for everyone in America--especially that great glut of World War II babies moving through the system--to re-frame their image of America. Our nation was not created to keep us from cradle to grave, it was created to give us equal opportunity for freedom and success. After the Great Depression, some of us began to lean on government as a way to live; that has to end.
My new image of America looks like this:
1. Adults in good health working until at least 70.
2. Universal health care, focusing on wellness and public health issues. This will be for everyone, and will eliminate Medicare.
3. It will be illegal for any child to drop out of high school before the age of 21.
They must remain until they graduate.
4. Increased support for technical and community colleges.
5. A slow transfer from Social Security to private investment options.
I don't want my grandchildren to work to support people who aren't educated enough to get a job. I want an America where people take responsibility for themselves, where parents take responsibility for their children, and where families and communities are strong.
Phew! Glad to get that on paper. Makes me think.
Mrs. B
There's really no reason for anyone to be surprised about the growing number of seniors. We've been told that American longevity is increasing, and we see older members of our families living longer and longer because their cancer was removed, or they stopped smoking, or they survived their first heart attack and changed their diet and life style. We are engaging in more preventive medical care, and we're finally beginning to focus on wellness.
And, as an aside, if you're not focusing on wellness, you can always focus on pharmaceuticals. The evening news is almost always sponsored by a new drug aimed at seniors--something for your bladder, something for your wrinkles, something for your memory loss, and maybe even a little something to increase male sex drive! What about all those middle-aged and older women who want to boost their libido? Sorry, ladies. Nada.
Although our aging population is working really hard to appear young, the overall picture of America today is very different from the nation that initiated Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. Americans live longer lives, and thanks to improved health, many are able to be more active than their parents and grandparents were. That's good, because most of us will be working throughout our 60s and well into our 70s.
I grew up with a picture of America that included retiring at 62, or at 60 if a good pension was involved. I looked around at my grandparents' contemporaries, saw most of them dying in their late sixties after a five years of Social Security payments, and started to build my life on that image. Later, I looked at my parents' contemporaries, realized that some sort of a corporate pension would be necessary, so I added that into the mix for my future. I kept re-framing my picture of what America and its opportunities would look like for me, and today, that picture isn't looking pretty.
I didn't start my pension savings until I was in my mid-30s, a big mistake that most 20-year-olds today can easily understand. But until I was 35, I didn't have a "real" job. I worked as a wife and mother until my family could no longer afford me, and then I went to work in higher education. Like others, I lost a lot in the Wall Street debacle of 2008, but because I keep re-framing the image of my future, I know I will manage. With a good education, a little pension, and the willingness to keep working, I'll be okay.
But what about the portion of my cohort--early baby boomers--that has no higher education? In today's world, unless you own the company, it's hard to get and keep a job without a college degree. What about the portion of my cohort that--after years of physical labor--is unable to continue a backbreaking job? Many are looking to Social Security and Medicare for their income, and they just now beginning to re-frame their image of America.
It's time for everyone in America--especially that great glut of World War II babies moving through the system--to re-frame their image of America. Our nation was not created to keep us from cradle to grave, it was created to give us equal opportunity for freedom and success. After the Great Depression, some of us began to lean on government as a way to live; that has to end.
My new image of America looks like this:
1. Adults in good health working until at least 70.
2. Universal health care, focusing on wellness and public health issues. This will be for everyone, and will eliminate Medicare.
3. It will be illegal for any child to drop out of high school before the age of 21.
They must remain until they graduate.
4. Increased support for technical and community colleges.
5. A slow transfer from Social Security to private investment options.
I don't want my grandchildren to work to support people who aren't educated enough to get a job. I want an America where people take responsibility for themselves, where parents take responsibility for their children, and where families and communities are strong.
Phew! Glad to get that on paper. Makes me think.
Mrs. B
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