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Seniors' discounts should be scrapped, study suggests
CBC News ^ | March 4, 2015 | CBC News

Posted on 03/04/2015 6:57:45 PM PST by rickmichaels

A new report is calling on municipal governments to scrap seniors' discounts.

The study, called No Seniors' Specials: Financing Municipal Services in Aging Communities, was commissioned by the national think-tank Institute for Research on Public Policy.

Economist Harry Kitchen Economist Harry Kitchen is the author of a recent study advising cities to get rid of seniors' discounts. (www.transportfutures.ca)

Many municipalities in Canada give discounts to seniors based solely on their age.

Those discounts for citizens aged 55 or older include lower bus fares, cheaper fitness classes and sometimes reduced property taxes.

Harry Kitchen, the report's author, says a lot of the seniors' discounts offered by municipalities are unfair because most seniors don't need them.

"A lot of these discounts and special programs were introduced back in the 1960s, 1970s when a vast percentage of the seniors were poor," said the professor emeritus in the department of economics at Ontario's Trent University.

"Forward that through to 2008 [to] 2010, the percentage of poor in the seniors groups is smaller than any other age group in the country."

Kitchen has no problem with private businesses offering seniors' discounts, such as cheaper restaurant meals or movies.

But he says municipalities giving a break to seniors are creating a situation where poorer younger people are subsidizing wealthier seniors.

"As soon as you start offering a discount, or a perk, based on age, you're inevitably going to be subsidizing some rich people, aren't you?" he said.

Kitchen says a common objection to his study's findings is that seniors are owed some help after spending their lifetimes working and paying taxes.

He refutes that argument, pointing out that the money paid to cities in user fees and property taxes is used to pay for services available to those people that year.

"Why should you ask someone else to pay for a service that you're currently using?" he asked.

Kitchen says income transfer programs are a better way for cities to help poor people, regardless of their age.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: canada; liberalthinktank; montreal; seniordiscount
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To: rickmichaels

“”Why should you ask someone else to pay for a service that you’re currently using?” he asked.
Kitchen says income transfer programs are a better way for cities to help poor people, regardless of their age.”

Hasn’t a keen grasp of irony does he?


21 posted on 03/04/2015 7:45:42 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: rickmichaels

Wbile they are at it, why not do away with ladies night at bars and dance clubs?


22 posted on 03/04/2015 7:48:21 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: rickmichaels

After Daddy was approaching 90 and Mother was gone, I would go over two or three times a day. One thing is I would fix his dinner.

He insisted on rib eye steak every day. Also a pint of oysters a couple of times a week. I thought, why not? he could afford it. I did get tired of giving the dog most of the steak every day and finally got the butcher to cut them into two pieces.

The fact is they were better off in their old age than when they had five kids to take care of. On the other hand I do know some elderly people who are living on a small income because they became disabled etc.

Personally, I am 68 and in the worst financial condition I have ever been in. It is completely my fault tho and I get by just fine.


23 posted on 03/04/2015 7:49:48 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: rickmichaels

Charge Muslims double. Muslims over 55, quadruple.


24 posted on 03/04/2015 7:51:07 PM PST by Rodamala
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To: Mears

I often hear about a large segment of the senior population that is low in finances. Maybe they did not ever save their money, maybe their now-deceased spouse was the money manager for them both, or health care events have become ongoing and expensive. Its’ these senior citizens I worry about. At my age of 58, I will soon be joining that most exclusive club, but alas, with very little in personal savings.


25 posted on 03/04/2015 7:51:13 PM PST by lee martell (The sa)
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To: Vendome

Those are private businesses generating revenue and profit....with the municipalities it’s an entirely different thing.

.


26 posted on 03/04/2015 7:51:17 PM PST by Mears (To learn, who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."~~Voltaire))
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To: eeriegeno

Fine. I’m OK with this. However, I would like all of the money I had to spend subsidizing seniors back, because I won’t be a senior in time to benefit from it. I would like a lump sum, as soon as possible, please.

Also, because I won’t be benefiting from Social Security either by the looks of things, I would like all of the money I’ve put into it, and interest paid at the rate of the stock market starting from those years. Thanks in advance!


27 posted on 03/04/2015 7:55:55 PM PST by The Antiyuppie ("When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day".)
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To: rickmichaels
In the United States the wealthiest demographic has long been the single elderly woman.
28 posted on 03/04/2015 7:57:07 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: rickmichaels

If “Kitchen” would come out of his house he’ll find that not all seniors are as rich as he imagines.

...but the cost of servicing Seniors is MUCH LESS than younger people, particularly college students, particularly in Michigan, particularly when they go to a ski area. You just DO NOT see geriatrics doing stunts like that.


29 posted on 03/04/2015 7:59:03 PM PST by BobL (REPUBLICANS - Fight for the WHITE VOTE...and you will win.)
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To: rickmichaels

“...he says municipalities giving a break to seniors are creating a situation where poorer younger people are subsidizing wealthier seniors.”

***kind of the point behind Social Security, Welfare, Medaid, Obamacare, etc....***


30 posted on 03/04/2015 8:00:45 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: rickmichaels
Give the discounts to young couples with kids who are actually married to each other.
31 posted on 03/04/2015 8:02:18 PM PST by fungoking (Tis a pleasure to live in the Ozarks)
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To: rickmichaels

“As soon as you start offering a discount, or a perk, based on age, you’re inevitably going to be subsidizing some rich people, aren’t you?” he said.

Really?

Who paid the lions share of those costs?

Aren’t you setting up Older People to subsidize younger people?


32 posted on 03/04/2015 8:02:26 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: Mears

Why not make that leap though, in fairness to others and maybe as a civil right.

No one gets any special treatment and everything is made regular, with no incentives or special treatment?


33 posted on 03/04/2015 8:06:32 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: ladyjane; rickmichaels

34 posted on 03/04/2015 8:07:33 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: rickmichaels
I think a lot of senior discounts that were popular in the 70's and 80's were a way to give back to the WW2/Korea generation that sacrificed their youth. They have mostly passed, and today's generation thinks only of itself.

-PJ

35 posted on 03/04/2015 8:10:53 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: lee martell

The article states that there is LESS poverty in the senior population,and I believe it.

Sure,there are some that could use the discounts, but it should be based on need,not age.

Maybe when you become a senior,along with my kids,things will be different but most of the Seniors today are doing just fine.We’ve even been called “The Lucky Generation”.

.

.


36 posted on 03/04/2015 8:11:02 PM PST by Mears (To learn, who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."~~Voltaire))
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To: lee martell

FYI

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2014/08/13/the-silent-generation-the-lucky-few-part-3-of-7/

.


37 posted on 03/04/2015 8:13:34 PM PST by Mears (To learn, who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."~~Voltaire))
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To: rickmichaels

Wealthy Seniors ride Public Transportation?


38 posted on 03/04/2015 8:15:46 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (If you think the Mulatto Marxist is bad, just wait until the Menopausal Marxist shows up.)
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To: rickmichaels

>>>>But he says municipalities giving a break to seniors are creating a situation where poorer younger people are subsidizing wealthier seniors<<<<

OBAMACARE in a nutshell.


39 posted on 03/04/2015 8:18:59 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (If you think the Mulatto Marxist is bad, just wait until the Menopausal Marxist shows up.)
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To: BobL

Your envy of the exuberance of youth is quite unbecoming.

Were you never young and indestructible?


40 posted on 03/04/2015 8:20:56 PM PST by Don W (When blacks riot, neighborhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn.)
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