Over 65? Congratulations, You Own the Economy

Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb 19,2026 | Greg Ip

[jcon40]

The elderly are physically and financially healthier than ever. So why do their needs keep taking priority over younger generations?

Demographics, rising profits and soaring asset values have together wrought a quiet transformation in the American economy. Much of it is now in the hands of the elderly.

As of the third quarter of last year, people 70 and over controlled roughly 39% of all equities and mutual funds owned by households, compared with 22% in 2007, according to Federal Reserve data. Their share of net worth—assets minus debts—

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: elderly; financially; healthier

[I want the USA back]

Not true for every “elderly”

[Timmy]

Because the Boomers, the largest generation in American history, are now mostly over 65. It’s just the numbers.

[frank ballenger]

After the midterms if the Dems win we’re on the road to the next 2 year Presidential election bringing Dem power, revenge against Trump and us, and the widespread use of euthanasia to get rid of the old people.

So, enjoy the 6 months left in 2026. 🎉

[jcon40]

From the Fox News, Charles Payne Show on this article he quoted the following from the WSJ article.

“…. There has never been a better time in America to be old. Yet it also exposes our disjointed national priorities…
We keep pouring resources into making the elderly comfortable and happy when the economy’s pressure points lie elsewhere.”

[BenLurkin]

The elderly are physically and financially healthier than ever. So why do their needs keep taking priority over younger generations?

What does that mean?

[Carry_Okie]

I seem to remember my wife and I paying $20,000 per year (including the employer "contribution") in Social Security taxes to support our "Greatest Generation" parents who'd never paid diddly into the system. At that very time, we were also paying $17,000/yr in daycare costs (two babies). Interest rates on the house I'd built were 8.5% fixed.

And they're complaining?

[Myrddin]

I'll be 70 in August. I just retired. I hardly feel "elderly". My homes and cars are paid off. No debt. Adequate retirement income. I can finally enjoy doing things that I always put off to make sure the customers were happy. It's my turn to be happy and not be concerned about customer deadlines or problems. My perception of "elderly" is 80+ in frail condition. Just as there was a "boom" in births, there will be a "boom" on the death side of the ledger. There will also be a "boom" in declining tax revenues as the high earners retire.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

From each according to their ability to each according to their need! K. Marx

And, of course, its the Ds and Communists believe they are the ones to decide the ability and the need.

[Brian Griffin]

If folks expected be cash flow negative with respect to Uncle Sam in their old age, they wouldn’t hang around in the USA.

[Myrddin]

I paid well beyond the social security max cutoff every year for the past 40 years. That results in pretty decent social security retirement check. It will be better as my medical IRMA penalty ages out over the next two years. The trick in my case is staying on the green side of the lawn. June 2026 will mark my 2nd anniversary after the Whipple surgery for ampullary cancer. Statistically, it will recur at that point in time and give me 6 miserable weeks on the way to the grave.

[abigkahuna]

I just want to play with my radios. Not qujite yet retired, more semi retired. Still going to do some fairs this year—maybe five or and then back to playing with radios. 10m was very good today...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

What does that mean?

I get the uneasy feeling it means, kill the old people and take their stuff.

[Brian Griffin]

Imagine if people who invested in the stock market could expect to lose money by doing so.

There wouldn’t be much of a stock market.

The young folks should aim to live a healthy lifestyle, so they come out on the positive side.

[Freee-dame]

Unless something changes drastically, we people now over 70 may turn out to be the healthiest and longest living of any American generation.

We did not grow up eating highly processed food or drinking soda every day.

We didn’t grow up reading screens; we were outside playing.

We weren’t driven everywhere in cars. We walked and took the public bus at young ages which helped us become independent. .

MAHA guidelines will help, but even the soil our food is grown in is not as good as it was decades ago.

We also bought into exercising as we aged which was new.

[jcon40]

It means the Wall St Urinals “Chief economics commentator” Greg Ip, who wrote this article, seems to be intentionally stirring up class warfare in these here United States.

I liked this snippet from the article which makes his point even more clear.

“…. There has never been a better time in America to be old. Yet it also exposes our disjointed national priorities…
We keep pouring resources into making the elderly comfortable and happy when the economy’s pressure points lie elsewhere.”

[dforest]

Oh geez, more of the generational whining and victim crap. Yawn.

[lgjhn23]

“..I get the uneasy feeling it means, kill the old people and take their stuff....”

It’s the RAT communist way of doing business: prey on the weakest and most helpless of humanity...from the unborn to the elderly. They’re too damn cowardly to take on anyone their own size...spit.

[Brian Griffin]

If Uncle Sam ran a casino where all the customers were losers, it would go out of business.

[Big Red Badger]

Precious Metals my FRiend!