You're not forced to be an airline pilot or a river captain. Start looking for a different career at age 30 or 40 if you don't want to be forced out at 60. People change careers all the time.
Your solution to age discrimination is ??? Right - being a member of the younger generation you haven't encountered this problem yet. Don't worry - you will.
And your solution is to keep imposing higher and higher taxes on the younger crowd so you can have a 20 year retirement? The demographics can't sustain that. The economy can't sustain it. The age discrimination your friends are experiencing now is going to be nothing compared to what's going to happen if the current situation continues.
Nope - my solution is to do away with SS.
I'd give up 25 years of contributions if I could just keep the 12.4% I'm currently paying for the next 17 years. I'd come out ahead of anything SS would ever pay me.
You wouldn't pay for my retirement, I would. Easy.
And no one is forced into any type of employment - but you don't get a traditional pension if you don't put in a bunch of years, thereby negating the ability to switch jobs at age 30 or 40.