Posted on 12/28/2005 5:39:02 AM PST by .cnI redruM
WASHINGTON -- As noted by recent cover stories in Newsweek and Business Week, the first of the roughly 77 million baby boomers turn 60 in 2006. J. Walker Smith of the polling firm of Yankelovich Partners told Newsweek that many boomers ``think they're going to die before they get old'' -- a reference to one survey in which boomers defined old age as starting around 80. Business Week asserted that fifty- and sixty-somethings consider their ``middle age a new start on life'' to indulge hobbies, begin new careers or remarry. These portraits of vigorous baby boomers clash with another reality: their huge federal retirement benefits may seriously damage the economy and American politics.
Our continued unwillingness to address this disconnect counts as one of 2005's big stories. We should ask ourselves: Why? After all, the need is well known. Consider the Congressional Budget Office's just released projections. By 2030, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid may cost 15 percent of national income --almost double their level in 2000 and equal to 75 percent of today's federal budget. Left alone, these programs would require massive tax increases, cause immense deficits or crowd out important other government programs.
Still, we fiddle......
It's either that or a frog march to the euthanasia chambers once the money runs out.
If history is any guide, the chambers will be it.
The first thing we should do is means test all handout programs. The second is to stop paying for cosmetic surgery and drugs like Viagra. Limit healthcare spending to disease prevention and necessary surgery.
Speaking for past administrations and part Congresses, the first thing the present government needs to do is confess.
There is a problem because Congress embezzled and misappropriated the money. Confess it loud and clear.
Then, the Boomers need to go to the polls and send forth a mighty wave of new politicians charged with redeeming and investing those IOUs.
Boomers vote. Boomers will not vote to cut their own financial throats.
I don't see this happening anytime soon. The Dems will demagogue this issue till the last dog dies. And, thanks to the RINOs, the GOP doesn't have the support to change things. The "fix" will only come when the US Gov hits a wall of some kind--like no one will lend it $$ to finance the deficit anymore.
Our leaders also have this insane fantasy that immigrants to take menial jobs will finance the boomer's retirement. In reality, they cost us more than they will provide. [Actually, I don't think our leaders really buy this either. It's just the spin they put out to "explain" wy their not taking action.] Until there is some imminent disaster, we will just spend and immigrate our way to third world status.
The way I see it ... Politicians use the the fear of you losing your retirement to gain power. It is nothing more than a variation of the theme used to scam senior citizens to vote democrat in every election. Except now they get you before you are a senior citizen.
The issue of a 60 year old thinking they are immortal is another thing entirely.
What benefit is there for any politician getting out in front of this? None. Its a one-way ticket back to the private sector. The plan for our Congresscritters is to be safely retired on a fat pension with full benefits by the time it hits the fan.
You *know* the medical/long-term-care insurance companies are already greasing the wheels of the guerneys.
Look at how they are influencing legislation. Look at what is already happening in the hospices.
It's big money. Can't have all those old folks soaking it up in the nursing homes.
Live by the government, die by the government... and us decent people can stay the hell away from that mess.
Anyone who thinks money can't buy happiness or love forgot all about little puppies.
Darn it! I meant to post the reply above to a different thread-please delete.
No. That is awful. My grandmother is 91 in January. She is collecting SS (is this considered government handout) and is doing pretty well. She is getting sillier in her old age (a little dementia), but other than that having her die at 85 when so far she has had six additional years is nuts. Although, I am 36, 37 in May, it is still nice to have a Grandmother. Plus how do you think my father would feel if his mother was "killed" by the government at 85. He is 59 will be 60 next year and I don't want to have to "put him to sleep" at 85 either. Yuk!!! I agree with alot on this site, but not that. Maybe 100. LOL.
I have no problem with people living out the time that God gives them.
The time that the government (read: taxpayers) gives them is fair game.
Live by the government, die by the government... and us decent people can stay the hell away from that mess.
Yeah, lets add the mentally ill, retarded and handicapped to that too. I mean, look at all the costs they add to society and how they feed off of government troughs. /sarcasm
Cmon...thats just silly. I hope you are not being series.
No, I'm not being totally serious. I'm just adopting a hard line as a starting point for negotiation, which is appropriately measured to the hard line taken by the geezers who would rather bankrupt the nation than accept any limitation to handouts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.