Posted on 05/29/2013 8:08:27 AM PDT by blam
It's High Time America Did Away With Senior Discounts
Alex Mayyasi, Priceonomics Blog
May 29, 2013, 10:44 AM
You’ve seen them on the bus, in museums, and at movie theaters: senior discounts.
As a reward for being old, senior citizens pay a quarter less for bus fare, a small fortune less for movie tickets, and receive discounts generally all over the place.
If you’re a twentysomething, or part of what some journalists have colorfully called “the screwed generation,” you may be wondering: why not me?
The idea that seniors are a group in need of help and protection dates back to the thirties, when America’s senior citizens were disproportionately poor and affected by the Depression wiping out everyone's savings.
In 1935, President Roosevelt passed the Social Security Act, which gave federal assistance to the elderly. This became the norm. Aid to seniors increased over time, in particular with the creation of Medicare in 1965 and the passage of an amendment indexing social security to cost of living increases and creating an additional Supplemental Security Income for seniors in 1972.
As two poverty economists note, “One of the most striking trends in elderly well-being in the twentieth century was the dramatic decline in income poverty among the elderly.” This can be seen in the graph below.
The United States only began measuring poverty in the 1960s, so we lack standard figures dating farther back than that. But it’s recognized that the trend of decreasing poverty among seniors dates back to the thirties and forties. 2011 Census figures place poverty among Americans aged 65 and older at 8.7%, well below the national average of 15%.
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(Excerpt) Read more at priceonomics.com ...
He's not in AMERICA, and I doubt he ever has been. He lives in Egypt.
Disability hangers for cars happen because the person's doctor filled out the application that the patient needed a card.
I have a card because my knees are now bone on bone. I can walk short distances but I can't walk a long distance to get to a store, then walk the store. My right knee was operated on several years ago because the pain was so bad I couldn't walk, period.
Right now, my right knee is bad. I will park close due to the card, but still limp through the store.
There may come a time when you need a card and your opinion will change and you will get a card approved by your doctor.
Don’t think I will make it that far, myself..
The author is obviously not a marketeer or a successful businessman. Senior discounts are not offered out of charity, they’re offered to attract purchasers who (1) are on a fixed income, (2) have very predictable buying habits, and (3) have a very high rate of return business. It’s all about the business, kid. TANSTAAFL.
is Bloomberg going to outlaw Early Bird Specials?
I think you’re mostly preaching to the choir here.. but there are a few laggers..
It’ll sneak up on you. I got carded at the grocery store the other day. I think it was just so she could hear me say “Oh, thank you!” ;-)
It depends which side of the table one is on — the 26 year old or the 65 year old.
Similar with interest rates. If one is 26 and buying a house or car, these low, near zero, rates are great. If one is nearing or already at retirement and planned to live on the interest from savings, those rates killers. And both political parties are the beneficiaries of that, because the low rates keep the national debt from looking so much worse.
But, I can recall paying rates of 8 to 22% for various products during my working years. Now, I am not even getting 1% on what is left of my savings, and I am using some of the principal just to pay the basic monthly bills.
AND THAT is where your VIEW of this situation is incorrect. It is not ENTITLEMENT.
It is only a MARKETING tool. For instance, if the ZOO had a CHILREN UNDER SIX FREE policy, would you insist on paying for your grandchild ? If you grocery store has a TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE policy (as long as you have a XXXX CUSTOMER CARD) on an item, do you insist on paying for both anyway?
Is a 'senior citizens discount' GUARANTEED by the US GOVERNMENT ?
We all know the answer is NO.
It has nothing to do with 'entitlement'.
Just before I turned 19 the drinking age in Illinois was raised to 21. The unfairness of it all!
Fragging is the name of the game! Pitting made-out groups, one against the other.
Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, communist (socialist,) capitalist, male, female, color (black, white, yellow, brown,) religion, (sects of same religion,) national origin, ancestry, geographical (coasts, flyover, North, South,) homosexual, straight, and now, old & young!
There’re subgroups in every group. If this carries on, we’ll have over 300 million individual parties and special interests! An exaggeration that illustrates the occurring fragmentation.
The media’s silence and/or help IS totally responsible for the breakup of the American population. Their aiding and abetting shouldn’t be overlooked or left unpunished when TSHTF.
A few years ago, I called the main categories “powder kegs waiting for a spark.” Splitting, crushing the ingredients in finer products and spreading them, makes lighting the fuel that much easier and reaching the main charges a certainty. Then the mother of all disasters that none of us wants to see, let alone, living through it.
We’re witnessing the daily destruction of our beloved Republic. Taking the country back won’t be enough but it’s a step in the ONLY direction. Fixing the damage will take some doing for a looooong time.
I’m sure the newly targeted “old” are quite happy to be THAT old. The older, the merrier!
Is that what you call all those 20-somethings living in their grandmother's basement drawing FOOD STAMPS and DISABILITY ?
Speaking of discounts, I have one grocery card that I use and a couple of phone numbers of friends who have cards from other grocery stores that come in handy from time to time.
Most every time I go somewhere and buy something the cashier asks for a savings card. “No” Would you like to sign up? “No, I don’t need more crap in my wallet, junk mail or spam emails”.
Some of them almost seem hurt that I don’t want to participate.
Usually my biggest problem is figure whether the Senior Discount or the Family Plan gives the best savings
I really messed that one up with typos. A couple of corrections...
The generation that supported big government the most...sending most of the men’s jobs to other countries.
I had to retire sooner than I had anticipated too, due to health issues. I was 72 when I retired and was 1 1/2 years short of the time I needed to qualify for a small pension. 5 years ago my savings were generating the same amount of money as the pension would have but not any more. Still, I live very frugally and just pray that some calamity does not strike.
Bingo. Just another busybody trying to dictate people's (and business's) lives. What's with all these control freaks?
Or just move to a town where seniors don't get discounts.
Does it bother you that many of the 'corporations' in your town get 'tax discounts' ?
Tax 'discounts' subsidized your birth. It's right on the tax forms for medical expenses. Your parents got to claim you as a TAX EXEMPTION as soon as you were born. Will you be giving that money back ?
Do you attend church ? Most of them are (well, this is changing due to the Communist takeover, but) TAX EXEMPT.
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