Somewhere back in the good old days, an enterprising politician was trying to come up with an idea for a new interest group through which he could pander his way to election.
Eureka. Senior Citizens.
There were once, no doubt, plenty of elderly people who didn't have enough to live on. But those days are gone. As a class, old people are doing just fine. Better, in fact, than their kids or grandkids who will, by the way, be paying off the deficits Washington is so blithely running up. The cruise ship business would go bust if old people suddenly decided to stay on dry ground. They're partying while their kids are working two jobs.
Still, politicians never pass up the opportunity to stoke an interest group's sense of entitlement or outrage. So, everyone on Social Security gets some free money. The reasoning is perfect polilogic. There was no cost of living increase in Social Security payments this year because ... well, there was no increase in the cost of living.
But this isn't fair to Seniors because they've always gotten raises in the past and, you know, they expect it. And American politics is not about dampening expectations among any voter group and especially not the one with the highest percentage likely to actually go to the polls. Old people, you see, vote. Young people go skateboarding and middle-aged people are too tired from working those two jobs.
So, a nice little $250 check will be going out to everyone on Social Security – to include, one assumes, Ross Perot and others in his tax bracket –and these checks will be honored by people who are, at present, too young to vote.
Don't spend it all in one place, Grandma.
Meanwhile ... this special interest group that consists of anyone who has survived past some benchmark age – 50, perhaps? – has generated an organization that lobbies for it and gets it discounts on stuff. This would be the AARP and if you are "old" it presumes to speak for you whether you want it to or not.
Nationally, the AARP sticks its nose into anything it thinks will generate more influence for itself and, thus, increase membership. Like a government program, its real purpose is to get bigger and soak up more money.
Here in Vermont, the AARP has announced its opposition to reform of the teacher's pension system which has a real good start on bankrupting the state. Unless, that is, there are some "reforms." Unless, in other words, the teachers are willing to give up a little and, perhaps, more than a little.
AARP logic is perfectly distilled in this line:
"We believe the current retirement system is challenged in terms of its finances but the teachers should not be made the victims or the hostage to mistakes and to underfunding made years and years ago by many administrations."
No, of course not. Everybody else should be held hostage to those mistakes. Even those who were not born when they were made.
In
AARPland, retirement is its memberships' right. And it is the duty of
the rest of us to pay for it no matter what it costs.
Good thing for AARP and "Seniors" that young people don't vote.
Everyone with gray hair would be off the island and swimming with the sharks.
As one of those old people, I can agree with part of your anaylsis. Any "donation" to the aged via a one-time Social Security payment ought to be means tested. My wife and I had this discussion over breakfast this morning, thanks to Ellen Goodman.
The pension issues are intertwined with the health care issues. I will return to my previous comment; it is time to tax employer/pension fund provided health insurance. Simply bring the cost of all provided health insurance, and other insurance benefits, into the income stream. Then provide a flat rate tax exemption for each life covered by the insurance program. This will treat self-employed, corporate or public entity employed and pensioners all in the same way. The added taxes collected can be used to help ensure that all citizens have basic health care/insurance.
This old guy is willing to pay his fair share. Hey, if it means I need to find a job to maintain my standard of living, so be it. I don't do golf anyhow!
Posted by: G. Cross | October 23, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Another geezer here. My wife & I collect SS. We'll keep the check and spend it wisely or not. But we resent being spoken for by AARP and we have refused to belong... so far. My 91 tear old mom disagrees with much of AARP's BS too, but, alas, they get to count her as a member now. They bought her with their medicare supplement plan!
Posted by: jim Georg | October 23, 2009 at 04:28 PM
No increase in living costs this past year? Are you kidding?
Look at the cost of food and clothing, rents and utilities. And Vermont taxes went down, didn't they.
Of course it is easy to "adjust" all that when the powers can remove some items from the basket and replace them with others that suit their program more kindly.
Our dear Congress Critters received a COLA this year, courtesy of your wallet. How wonderful for them.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck | October 24, 2009 at 09:41 AM