POLITICS - Social Security

[Guest guest]

On Sun, 1 Feb 2004 16:16:03 -0800

" Berg " <bberg@...> wrote:

>That said, this is a fairly minor problem in the grand scheme of things.

>The real problems with Social Security--and there are many--run much

>deeper. When SS was established in the '30s, the retirement age was 65

>and life expectancy was 63. Most people did not live to receive

>benefits, and those who did were not likely to get them for long, so the

>ratio of workers to retirees was greater than 40 to 1. Since then, life

>expectancy has risen 14 years, but the retirement age has not changed.

>At all. The current ratio of workers to retirees is 3.4 to 1, and it's

>expected to rise to 2 to 1 by 2030. Taxes have increased fivefold since

>the creation of Social Security, and they'll have to increase even more

>to support a 2 to 1 worker-to-retiree ratio.

It is my understanding, and you can correct me if I am wrong, that the

average retiree collects 13 social security checks and then they die. I

have heard this figure bandied about a few times as part of the argument

as to why a person should never retire as long as they have their health.

It certainly makes sense that once someone feels they have nothing to

contribute to society anymore, paid or unpaid, that such a realization

would hasten their demise. And living off SS certain fits into

that category.

Btw, this is one of the tragedies, IMO, for couples who *choose* not to

have children or maybe only one child. I can remember story after story

of the older ladies in my former church who deeply regretted not having

more children - and by implication grandkids - they (and their hubbies)

were terribly lonely in the midst of all the creature comforts you could

reasonably want. My grandfather and my great grandmother lived very long

lives and they had lots of family around (and were quite vibrant) right

up until the very end.

But I wonder, does anyone know how accurate the 13 month statistic is?

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" They told just the same,

That just because a tyrant has the might

By force of arms to murder men downright

And burn down house and home and leave all flat

They call the man a captain, just for that.

But since an outlaw with his little band

Cannot bring half such mischief on the land

Or be the cause of so much harm and grief,

He only earns the title of a thief. "

--Geoffrey Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale

[Guest guest]

Can't prove it by me. We've been retired since 1998 and are in good health.

My parents were retired for over 20 years and his parents for more than

that.

My thought is how active a person stays. One need not be lonely as there are

many things to do. Clubs and organizations to become involved in.

We own a 1954 De Soto and spend most of our summer going to car shows and

cruise-ins. My husband is on the board of the local car club. Does some temp

work and keeps the property in tip top shape.

I am on the board and secretary of the Michigan Fiber Festival, and chair

the wool fleece competition for the Festival. I'm also half editor of the

glossy magazine the National De Soto club calls their newsletter and I've

built and maintain a web site for the Festival and one for a friend. The

third Tuesday of every month I go to an " Extension " meeting where about a

dozen older ladies sit and chat. I've volunteered to be the activity person

for them and as soon as the weather improves we will be doing a variety of

things.

Then every Thursday evening I go to a spinner's meeting where a bunch of us

spin, knit, crochet and shoot the bull. We call ourselves " Da Bullspinners. "

So when do I have time to be lonely?

Use it or lose it.

I am also aware that there are many seniors who do not have the good fortune

to have good health, and they are not able to get out and about. But I know

several who can get out but choose to sit home and moan and groan because

the kids never come home.

Judith Alta

-----Original Message-----

From: slethnobotanist@... [mailto:slethnobotanist@...]

[snip]

But I wonder, does anyone know how accurate the 13 month statistic is?

Liking

http://tinyurl.com/3d8n5