Since Bissmarck's Germany in the late 1800's, every country has a social security system today. The idea is that in an industrial society, old people get completely outcompeted and displaced by younger workers. Lately, physical work has been replaced by office work, so the question is this, do old corporate office workers become "useless" in the office the same way as old physical laborers did in factories? Consider that this life is under the competitive climate of long hours, high stress, and demands of qick thinking and long memory. So, ignoring the poular financial propaganda about failing social security and ignoring people's alleged lazyness, do you think that the retiement age should stay at the traditional age of 65, or should it be reduced to 55? I think that in practice, no corporation hires people above 55 into any office anyways. What do you think? What should be the retirement age for office workers? (Discounting financial propaganda.)
This seems pretty reasonable. With a life expectancy of 80, this comes to 64, supporting today's legislations. If Obama stops mandating insurance cartels to foot the bill of incurable geriatrics, then a retirement age of 56 will be confortable for the new life expectancy of 70. This is how it was enumerated in Europe in the mid 20's century. Perfect, and confortable. Is it only me who suspects that those who are already of pension age and receiving pension, just want to make it harder for others to get there?
It's different. Today's people live longer; but they also spend more in school. In reality, it's the same amount of work. You live 5 years longer, you spend 5 years or so in college. Soon, masters and doctorates will become more common.
Jesus Christ you are 60, and want to work 10 more years? Let me guess, you don't have to work to some competitive business schedule but just at your own pace, setting your own volumes. Is this right?
There should be no retirement benefits based on age. People should only retire when they can afford to retire on their own dime or when they are no longer capable of working.
why does it shock anyone that a person would want to work as long as they can...americans base their worth on their jobs etc...if you do not have a job you are lesser in the eyes of society....no one wants to be the retired old (*)(*)(*)(*) who sits on the porch all day remembering when one had purpose in life...
Exactly, the "capable" part is the relative term, I think. If there was no competition, nobody to do the job, and a LOT of time available, then even a halfdead guy can work in the office. It is not the person but the business climate that defines who is capable of work, in my humble oppinion. I think the opportunity is that your post allows a market dependent adaptive redefinition of the retirement age.
I have never been able to figure a purpose for any life. Your observation is VERY interesting, it suggests a trend that we Americans replaced the sense of beauty with some win-or-loose. I speculate that watching the birds and the forest is a very good thing if time allows it. And retirement creates this time.
"How old is old?" Excellent question. A better question would be, "who will fund all the social security to the children of illegal immigrants when they get older?" No doubt that will mean raising the retirement age even higher.
The expected lifesapn of a 60 year old is 81, start SSI at 65, 16 years. Leave school at 20 (1/2 go to college, 22, half don't 1, contribute for 45 years. The ratio is 2.8:1 (2.8 years worked for year of retirement). Delay SSI to: 70, the ratio changes to 4:55:1 72, the ratio is 5.7:1, half our current cost 75, the ratio is 9.17:1 There are few 72 year olds that aren't more capable than 65 year olds of the 50's. Delay the start of SSI and Medicare to 72, and reduce that spending by half, and increase income tax income by 16% (from an additional 7 years of employment). I'm 60, and don't "work", I get paid for doing what I enjoy. I don't plan on retiring until I have to.
The US should raise it's retirement age by at least five years. We are living longer and retaining youthful vigor longer, due to medicine and food availability.
I quit working at 55. I quit the job I had for a variety of reasons, one of which was the physical demands were such I was performing at a level I thought was satisfactory. I thought I'd take time off and then find another line of work. I found I adjust quite well to sloth, I am cheap and had enough money, so I didn't find another line of work. It's not really relevant but I don't draw Social Security and never will. I didn't have to pay into it.
