New Seniors » America

Is nostalgia an escape to the past?

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:50:03 +0000

Enjoying thoughts of times gone by does focus on what was rather than what is. However, most people don’t live in the past, so an occasional trip back to the “good old days” is a pleasurable diversion. This mental process may also provide a valuable perspective on how to more effectively deal with the problems we all face today.

Now that summer is here most New Seniors will, no doubt, have some favorite recollections of their youth. From playing with friends and neighbors to get-a-way cabins by the lake or cottages by the ocean to going to camp or being involved in local activities the time was full but we always wanted to have more things to occupy our time. Over the years, the reality of youthful impetuousness and the desire to be constantly entertained has given way to an appreciation, maybe a yearning, for those easier softer times.

Younger people may look at nostalgia as an older person’s day dream. This may be because the young are not far enough away from life’s events for people, places and things to have a lasting impact or meaning on them. Another reason that the past is significant is when the product, service or circumstance no longer exists. And, the older you get the more things disappear and the more attractive those memories become.

In due time the Gen X, Y and whatever other generational groups come along will find their own moments of nostalgia. These may be the quiet days before the Internet was invented, remembering their first cell phone, what was “in” prior to body piercing and tattoos becoming popular, or how enjoyable life was before the great recession. Time will reveal what is worth remembering for today’s younger people when they become tomorrow’s older people.

New Seniors who were born in the ‘30s through the mid-‘40s are considered pre-boomers. While the depression is not stored in their memory banks, WWII is. They remember the war years and the ultimate victories. The coming on the scene of television, 45rpm records, the Korean Conflict, 3-D movies, moving to the suburbs, and the birth of rock and roll were all important events in the lives of pre-boomers.

Boomers did not start arriving until 1946, but they took what their older brothers and sisters had and expanded on it. They experienced Vietnam with its protests, civil rights and the women’s movements, plus a whole lot more. They are turning 65 at the rate of 4 million individuals per year and will continue to do so through 2030 until all 76 million of them have attained New Senior status.

What will be nostalgic in the minds of boomers as they continue the aging process? Will it be the historic events such as those mentioned above, those that are frivolous in nature like or strictly personal situations that can be conjured up anytime they want to take a break from the stress and strain of modern life? Whatever the reason remembering the good times can’t be a bad thing.

The greatest evil of all

-NewSeniors Editorial — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:22:02 +0000

No, it is not terrorists, countries possessing nuclear weapons or the street thug lurking in the shadows to take your money or possibly your life. The evil is the growing numbers of generally good people – the person next door a family member or a life-long friend – who have lost faith in the American Dream and the desire to be free and achieve.

With more than 14 million workers unemployed and millions of others under-employed or lacking skills to get ahead the future looks rather grim. And with manufacturing jobs going overseas, most of them unlikely to return, our once big consuming society is about to turn into a nation of individuals who are just-getting-by.

Government spending has done little to improve the situation. To the contrary, the United States is deeper in debt than at anytime in the 235 years since our founding. Our elected representatives can’t or refuse to find common ground on spending issues. And, the unfunded liabilities at the federal, state and local levels are about to leave these government entities and individual voters broke.

Americans have always rallied to overcome adversity. The question is will we be able to do it again? This nation does best when we unite and work together to accomplish the seemingly impossible. We did this through wars, financial crisis, physical disasters and more. Yet many wonder if we have strayed so far from the founding principles that selfish interests will take precedence over consideration for the greater good.

The 76 million Baby Boomers were told they were special and acted that way. Referred to as the “me generation,” they changed the national landscape over the past 50 years. It was the baby boomers who fought against the war in Vietnam while fighting for civil and women’s rights. They continued to make an impact throughout all these years.

Boomers, for better and worst, helped make America what it is today. Now, they are becoming New Seniors as the oldest of them turn 65 this year. And, they will continue to do so at the rate of 4 million per year through 2030. However, it must be remembered, this generation has not been known for making sacrifices.

The folks who are part of Gen X, and Y along with those coming after them are scrambling to provide for their families, as are the younger Boomers. So, the New Seniors must act like the adults. We have the experience and desire to make America the land of opportunity for our children, our grandchildren and their children as it was for us.

There’s a lot on our collective plates. Besides stopping the spending spree, we must address the short and long-term future for both Social Security and Medicare. At the same time, faith in America has got to be restored. We have seen this happen before, yet many of those who have not experience great national problems are turning pessimistic and believe that America is on a path of decline. This defeatist attitude is truly the greatest evil of all. New Seniors can play an important role in overcoming such thinking.

Nobody made sacrifices like the Greatest Generation

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:55:57 +0000

Over the most recent Memorial Day weekend, several movie networks paid tribute to those who served in the armed forces during WWII. Watching these films made me realize how much they sacrificed in order for us to remain free. Maybe we can take a page from their book and apply it to overcoming the continuing financial crisis facing the country.

These men and women, many not even out of high school and having just gone through a decade-long depression, put the safety of their family, friends and community ahead of themselves. They came from rich and poor families, educated and nearly illiterate ones, some were famers others city dwellers. The make up was as diverse as America itself.

Everyone was part of the war effort. Besides those fighting the war, defense work was a priority at home. Rationing of food, gas and luxuries was commonplace. Even the children were involved with paper and scrape metal drives plus selling War Bonds in conjunction with the schools. Virtually all families had someone in the armed services and every community suffered when one of theirs was lost in the war.

World War II was fought by every American in some way. That’s why New Seniors and those older remember it so vividly to this day, nearly 70 years later. Sadly, the people who lead us to victory are leaving us at an increasing rate. The Greatest Generation is big in its accomplishments, but their ranks are becoming smaller. We already miss their wisdom, and the courage they displayed is remembered in stories rather than in news reports as it once was.

Before it’s too late, we should talk to these true American heroes and find out why they did the unselfish things they did without asking for praise or reward. This is something New Seniors are well equipped to do. In fact, it is our responsibility to honor these patriots and get the word out to the rest of the population, starting with the aging Baby Boomer who benefited so much from what these folks did. Tell them to get over Viet Nam, when the only thing many of them did was to complain rather than serve. If they can’t do that, the future of America looks bleak, indeed.

Then, pass the word on to the Gen X and Y groups who never had to sacrifice anything until recently when jobs became scarce, cars and homes were reposed and their credit cards got maxed out. This are the generations that have not paid their dues but seem unwilling to pay more for services they intend to use in the future. They don’t realize that unless we all help finance Social Security and Health Care there won’t be any programs to aid them.

And, last but not least, what about the politicians? They are not being asked to sacrifice their personal money. We just want them to have the courage to make the right decisions, without regard to party lines. Government programs must be fixed so people can start earning money in order to pay for the changes that will ensure funds are ready when needed and the United States can collectively have the courage and wherewithal to remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Is “kindergarten-ready” another term for indoctrinating our grandchildren?

a NewSeniors contributor — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:37:17 +0000

The current administration recently announced federal funding to the tune of $500 million for innovative early learning programs for children under the age of 5. Advocates claim this will get children, particularly the poor, prepared for kindergarten and result in them having better opportunities to learn. Opponents believe this is not the government’s job and that the costs will escalate well beyond initial projections.

Jennifer Garner, actress turned advocate for Save the Children, thanked the administration for the funding but warned, “this is not enough.” She went on to tell reporters, “I have a child entering kindergarten and believe it or not, a huge part of why you are successful and bright and cheerful, clean, pretty looking people is because you were able to sit in a circle when you got to kindergarten – that is kindergarten readiness.”

So let’s get this straight, Ms. Garner and others like her believe that being able to be still and sit in a circle is kindergarten readiness? Try selling this concept to the parents of any healthy, active 5 year old boy or even some girls. Could the objective of the program be to produce a bunch of cookie-cutter kids that behave the way they are told and, therefore, can be trained in a way that will allow the government to teach young absorbent minds what it wants them to learn?

Isn’t it the parents responsibility to provide the early instruction, basic training if you will, for the children? They teach the toddlers by example, reading to them and exposing them to society. Family values are a big part of a child’s development. Should parents leave this up to the state? What about the notion of religious teaching? No school receiving federal funding will be permitted carry out the wishes of all parents, so whatever the children are taught will necessarily be religion-free.

By taking the child out of the home environment the parent forfeits the early nurturing contact with the youngster and deprives the children this basic need. Operating under government regulations will mean all children must receive the same degree of care and attention in order to provide equal treatment.

Some may argue that many families are comprised of working couples or single parents, which justifies the need for toddler schools. This is outweighed by the potential loss of parental control and authority government run facilities the will occur. If you doubt this, look at today’s public elementary schools compared to when we were young. Bible reading and prayer are out, but revisionist history and gender diversity education are in.

This new program is designed to establish the government as the super-parent, the all-knowing and all-providing entity that will take care of everyone’s needs from the cradle on, and do it fairly as opposed to the way a living, loving parent does. Is this what America is becoming? If you like this, go with it. If you question this approach to raising our kids, contact your elected representative and let them know that you believe parents must have responsibility over their children.

What we can learn from IBM as the company celebrates 100 years in business

-NewSeniors Editorial — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:37:36 +0000

IBM has come to be synonymous with America businesses acumen for building, refining and expanding at home and globally. The firm has thrived over a span of time that included two world wars and many lesser ones, the great depression and a number of financial bumps in the road, periods of fantastic growth as well as a frightening setback. It has survived and prospered by creating a cultural for success that prevails today.

The forerunner to the company was established in the 1880s when the firm’s founder invented a machine that helped the US Census Bureau complete the tabulating task in two rather than ten years and saved the government millions. In 1911, this firm combined with three others to form the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR).

In 1914, Thomas J. Watson joined the company as general manager and became president a year later. He was innovative and believed in team work as well the motivation and retention of good employees. Soon after he arrived, the first disabled employee was hired. He started training programs. And it was Watson who coined the famous company slogan: “Think.” Ten years after his arrival, the company changed its name in order to more accurately reflect the company’s mission and goals to International Business Machines (IBM).

Even during the Great Depression, IBM continued to hire people and was among the first companies to provide group life insurance, survivor benefits and paid vacations. All the while, Watson saw to it that the firm reinvested in its future through research and development activities. He strongly believed in “world peace through world trade” and had that statement inscribed on the headquarters building in New York. But, when WWII broke out, he offered his company’s facilities for the production of military ordnances. It was during the war that the first woman became an IBM vice president. Immediately after the war ended, the company hired its first black salesman.

As the post war recovery took place, the company was faced with making the transition from mechanical counter devices and systems to the electronic age. This effort was interrupted with Watson’s death at age 82. His son, Tom Watson, JR., took over and completely reorganized the company while keeping his father’s philosophies and policies in place. After his retirement in 1971, IBM continued to flourish.

The shift to PCs and an influx of new technology in the early 1990s had a devastating effect on IBM. It had to shed old products and seek new areas of opportunities. The firm lost nearly half its workforce, but continued to practices the proven principles for success.

Today, less than two decades later, IBM is back up to about the same number of employees and revenues have increased to well above previous levels. This demonstrates that a commitment to excellence at all levels within a company can payoff for everyone involved, in spite of setbacks. Other companies could learn from IBM’s performance. And, the government might learn a thing or two as well, if it were so inclined.

The sounds of summer

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:15:03 +0000

If you stop for a moment or two and focus on the carefree days of youth when school was finished and there was nothing to do but play all day long, those wonderful sounds of summer may come to mind. I grew up in the city, so my memories may be different than yours; but the following thoughts are meant to take us back to those easier softer times.

The birds chirping in the nearby tree was a great way to wake up – sure beats the jarring ring of the Baby Ben windup clock back then or the more recent buzz of the digital alarm. Even in the city, were tree were in short supply, birds perched themselves on wires or window sills to let us know morning had arrived.

New Seniors, like me, will remember the hucksters making their way up the streets and alleys at different times of the day. The fruit and vegetable purveyors came to my neighborhood several mornings each week while the fish merchants came by with their catch of the day on selected afternoons.

For the most part older kids, those that were allowed to cross the busy streets, went to the park or the playground after breakfast and attending to any required chores, because the summer heat and humidity in my hometown of Philadelphia did not reach the highpoints until later in the day. The sounds around home were usually young children playing on the sidewalks or in backyards. Other than that mornings were normally quiet.

The crack of the baseball bat was frequently heard anywhere you could play what was then America’s pastime. Have you listened to the sound of a baseball being hit by an aluminum bat, which the kids all use today? It’s more a ping than the crack you get from real wood and certainly not as memorable.

Lawnmowers could be heard most afternoons, because no one seemed to agree on the best day of the week to cut the small plots of grass that were part of city homes. Later on, the bells of the ice cream truck let kids know it was time to ask mom for some change in order to have a treat – a far less annoying sound than the snack trucks of today that play the same tune over and over. Those who bought something usually sat lined up on the curb or on the front steps to eat these fast-melting ice cream novelties.

Everyone was home just before dinner, and we played on the street or sidewalk until mom called us to eat. Then one by one we stopped what we were doing and then reappeared as quickly as possible to pick up where we left off.

Sometimes we went to the playground to watch a twilight baseball game. Otherwise, we stayed in the neighborhood and had fun until the street lights went on. If we weren’t home in five minutes, the dads let us know it was time when they called us by name.

Times were gentler then, and the sounds were part of growing up. We didn’t think much about them in those days, but now it is enjoyable to remember the sounds of summer.

Food packages are going retro

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:58:30 +0000

A number of major food marketers have re-introduced packages from the “good old days” in an effort to stand out from other products on supermarket shelves. And, it appears as if consumers are responding favorably by loading these items into their shopping carts. Is old-time packaging just a fad or a trend beginning to take hold?

Many of the brands we buy today are those we were first introduced to as kids. Mom was the families purchasing agent. During the ‘50s and ‘’60s most of us lived in homes with just one TV so family members were often exposed to commercials at the same time. As a result, everyone had some influence on what products to buy, but mom was the ultimate decision maker. Of course, if we joined her as she strolled the aisles of the local supermarket, there was a change to lobby for a cereal or snack food that was not included on the shopping list.

Studies over the years indicate that when people move out of their parents’ homes, they usually buy products their mothers used. This ranges from laundry brands, to paper goods, to household cleaning products. The same is true for food brands, although individual tastes come into play here as with personal care items. Once they are on their own, product usage is determined by personal satisfaction. However, new or improved products that are heavily advertised may receive trial, which could result in repeat purchases thereby replacing the old brand.

Retro packaging is a means to instantly differentiate a brand from all the others, and remind shoppers that this was a product they liked back when times were better. Such a strategy is fine for Boomers and New Seniors who combined represent the largest purchasing demographic in US history. But modern moms don’t remember the old packages – they had yet to be born. However, with the aid of advertising, they can be made to realize this is a bit of nostalgia they can enjoy, too.

Some of the brands that have dabbled in retro marketing include Doritos, Pepsi, Cheerios, Hostess Cup Cakes and Twinkies as well as Tide and Downy. Results for these products have been favorable. One notable brand that tried using elements from its original label design dating back to 1933 was Kraft’s Miracle Whip. Research told the company that younger consumers were not attracted to the look, so the company took its label in a new, more contemporary, direction.

Some products have not changed their look over the years, but these are usually specialty items. New products, often premium ones, may use old-style graphs and type to give them a distinct look and make the brand synonymous with old-fashioned quality.

The outside of the package may attract us to buy, but what’s inside is the reason we keep buying it. If food processors made a good tasting item with honest ingredients rather than a bunch of chemicals and preservatives or manufacturers offered a product that was as good as its advertising they might find this is the best way to create real brand loyalty.

Happy Birthday America

-NewSeniors Editorial — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:00:42 +0000

It’s been a long 235 years since a group of early American’s risked their livelihoods, their possessions and their very lives when the Founding Fathers signed The Declaration of Independence. These were our first heroes and we learned about their courage through American History lessons beginning in the elementary grades all the way through high school. They put everything on the line for freedom. Have we become so blasé that freedom no longer has the meaning it once had?

New Seniors (pre-boomers and the early baby boomers) are the ones who benefited most from the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation. It may seem strange to those younger than we are to consider being born during the Great Depression or WWII to be a good thing. But it was. We saw first hand, or soon came to understand, what incredible strength, faith and courage our parents and the others of their era had. They were patriots.

They, their parents or earlier ancestors, came to this country with a dream: the hope of building a new and better life. One were they could be free. And, one where their children would have endless opportunities to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These people left behind whatever they had and whomever they knew to come to America. They understood it would not be easy but believed it would be worth it.

Few arrived here with money or the possibility of work. They lucky ones had friends or relatives provide them with food and shelter. When jobs were found, the hours were long and the tasks difficult. Yet these new Americans were determined to make it and while doing so they made this country a better place for all of us. This makes them patriots.

It’s almost impossible for us to think of what they went through. Although stories passed down let us know it was no cake walk. What our patriot parents went through was a long arduous journey through the ‘30s and directly into fighting a War on two fronts in the early ‘40s. Many of us remember those war days, when people lived in both fear and faith for nearly five years. And we all benefited from their efforts as the country moved from 15 long years of darkness into the sunshine of post-war prosperity.

Those who carried the message of family tradition and the responsibility that goes with the freedoms enjoyed in this great country of ours are leaving us at an ever increasing rate. The pre-boomers are approaching old age as the boomers join us as New Seniors. In the meantime, we have work to do in order to help get the US back on track.

This Independence Day, let us commit ourselves to using what we learned and what we believe to reignite the feeling of patriotism within in our families, our friends and our communities. The true greatness of America began with the individual and became bigger, stronger and more beautiful as people worked together to make this the land of the free and the home of the brave. This may be the moment in history when we can do our part to let the American dream live on for our children and grand children. There is no better birthday gift we could give to the country that gave so much to us.

Imagine July 4th without fireworks

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:44:47 +0000

The latest cause the environmentalists are trying to foist on the American public is to ban fireworks displays on July 4th. There was a suit brought to court in San Diego recently seeking to accomplish this, but a judge ordered a reprieve. So the people of that city will be able to enjoy fireworks, at least for this year. Will such efforts succeed in this city and throughout the country next year?

We are allowing a minority fringe to hijack America by changing our accepted and preferred way of life to fit their agenda. And, it affects a great deal more than shooting off fireworks one day a year in the local park. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal government’s arm for setting rules and regulations to keep American clean, safe and beautiful for all its inhabitants, human and otherwise.

Has this agency become more interested in control than it is for the total welfare of the more than 300 million people living here? Take the three inch long smelt that is endangered by the irrigation system in California’s Central Valley farm area. Billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs have vanished because the government has closed down the canals. No wonder food prices are going through the roof.

There’s a species of lizard in West Texas that is dwindling in numbers. If the environmentalist get their way oil drilling there will be put on hold. Add that to the lack of drilling licenses issued for the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill, along with the administrations refusal to drill offshore in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans or tap into the rich reserves in Alaska and it is understandable why we are being held hostage by those unfriendly countries (Canada excluded) that export oil to us.

The effort to get Americans to switch to other forms of fuel has been spectacularly unsuccessful. Ethanol costs more to produce and results in corn shortages worldwide. Without this commodity, many will die. Electric cars have been proposed, but coal is frowned upon as an energy because it pollutes, even though it is a highly cost-effective energy source and abundantly available within the borders of the continental US.

However, neither the facts nor the current financial straits we are experiencing seem to stop the government from blindly forging ahead with plans to immediately take America off oil and change the country to renewable energy, sort of like they way it wants us to instantly change our eating habits. How do they intend to make this happen? Wind and solar power are still a more expense form of energy. Plus, depending on how the energy will be used, power grids and charging stations must be built – a long and expensive process. And, nuclear energy became taboo after the disaster in Japan.

The energy situation is just one of the areas where the environmental activists, the EPA and the administration appear to be working at cross-purposes with the will and needs of the people. It’s time we took a stand and said no more regulations until America gets back on its feet. Maybe the place to start is by being sure we can celebrate the country’s birthday with a rip-roaring, patriotic display of fireworks.

Innocence lost

a NewSeniors contributor — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:39:51 +0000

The talk these days is concentrated on Medicare and Social Security and how changes will affect the New Seniors population. We must not forget the other end of the age spectrum: our youngsters. They have no voice in the political debate and no dollars in the game, but what we are doing to them will have long lasting consequences.

The biggest culprit is the education system. America spends more money per student and gets the worst return on this vital investment, because education is a political football with special interest groups coming first and teaching our youth is a distant second. There never seems to be enough money to do the job schools are supposed to do.

What happened to the school money from the bonds voted on at the state and local levels? The dollars generated from cigarette taxes? The portion of sales taxes that was for education? Or, the educational windfalls that state lotteries were going to provide. How are these things working out in your state? In the meantime, charter schools and other school system refinements are blocked by unions and their political lap dogs.

In spite of a noticeable lack of academic improvement, there are lots of additions to the rules and regulations being imposed on schools. Current curriculums are under attack. The rewriting of history is an ongoing battle at all grade levels. Parents are also concerned that younger students are being exposed to sexual orientation education. In one California school district, gender diversity is now being taught to first graders.

No longer are parents the ones to decide when it is appropriate to discuss sex with their children and how they want to form the conversation. The schools, with the support of the teachers’ unions, are leading the way to determine what is said and when this kind of information will be instilled in the minds of children.

Any attempt to stop this kind of indoctrination is quickly met with cries that homophobic groups and ill-informed parents are harming children and causing disharmony in the classroom and bullying outside the school. Of course, the PC (politically correct) police are on the scene to point fingers at anyone who balks at this subject matter being taught to kids, even at the elementary school level. Activist judges and supportive media outlets work in concert to jam these changes into school curriculums now and forever.

Young minds are sponge-like and have yet to develop the ability to discern. Learning what is right and wrong, what is and is not actable behavior as well as determining moral and other values is the responsibility of the parents.

Knowledge of social behavior should be imparted by teachers who also demonstrate and monitor the application of these necessary skills within the school community. However, the schools are usurping the parents’ authority by making unilateral decisions about teaching debatable subjects. After all, is it not reasonable for parents to be the ones to decide when their children have come of age to lose their innocence?