New Seniors

Remember the way people flocked to town hall meetings to listen to what the politicians had to say about health care? Even more exciting was how these elected representatives were confronted by angry citizens protesting the programs the government was trying to push through. Although the wishes of the voters were widely ignored, this is an election year. So any such gatherings should prove interesting.

We have seen an unbelievable number of fumbles, errors and just plain mistakes made by Congress and various administrations over the years. But the speed and frequency of the self-induced problems in Washington today are so apparent that, if it were not so serious, this would be a laughing matter.

Can you imagine, Congress did it again. It voted on a 2,000 page bill, which few if any have read, in the middle of the night that could have untold effects on the way business is done throughout the nation and the safety of our savings. Do you have any idea what’s in this legislation? Is it good or bad for you? Who do you trust to tell you about it?

An unrepresentative form of government, or one that treats the majority of Americans that way, may be the reason behind the President’s plummeting approval rating and why so many Congressional incumbents facing re-election in November are likely to be sent home rather than back to Washington. Less than 18 months after the new administration was seated, citizens are dissatisfied with the direction in which the country is going, especially those 65+.

Don’t be put off by this bold statement, but don’t dismiss it either. The plans for this country were drawn up by the founding fathers. Our ancestors who came here believed in the promise America offered and found a place where they could be free to pursue their dreams. They built the country. Now it’s time to remodel.

It’s sad that the list of car names is shrinking faster than the auto makers can close dealerships. Ford Motor Company announced the 71-year old Mercury brand was about to be dropped from its lineup. This was not a surprise to many market analysts, but for consumers it means one less choice for those interested in buying an American car.

It’s early on a Saturday morning. The minivan is filled with several families. With the mist still rising from the body of water separating the two countries, a vehicle makes its way to the US side. Once safely across, the vehicle pulls into a parking lot and the passengers scramble out and scatter in different directions. One family goes to Wal-Mart, another heads to Best Buy and the other enters the mall. These people came over the border, the northern border. Their mission is to shop.

It’s been a long 234 years since that 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?

When does blind faith end and fiscal responsibility begin to sink into the minds of the politicians in Washington? With the nation’s economy and attention to financial stability as the top issues, according to about 60% of adults, elected officials continue to ignore conventional wisdom in favor of more spending. To many of them, throwing money at a problem is the only answer they know, even though polls show that people are tiring of this kind of thinking.

Pre-boomers remember the time when people said things like, “His word is his bond,” and “honesty is the best policy,” or “a promise is a promise.” Maybe we didn’t understand the ramifications of these clichés, but it turned out we were learning the concept of trust and how important this was in personal and business relationships and the establishment of individual reputations.