New Seniors

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.

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.

Are schools so worried about being politically correct that they forget about the basics? Do philosophical agendas trump sound education standards? How can we continue to spend so much on an educational system that achieves such poor results? Have we forgotten to prepare students for a successful life?

A poll taken in early June, after the unemployment rate climbed to 9.1%, indicates consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the president took office in January 2009. Only 3 in 10 Americans, across all age groups, expect the economy to improve in the next year. And, half of all respondents say it is very or somewhat likely the country will enter a Depression similar to that of the1930’s.

Based on the current rhetoric, Medicare has become “Mediscare,” but neither political party seems to let the truth get in the way of their agendas. Those of us 65+ have a vested interest in the effects of health care reform, as do citizens of all ages. The problem is Medicare has already been targeted cuts of $500 billion, which few talk about.

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?

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?

While the United States government is willing to forgive foreign countries from billions of dollars in debts and continue to barrow money from China or print more in order to loan money to Middle East nations, more and more Americans are slipping into financial despair. One can’t help but wonder if the politicians have their priorities mixed up.

We learned from our parents that, “money doesn’t grow on trees.” That’s because those of us born between 1930 and 1945 were raised during the Great Depression followed by a period of sacrifice during WWII. Along with the baby boomers now turning 65, we were taught that America never had to endure such dire times again as long as we worked hard and “saved for a rainy day.” The clichés seem old now, but their messages remain true.

Mark Twain once said, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” A recent poll indicates that most Americans (51%) attribute weather conditions to long-term planetary trends while only 19% point the finger to human activity. But you can bet this won’t stop the debate about who really is to blame.