New Seniors

A project funded by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) is photographing student lunch trays before and after kids eat to determine how many calories each child consumes. Will this be a big help that leads to healthier children or is it a step toward more big brother involvement in the lives of all Americans?

Half of likely voters oppose the president’s budget proposal, according to a recent Rasmussen poll. However, the budget passed by the House (the Ryan plan) is considered unacceptable by some, particularly younger voters. With nearly 50% of Americans receiving entitlement dollars, it will be difficult to balance the budget or come close to it without re-evaluating government programs once considered to be untouchable.

The current administration continues its fight against childhood obesity through healthier diets by “asking” that advertising of certain products be restricted. The hope is to keep ads for foods with high sodium, fat and sugar from reaching those under 18. How will this change the things promoted on TV, what’s available in stores and restaurants as well as the items found in America’s home pantries?

If you’re like most Americans, the value of you home has already dropped significantly. And, home prices have continued to decline so far this year. There’s no real recovery in sight as attested by a recent poll showing just 15% of homeowners believing their house will be worth more next year. A look inside the numbers indicates the future is troubling.

If you are 65+, you know what it means to be a New Senior. And if you know someone who is 65+, you can see that New Seniors are not like the seniors of old. The concept of being a New Senior started with the Pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945). We are more than 30 million strong, and all of us are 65 or older.

Difficult times call for making difficult decisions. And that’s what the Massachusetts House did recently by passing a bill, by a margin of nearly 3 to 1, to stop public employee unions from collective bargaining on most health care issues. This caused an uproar among workers and union leaders. But politicians in this heavily Democratic state claim they had no other choice.

The trials and tribulations of the Badger State continue to grow as its chances for an economic recovery become less likely. A shift in politic power resulted from the November elections. The promise was to lift Wisconsin out of debt, not raise personal taxes and make it an attractive place for business; but this has turned into a disaster. The fallout from this situation is likely to hurt the taxpayers of the state for years to come.

Coffee is a simple drink enjoyed by adults in homes, restaurants and workplaces everywhere. Per capita consumption increased steadily over the first half of the last century, going up 78% during that period. Since then the consumption rate has declined to about where it was a hundred years ago. But marketers are burning the midnight oil to find ways to get more people to drink more coffee more often than just in the morning.

Easter seemed to come and go without much fanfare this year. Maybe it’s because, unlike Christmas, there is no fixed date for Easter which was later than usual. Perhaps the economy had a negative effect on clothing sales, which usually pick up around this holiday. Or, maybe with Mother’s Day so close flower giving was postponed until then. Some will say it is because religion itself has fallen on hard times.

Only 16% of likely voters think the country would be better off if most incumbents are re-elected, according to a late March Rasmussen poll. While 40% of respondents believed their local representative deserved to be re-elected, only 31% thought they were the best possible person for the job. Mid-term elections haven’t reduced voter anger.