New Seniors

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?

A significant majority of all age groups believe that exercise is very or somewhat important, according to a recent Rasmussen poll. Younger people are less likely to agree with this statement. This age group, therefore, has nearly twice the number of non-exercisers than any other group. Is it because younger Americans are generally healthier, too busy or don’t care?

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.

Most people 65+ remember WWII or heard firsthand about what happened on the home front during those frightful years. While our troops are currently engaged in wars and unrest away from home, there is a battle going on right here in the United States. The battle to get the national debt under control affects not only us it impacts the future of our children, their children and beyond.

Wearing poppies, waving flags, parades, placing flags and wreaths at soldiers’ graves, twenty-one gun salutes followed by hot dogs and ice cream at the local American Legion were all part of the Memorial Day pre-boomers remember as kids. It was a solemn yet celebrative day because we remembered those who died serving our country and rejoiced in the freedom we enjoyed as a result of their sacrifices.

During the first half of the past century, having extended family members living in the same house was part of way life for many Americans. For a variety of reasons, this made emotional and economic sense. After WWII this way of life faded, but the extended family is making a comeback. And, the concept may have many built-in advantages for all involved.

From the ‘60s through the millennium, I flew about once a week. Many were short hops, lots were coast-to-coast and there were international trips as well. For the first decade or so I loved it. Then I endured it. And, finally, before retiring in 2003 I despised it. Was my attitude a result of getting older or has air travel sunk so low?

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.