The Old Age Drag Begins

Back to blog

The plan is already running ......

Sarah Palin's Death Panels, currently run by private insurance companies, must be permitted to continue their excellent efforts to deny medical assistance to the old. To keep health costs under control, America needs to embrace foreign workers, and deny them access to Government-funded health care. In this way, the insurance industry can help to cull the herd with their death panels, because America does not need to be supporting unhealthy people from overseas either.

To help the insurance companies expand their denial of payments, the Government needs to implement a tax in new therapies that must be paid before they are released from the "experimental" category. If this tax is set around the $400 million mark, which is approximately the cost of a new drug approval, it would ensure that the only therapeutic possibilities have the backing of a major pharmaceutical company.

This would remove any likelihood of breakthroughs in nutrition from finding their way into the hands of doctors in the future. Combined with further disincentives on the development of therapies for the elderly or infirm, eugenics and euthanasia could be implemented using Government control of free market forces.

So right now it is important to delay the push for reform of US health care until these ideas can be implemented.

Richardhg of CA @ Aug 23, 2009 11:41:02 AM

The Real Issue

The real issue is our faulty concept of what life after 65 should be. Life after 65 cannot be defined as a 30 year golf outing. It needs to be an economically productive life season of coaching and transfering knowledge to the next generation.

When government pensions were first set up, the average life expectancy was much lower than the age at which one could collect a pension. Also birth rates were much higher so the many working could afford to pay for the retired few. But the big problem is that the retirement age has never shifted upward along with the increase in life expectancy.

As a society we need to figure out how to make better use of the boomer generation's knowledge, skills, and working capacity after their 65th birthday. We need to reshape labor law to drive market forces to encourage both boomers and employers to keep the 65+ crowd in the workplace. Flexibility, part-time schedules, and retraining (esp. for new technology) will be vital to this transition.

Without reforms to keep the 65+ crowd gainfully employed we face not only a collapse of the Ponzi scheme known as Social Security, we will also experience a massive brain drain from the loss of decades of knowledge and experience.

Eric of MD @ Aug 08, 2009 07:41:08 AM

Sorry I Did not save and invest more

If I had done what the government wanted me to,save and invest more,I could have lost way more in this economic downturn.

Looks like the new trickle down is working just like Regan's-the rich do not create anything, except corruption and tax evasion. They hoard and destroy economic progress.

My investments are sound and I expect the current and coming limited supply to reward me well.

Guns and ammo never lose value!

Mike Young

Mike Young of FL @ Jul 11, 2009 14:47:22 PM

Old Age

Micheal of MT:

Careful what you wish for. FEMA's getting those concentration camps ready as you speak!

I figure they'll start culling the herd @ 59 1/2,

al of NM @ Jun 29, 2009 15:33:59 PM

Intergeneraltional animosity

The later generations who don't want to pay for baby boomers are totally justified. Boomers and the WWII generation have embraced and lived off of piling up debts for those after them to pay.

The New Deal social programs are giant Ponzi schemes and a generation just around the corner is going to get left holding the bag. Shame on old people who lecture the young about everything they have done for them. Knowingly or not, the old people bought into FDR's socialism and deserve whatever scorn younger generations may heap upon them. You don't see Bernie Madoff getting self-righteous with his victims; neither should it happen in this instance.

John Foster of LA @ Jun 28, 2009 12:41:50 PM

baby boom

Seems all most young can do now is talk about the baby boomers

and how they are are or going to be is a drag on the ecconmy.

How all young will have to pay for the old to live.

Lets not forget how they paid your way for the first half of your life.

How they made sacrifices you cheep sniviling ungreatful welps have even yet to learn about.

All I cans say is maybe the wrong babies were aborted.

I hope your children give you what most of you want to give us.

Death to everyone over 32 makes as much since as the crap your spewing.

rod clark of OH @ Jun 28, 2009 11:21:10 AM

Re: The Age Old Drag Begins...

Amazing...

Now that you guys are going to have to start carrying the tax burden that has been shouldered by the Boomers for a lot of years, you are getting worried.

True there are 77+ Million of us. But I for one am not going to be asking you for any pension deficiencies, medical care, insurance, bailouts or any other entitlement.

You guys loved it when the Baby Boomers created the jobs and the technology to make your world possible. Many 30 somethings - still live at mom and dad's house and have fancy watches, cars, techno-gadgets and credit cards - but YOU OWN NO REAL ESTATE.

For years you have been so self absorbed that you actually want to bite the hand that feeds you.

I have a solution. Why not create concentration camps and start gassing anybody over the age of 45. You could create a new reality show on TV and call it "Boomer Survivor". i bet it would be a big hit ion TV and solve all the long term health care problems at the same time.

There may be about 26 Million Boomer who are overweight.obese - and that's a lot of people. But according tot he latest CDC and NCHS stats currently 65% of the American population (over 20) is overweight or obese and that number is estimated to rise to 75% by the year 2015.

You guys had better worry about who is going to carry your burden when you get old because obesity is getting worse not better and the Boomers won;t be around to pick up the tab then.

Why don't the generations who complain so much about Boomers create something worthwhile and move towards a solution to the world's problems instead of hiding your head in the sand and spending all your time in fancy martini bars and watching reality shows?

You guys are afraid you're going to have to work. Yet you keep voting for more entitlements that all taxpayers have to pay for in the long run.

I don't and never have.

If nobody works who pays the bills? And we're getting out the game pretty over the next 20 years and that's what pisses you off.

You want freebies so much, get to work and quit complaining. Start taking care of your own responsibilities individually and the world will change before your eyes.

Wake up and think about all the talent that is leaving the work force. There is more experience and ability in that group of people that you realize. But you will when you have to start making hard decisions on your own and create solutions.

Experience and wisdom take time. You may find yourself needing Boomer friends and help in the future.

Just think of all the amazing genius in the Baby Boomer generation, music, science, art, technology.

Watch out what you wish for , you just might get it.

Michael of MT @ Jun 26, 2009 20:29:44 PM

Far too many people,not too few

We need abortion clinics in all cities to end unwanted pregnancies all over the world, with free contraceptives and sex instruction. People don't exist to be GHEAP LABOR, emigrating to serve low pay employers.

auradawnveirs of CA @ Jun 26, 2009 18:09:27 PM

Back to blog

Add Your Thoughts
About You
The Ticker

The Ticker

Kirk Shinkle is a senior editor at U.S. News. He writes daily about ups and downs in equity markets, sectors and stocks. Formerly, he covered business and economics on both coasts for Investor's Business Daily.

advertisement

advertisement

Subscribe

U.S. News Digital Weekly

A weekly insider's guide to politics and policy — in a multimedia, digital format. 52 issues for $19.95!

U.S. News & World Report

6 months of U.S. News & World Report's print edition for only $15. Save up to 67% off the cover price!