Forget McCain's age for a moment. An aging America is nowhere to be seen in either presidential candidate's radar, says Newsweek and syndicated columnist Robert Samuelson (July 6, 2008).
John McCain and Barack Obama are against poverty and fiscal irresponsibility. . . (They) favor “reform.” But beyond these platitudes, they’re mostly mute.
That global aging is “a demographic shift with no parallel in human history” is not exactly a secret or even a disputed issue. So its absence from the discussion table seems curious. Then again, according to Samuelson,
It is one of our fondest political myths that elections allow us collectively to settle the "big issues." The truth is that there's often a bipartisan consensus to avoid the big issues, because they involve unpopular choices and conflicts. Elections become exercises in mass evasion; that certainly applies so far to the 2008 campaign. A case in point is America's population transformation. Few issues matter more for the country's future — and yet, it's mostly ignored.
Samuelson has visited the issue before, specifically focusing on developing bi-partisan think tanks to come up with data and policy solutions to the problems related to government spending on older Americans and immigration issues.
But that’s not enough, according to Encore, an organization devoted to revitalizing later life careers.
. . .Samuelson’s challenge is all to the good, but the framing is too narrow, too Beltway. Rather than merely craft a policy that averts the fiasco, we need a vision that fosters a renewal, both social and individual. Aging boomers are more than liabilities, after all, they are also assets. Changing the starting point of the discussion also changes the end result. Rather than muddle through, why not break through?
Certainly, longer working lives are likely to be a feature of boomers’ encores, but that reality will be much more appealing if work itself is reimagined: encore careers at the intersection of personal meaning, continued income and social impact.
How do we in the community of professionals and “experts” on aging find ways to bring constructive solutions to a table that’s not even set? It seems having faith that whichever candidate we prefer will “do the right thing” is a bit misplaced.
What’s your organization doing locally or nationally to “not muddle through, but break through”? Share your ideas and experiences with us!
1 comment:
We at United Seniors of Wisconsin, fitness program are showing how seniors, even medically involved seniors can come together and exercise their bodies and their minds in fun and motion. We do this 3x per week at 4415 w. Forest Home Ave. Milwaukee and each works out at their level either in a group program, developed by a 45 years of experience Physical Therapist, who is also a senior. In order to stay physically mobile in our daily functioning we all need to maintain or gain strength, flexibility and activity tolerance. Prevention trumps cure in the long run can save Medicare and Medicade funds for the common good....Phyllis
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