What's wrong with this picture?

[silvershadow]

Several things I can think of. But, just simply comparing the thrust of these two stories paints a frightening picture. One that many are already living. You'd better hope you have enough cash saved by age 50 to live on until you are 70, because the chances of you being employed after 50 are slim, yet they don't really want you to retire (at all).

Here is what it is like at 50:

For millions of Americans over 50, this isn’t a bad dream — it’s grim reality. The recession and its aftermath have hit older workers especially hard. People 55 to 64 — an age range when many start to dream of kicking back — are having a particularly hard time finding new jobs. For a vast majority of this cohort, being thrown out of work means months of fruitless searching and soul-crushing rejection.

To which many experts say, “What did you expect?”


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/business/how-5-older-workers-saw-a-chance-to-remake-their-careers.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130113&_r=1&

And here is what they corporate wants:

A business group of top executives on Wednesday proposed reforms to Social Security and Medicare that would raise the enrollment age for both programs to 70 but not raise Social Security taxes paid by upper-income Americans.

The Business Roundtable, which represents more than 200 chief executives from some of the largest U.S. corporations, also urged Congress to add a "premium support" mechanism to Medicare, peg Social Security cost-of-living adjustments to a lower inflation gauge and raise Medicare charges for wealthier beneficiaries.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/us-usa-fiscal-entitlements-idUSBRE90F1MY20130116

[Turbineguy]

1. These corporate types live in the gap

between the workers and the customers. To survive thay have to screw over the worker as well as the customer.

[silvershadow]

2. Yet they fail to understand the worker IS their customer. They will only figure this out AFTER they

go under, I suppose. Too bad they will take us all down with the ship.

[Turbineguy]

14. One of my friends

correlates the economic decline with the increase in MBA's.

[silvershadow]

15. Sounds about right. People need real-world experience, not more degrees. Especially MBA's. Half

of those with MBA's are probably fresh out of school, never even had a real job. And that MBA is supposed to mean something?

[2naSalit]

3. from my seat in the hall of insignificance at age 56, everything.

I've been in this hall ever since I walked off campus with my brand new masters degree, 30 days before the twin towers event in 01. Had my soul crushed so many times that I'm surprised I'm still here.

[silvershadow]

5. My mom is still working nearly full-time, pushing 70 years old, and sees no chance of retiring.

She counts herself lucky to have a job, but she doesn't want to be working. She has been ready to retire for many, many years, and has looked forward to it for decades. During those decades, they stole it from her. She has aged 10 years in the last 3.

[Skittles]

6. and it stresses you too to see her struggle

the 1% steals from all of us in so many ways

[Frustratedlady]

4. If this is ever seriously considered, the people should demand

the CEOs and upper management stop receiving outrageous bonuses and salaries. It used to be customary for the CEOs to receive a small percentage above the laborer/regular employee and they should be forced to go back to that practice. These monstrous salaries/bonuses are obscene and have caused innumerable problems with employee attitudes as well as the national economy. It seems that when those started showing up, the middle class was left behind and the chasm between middle and upper class grew in leaps and bounds.

It is past the time for CEOs to tell the working class what they will do.

I can't believe stockholders haven't screamed to the heavens about this money coming out of their pockets.

[LeftofObama]

8. You're kidding, right?

[alphafemale]

9. ...but you see. LOWERING the retirement age....

...even if at somewhat reduced benefits for a time. That would immediately create job slots for young people.

[silvershadow]

10. I agree. That's why they are suggesting raising it. Few jobs. Fewer opportunities. Higher

unemployment. Face it, they are determined to stab our country in the back, if it means the President will "fail". Fellow citizen be damned.

[CBGLuthier]

11. Fortunately, I need neither a corporation or any other person

to determine whether or not I am able to make money. Going to be sad times for those who never developed any real skills other than turning a wrench or stapling one piece of crap to another piece of crap.

[MadHound]

12. Gee, aren't you the kind and compassionate one,

Look, lots of people have lots of "real skills", yet still can't land a job. Lots of people in fact went back and got more training, more schooling, in order to be that much more employable. But despite all of that, employers aren't hiring them, for a number of reasons. So, what are they supposed to do? Turn wrenches or get into stapling?

Nice that you've got yours, perhaps you can pull your head out and look around at the rest of us who aren't so fortunate, through no fault of our own.

[silvershadow]

13. If the corporations get their way in changing America, then trust me, everyone will "get theirs"...

It won't be just the unskilled workers, or even skilled workers...It will be everyone.