In this country, older people are treated like garbage.

[survivor999]

And it will only get worse, as benefits gets cut to pay for insane enteprises such as the Iraq war. Do you agree?

[ThomWV]

1. Dam right!

[pooja]

2. I think everyone is treated like garbage unless you are born with

a silver spoon in your mouth

[China_cat]

9. Or, in Bush's case

a silver foot in your mouth.

[Raster]

10. Or in bush*'s case, a silver straw up your nose....

[sarge43]

14. As one of those old people, I agree with you.

One in five children live in poverty in this country.

[Benhurst]

3. BushAmerica

And this be our motto:

Root, hog, or die!

[DaveJ]

4. * will use denial of private SS accounts as an excuse

He will do his famous shoulder shrug from now on when confronted with the issue. They just don't care.

When it comes right down to it they want us to do the same as they do in third world countries. Elderly must live with their kids. Whereas I don't have a problem with taking care of my parents (in this case my step-mom my own parents have plenty of money) it is symptomatic of Republicans government's lack of concern. It's a Banana Republic now, a two tier economic system.

It will only get worse with them in control. Since kids can't really afford to make ends meet, if they have to take care of their parents they will have even less when they get older. And so it will continue until we are another 3rd world country.

[Union Thug]

5. True - and it goes back to the basic 'values' that are marketed

to the people of this country. Marketing targets profit generating demographics and seniors don't buy the bulk of the bullshit that marketers are slinging. As such, they are ignored or mocked by the only thing that means ANYTHING to Americans, the advertising that creates American reality and assures consumers of their worth.

The problem is endemic and intrinsic to our so called 'culture'. It is, in my opinion, a direct result of our economic system.

[nam78_two]

6. Yes...

Its true in most parts of the world but it looks like this country is trying to go back to the pre-new deal days when the elderly were starving....

[leftofthedial]

7. disposable people

truth be told, most people in this country are treated like garbage.

[havocmom]

8. No money to spend, no energy to be exploited

People are one or the other to the corportists. Most old people are neither. There is no room for them in the new world order, and keeping them around only increases the chances the young might learn from them, and the powers can't let THAT happen.

[Union Thug]

12. Dead on. They are Scrooge's surplus population. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

11. and the percentage of people

in this group will grow tremendously in the very near future-
We should hang our heads in shame. The Amish treat their elders with respect and reverence, the same with the Native Americans, Asian, and African Societies- The 'melting pot' that has become the US has melted down an important tradition that many will sadly live to regret-

Gandhi said something about you can judge a society by the way they treat their animals- a similar comment about children and the elderly must exist somewhere-

[hfojvt]

13. actually elderly poverty has gone down in the last thirty years

they have a powerful lobbying organisation in AARP. Both parties have sucked up to them at the expense of young people who are working now. A couple years ago I qualified for many government programs based on income - they would pay my water, a food sales tax rebate, a homestead credit. But hey, guess what - those programs were only for a) people with children, and b) those over age 55. The $1000 or so I paid to FICA taxes this year - I also pay income taxes on. The older people get social security checks and that income is mostly not taxed. That is backwards to me. They can go many places, unlike a minimum wage worker, and get a 'senior discount'. Check out the book "13th Generation: Abort, Retry, Ignore?" Older and retired people are treated much better than young working people. Their benefits will not get cut. It would be political suicide, but our future benefits will get cut to the bone.

[VOX]

15. Not a demographic that is viewed as viable, and thus disposable...

These are not people who, for the most part, will be making major purchases -- houses, cars, boats, RVs, home additions, swimming-pool installations, etc. And their children are long done with college and (hopefully) out of the house.

In addition, our culture sadly emphasizes speed and a quick study of tasks to make it through everyday functions, so the elderly, as their faculties become naturally diminished, are put in the position of being viewed as literally in the way.

Our culture does not value their wisdom, as do some others.

Most of us fear growing old and helpless in America, and with good reason.

[we can do it]

16. I Agree and It Pisses Me Off - Those Who Claim to be Conservatives

have no respect for their elders. Especially the poor ones. People should not have to choose between medicine and food and/or heat. These people have worked all their lives and trusted in this country - now we desert them, it's criminal.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. Disagree.

It is children which are treated like garbage. The poverty rate among children has skyrocketed while the rate among retirees has dropped.

The drop in the poverty rate among the elderly is a good thing, and benefits should not be cut. That said, the next frontier in social justice is kids.