I'm becoming afraid of aging further....

[Skidmore]

and not because I'm scared of wrinkles or creaking joints or not having a girlish figure any longer. I'm really getting scared about the future. Both my husband and I worked for years at the same educational facility. I lost my job this past week and am currently unemployed. Fortunately, he still has his job and carries our health insurance. We have some savings, but our retirement plans are both through our employer. They both have been vested for some time, so we have no access to those funds. Between the Rs continued assault on Social Security and the spreading of the practice of entities raiding their employees' retirement funds, I'm becoming increasingly nervous. It angers me that some members of Congress think that SS is a perk and that retirement funds are fair game to companies seeking bail themselves out. It angers me because Congressmen and Senators would squawk loud and long if they lost a pension plan. What happens to the elderly if retirement plans are done away with and SS is dismantled? Folks, there are three more years of this government.

[electropop]

1. We won't have 3 more years of it.

Bush will be booted out by his own party by August this year. He is a terrible liability, and they are trying to make up a 16-point lag, which they acquired by supporting Bush's evil policies.

[walldude]

4. I wish I had your optimism

But the way things have been going I don't see Bush going anywhere. The man's administration subverts the Constitution, then calls anyone who dares question their sincerity a traitor, the media buys it prints it and the people go back to their daily lives. The way I see it things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

[electropop]

8. You forgot one important faction.

US. 60% (and climbing) disapprove of Bush. He is in an unsustainable position, and everything he stands for is getting worse, making him and his supporters more vulnerable every day.

[walldude]

18. The approval rating means nothing

I have been optimistic before and been screwed. What is it they have to do to get busted? Murder? Torture? Got away with those. Subvert the Constitution? No problem. Destroy the economy? Done. The list goes on forever. I see 2 ways out of this. 1. Revolution. 2. Sex scandal.

[Skidmore]

20. Well, I don't think you'll find anyone who cares to undertake #2,

except maybe Gannon/Guckert, of course.

[Warpy]

7. Booted out? They're going to have to deal with Cheney, first

and he's an even bigger liability than Stupid is. They'd better get a move on if they want this bunch gone by August. They'll have to find someone either unknown or palatable to the religious nutcases, and that is not going to be an easy task, not until after midterms. McCain and Allen both have their eye on the top job, and they don't want to be "cheated" out of two terms by coming in too early in Stupid's term.

I don't question that Stupid's party is turning on him. I just question the time line. Yes, Congress will be in full revolt come the election season, trying to distance themselves from Stupid's appalling record. However, Stupid's got a job as long as Cheney is there, and I don't see that changing soon.

[electropop]

13. They'll have to deal with both at the same time

or the monster grows a new head.

[katty]

30. bush/cheney will have to dragged out of the WH

[RagingInMiami]

10. Even if bush is booted out

That does not guarantee that everything will suddenly go back to being normal. Things have been getting abnormal for many years now. The real enemy is the corporization of this country.

[electropop]

15. Fair point.

Once we clean out the Repugs, we have to begin purging the Dem traitors too. But IN THE PRIMARIES.

[StellaBlue]

25. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been saying this for YEARS. And I am only 26.

[katty]

36. yup, there won't be any sudden re-alignment, the shift has been

set in motion

[abluelady]

2. You're Not Alone

I am also worried about health insurance. We are supposed to still get SS and Medicare but since every time Bush opens his mouth he lies....And try thinking about the world your grandchildren are going to grow up in. Very scary.

[Skidmore]

32. I worry about health insurance too.

We both have medication we absolutely have to take for the rest of our lives. If I don't take mine, I will die. In addition there are annual labs and periodic scans--all expensive. If we didn't have health insurance through work, we could not afford it out of pocket.

[skylarmae]

3. This is where the family becomes even more important to the human

condition...Strong families can get thru anything...We can take care of our elderly and love them and cherish them and keep them close until they pass...if medically possible, of course.

This is what my heart tells me.

[Cleita]

16. Fine and I guess those with families who can't get them through

it might as well go out in the ocean and drown themselves because that's where I'm going if my safety nets, which I rely on, are yanked out from under me.

[0007]

24. Huh? When has this country ever gave a fuck about the elderly?

This country is not about family orientation. Divorce is as common as catching a cold....and the nursing homes are packed to the max. The western culture has very little time for even children.

Money & more money is the priority of the day.

[RagingInMiami]

5. You know you're not alone

Millions of Americans are in the same boat as you. It's time for some serious grass roots action regarding healthcare because as you say, there are three more years of this administration.

The writing is on the wall. The time to act is now. It's time for a healthcare revolution in this country.

[beingthere]

6. Hi, sounds like

you are better off than about 80% of the world's population. On the other hand everything you said is a legitimate concern, and spread the word get rid of the Repubs. (I don't mean to sound insensitive, and am getting older myself, so am aware of the issues you mention, but as Joe Hill said, "Don't mourn, organize."

[leftofthedial]

9. the only safe retirement fund is a sock under your mattress

stuffed with gold and a gun

repuke Murka.

[Cleita]

11. You should be worried. I already collect SS and Medicare and

I'm scared. If SS doesn't keep up with inflation and doctors stop accepting Medicare because of reduced benefits, I'm up the creek without a paddle at a time in my life when I am most vulnerable and can't start over again.

[katty]

33. by the time i can get SS-it will be gone-SS has always been

the slush fund, the perpetual government cookie jar to be "borrowed" from. people have to stop thinking that things will simply 'work themselves out' once bush & the gang are gone-one must have some kind of back up plan (not just a backpack for an earthquake or a dirty bomb)and investigate groups that have been/currently thinking, discussing about pooling resources, et al.

[Cleita]

34. I used to think that too, but thanks to many dedicated seniors

who came before me, it was still here for me. I too am fighting for those who are behind me and yet to collect. Too bad Gore didn't get the presidency, he was going to put it in a lockbox trust so that it couldn't be borrowed from. We still need to push our pols to do this. Keep your hopes up and don't give up. A little gray power can go a long way.

Even though we couldn't do much about the prescription drug plan, we did stop them in their tracks when they tried to privatize Medicare with the help of AARP. AARP has seen the light and is no longer a tool of the Bush Administration. We will get rid of this drug plan in time to and replace it with something seniors can actually use.

[katty]

35. seniors have done alot,agree, yet the longer this cabal is

running their d.c. dog&pony show - vulnerability is increased for ALL. My mother died right before bush came to town, she would have been beyond shocked to witness the horrors of Katrina and the criminal neglect of WH, et al-actually I am glad she was not around to see it.

[acmejack]

12. Oh I wouldn't worry about it.

I fully expect civil order to break down at some point within the next decade. As the standard of living begins to fall in an ever steepening descent, as food becomes more of a luxury item to us in the masses, retirement will be remembered only as something our parents used to enjoy in the "good old days".

[AlCzervik]

14. my husband and i figure we can work until we're 75 and then just die.

[Cleita]

17. Great, if any employer wants you by then.

I have seen elderly people on the road working for a space to park their trailers and no money. If the elderly demand money the employers opt for younger workers.

[AlCzervik]

19. well we can always adjust the age we die, i can't even imagine the lack of

quality of life we will have by the time we retire, it's just depressing thnking about it.

[Cleita]

21. It doesn't have to be that way.

We have to take back our democracy and the social safety nets that have worked so well for more than fifty years.

[redwitch]

28. A great New Yorker cartoon caption:

"I figure if we take a late retirement and an early death, we'll just about squeak by. "
Did you write it?




That's us too BTW. :-(

[AlCzervik]

39. no i didn't but i wish i could take credit for it.

[LiberalEsto]

22. I'm sorry you lost your job

That sucks.
Best of luck to you with finding something new.

[GOPFighter]

23. Let's face it, our national politicians have no idea how...

...most Americans live. Most are rich and have been since birth. I doubt if any one of them has parents in danger of growing old in poverty.

I can't believe how passive the public is as they watch their elected representitives vote themselves tax cut after tax cut, not to mention their excellent health plans and retirement plans while the average American struggles to pay their bills and faces the loss of their pensions. It's criminal that this Congress is letting company after company walk away from their pension obligations with nary a fight.

We're in a class war and we're losing. When people have nothing left to lose, they have a tendency to revolt.

[StellaBlue]

26. People are pissed.

But we're too scared and poor to do shit about it.

Who, with little or no savings, little or no pension (and that's PLENTY OF PISSED OFF AMERICANS), is going to risk their job (and thereby their healthcare, if they are lucky enough to have insurance), to do anything?

And what, pray tell, could we DO - short of massive civil disobedience or all-out violence?

It will get to that point. Too late for the 99% of us that have to support ourselves.

[Ksec]

27. Im afraid of getting older for the physical things

The things you explain are worrisome, indeed, but the thought of me gettin old and crotchety bums me out.

I work out like a meathead hoping to stave it off as long as possible. BTW Im 51 and have the body of an 18 yr old and the mind of a centerian.

[Pastiche423]

29. You are very, very lucky

to be able to work out. My paralyzed body can't.

[GrumpyGreg]

43. I'm 73,have the body of a 51 year old and the mind of a toddler.

It's terrific!

And from what I can see,the ones that are crotchety were always crotchety,but it was called "outspoken" or "forceful" in their earlier years.

[EFerrari]

31. We've nothing like retirement benefits, just on our own.

But, the spin on SS is horrific.

We can't let that go unchallenged.

[Pryderi]

37. Republicans will pass the "Logan's Run" legislation. People who can't

afford to retire and can't work will have to participate in Carousel.

[Iowa]

38. Social Security will be there...

We'll see some minor tweaking, but it will be there. Bush tried to undermine the program, and he's been on a downhill slide ever since. It was largely responsible for his demise, IMO.

Public pension programs will be there too.

Don't worry Skidmore, sanity will return.

[niallmac]

40. I remember visiting a friend in Norway.

At first I was laughing at how much they had to pay in taxes.
By the time I left that country my mind was reeling with the idea
that a government would provide for a citizens basic human needs.
I tried to imagine not having to live in fear of illness or misfortune.
I congratulate all of you successful talented capitalists.
Those who have other interests in life...
You must live in fear of stumbling on a perpetual financial
treadmill. Don't stumble or we will call you a bum.
You will be given a copy of The Three Little Pigs and
sent back out into the street.

[mom cat]

41. Start your victory gardens now.

[GrumpyGreg]

42. Frightening isn't it? I am not affected but my kids,all into

their forties, are quite concerned.

[GoldenOldie]

44. God, it's hell getting old!

This administration only seems to compound the problems of aging. Even with the normal problems of what will we do with momma and daddy when they can no longer function on their own, this administration has placed the added burden on the children of the aged of how will we pay for the care of momma and daddy.

The fundies who are against abortion under any circumstances and who are also against assisted suicide, who also support cutting funding for MEDICARE and any support for children and the elderly......what are families with limited income to do????? For this the fundies and this administration have no answers.

While the Cheney's and the Bush's can buy one more mansion, WE THE PEOPLE, are being ignored......

[Comadreja]

45. Left for the Polar Bears by the GOP

[Comadreja]

46. Thanks to our Congress

The government can now extract unpaid Student Loan money from your SS checks, even if it's your sole source of income.

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[DaveColorado]

47. I'm only 21

I'm worried about the future of this country too, and I'm thinking of leaving once I get my education.

[JitterbugPerfume]

48. I am retired and it is scary

the company I have my pension and insurance through just filed chapter 11

being a widow ,it just scares the bejezus out of me

[Comadreja]

49. Our County is Lucky

The old county poorhouse, though derelict, is still standing. Maybe the fortunate will be allowed to go there and grow their own crops, getting some meat now and then from hunters and fresh road kill.