Today's senior citizens are bagging groceries-

[undeterred]

so what will it be like for seniors in 10 or 20 years? I am seeing more older people at low paying jobs in the work force than ever before. I can't believe that there are that many 75 year olds who are doing this simply because they want to get out of the house and keep busy- they need the extra money. And those are the ones healthy enough to work.

I wonder if retirement will become unaffordable, and the masses of us will simply work until we die.

[Rainscents]

1. I am sad to say, children's and parents have to live together and

take care of each other. We are going way back!

[eek MD]

7. That paints a bleak outlook for us single people...

*shudder*

[Skidmore]

17. What can you say after a couple of responses like the past 2.

"Going backwards" and "bleak picture". Even taking in mind that not all familial relationships are good ones, one generation is not excused from caring for and having responsibility to other generations, both older and younger. And we wonder why our society is the way it is today--harsh and cutthroat. The extended family is as equally a blessing as can be a problem.

[leftofthedial]

2. we'll work until we die

which, at the rate our health care system is melting down, will mercifully be at a much younger age.

[Cassandra]

3. During the Depression...

if 80 year olds wanted to eat and have some shelter, they'd dig ditches. Perhaps this is in the glorious future Dear Leader envisions for us.

[catmother]

4. many seniors did not have jobs that provided a pension, myself

included -- i hate to admit that i'm 64. if it weren't for my husband who is 58 and still working at a very good salary i'd be screwed. and my social security is $1314.00 a month more than what most people get because i made good money when i worked.

my mom is 83 and only getting about $700 a month in SS -- no pension. went through her IRAs years ago. if it were'nt for her children and grandchildren she'd be living in subsidized housing. she's not well enough to work. hasn't been for years.

[mikelewis]

5. They'll be baggin each other...

or they'll rot in the streets, either way... where's my tax cut!

[tmooses]

6. Retirement is becoming a "legend" for more and more seniors. It will

only get worse when corporations feel free to default on their pensions. We are in the midst of a corporate run governmnent and all people seem concerned about is........, well you can fill in the blank.

[China_cat]

8. I'm curious as to why I see so many here

talking about it not being the companies' responsibility to provide a pension (not you, but others have been saying it) and that people shouldn't be expecting their employers to take care of them after they retire. I don't know where they worked but every place I've ever known to HAVE a pension plan (and I work for a union), the majority of the money going into that plan came out of the workers' pay. Yes, the companies have also made contributions to them but when a company defaults on a pension plan or goes bankrupt to keep from having to pay pensions, they are keeping a LOT of money that was legitimately earned by the workers and entrusted to the company to invest for them. They are stealing that money from the people who worked for it.

[undeterred]

9. I wasn't even thinking of that-

but rather of how hard it is for people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads or to get bills paid to voluntarily put money away for retirement. Social Security alone is not enough. But since people have to spend so much out of pocket on medical expenses- that pretty much eats up anything extra people might have been able to put away.

[China_cat]

10. I know

My husband was out of work for 2 years. We used up everything we had just trying to keep the house, the car, life insurance and live. This just seemed like a good place to remind people that companies reneging on their pension plans are actually stealing that money that we will need to live on.

[undeterred]

11. But when a company steals from employees

they go to court and the court says aw, that's ok, don't worry about it. Meanwhile, employees have to go through all kinds of background and security checks to make sure they can be trusted not to cheat or steal from the employer. Never has the disparity of power between employer and employee been so great.

[PA Democrat]

12. Good point China_cat. Exxon has seen record profits and yet

has one of the most badly underfunded pension funds.

[area51]

19. "...since people have to spend so much out of pocket on medical expenses"

Well said.

Nazis claim they want us to be the "ownership society" by funding our own retirement thru 401ks, & they want to totally dismantle Social Security. Multiple problems with that. Not all cos. offer 401ks. Not everyone makes enough money to set aside money in a 401k. What good does it do (to set aside money) b/c we don't have universal healthcare, since one severe illness (cancer, or someone crashes into you in their car) can wipe out your entire 401k savings.

Republinazis are pure evil & traitors to America.

[sickinohio]

13. That is what happened to my dad's

pension - the company defaulted on the pension, and of course, now they don't have the health coverage that they had counted on having when they retired. His company was a union company, to boot. Now, they are paying a really high amount for a Medicare Supplement Health policy, that of course doesn't cover any of their meds. The ONLY good thing is that my dad can get his meds at a lower cost through the VA Clinic, but they pay full price for my mother's meds. It's a shame that people in the USA have to live like they do. They paid their dues, I feel. My dad served in both the Navy and he served in the Army in Korea. I feel that they (and all US Citizens actually) should have all of their health care costs covered. But, we all know that is not about to happen with these crooks in office! I try to help them as much as I can, my brothers do also, but, we aren't rich either and barely make ends meet - especially now that we are paying such high heating bills!!! This country is in really, really sad shape.

[tmooses]

14. This is a good point-that many just don't GET. I worked for a company

for 30 years and belonged to a union that negotiated contracts every 3 years. Sometimes we went on strike but the whole idea was that we were negotiating not only for ourselves but those retired. I always looked on the union as my agent in negotiating a legal, binding contract with the company. Now we're in this never-never land where corporations can do whatever they want to keep their bottom line at the expense of those who have spent their lives working for them. You're right, this is stealing, and I look on these companies as worse than common criminals.

[China_cat]

16. We were a bit luckier than most

although we won't be able to collect for a few years, we still will have a pension coming in because our union took it out of the company's hands to administer. So, when the company sold out in order to bust the union we didn't lose what my husband had worked 27 years to build up. It wasn't able to keep the health insurance, though.

But my major point in this is that I have seen posters right here at DU saying that people shouldn't 'expect' a company to provide them with some kind of pension. That they see it, somehow, as people asking for an entitlement, something for nothing. THAT'S what needs to be combatted...the idea that a pension is something a company GIVES to an employee.

First off, you have to be 'vested' in the pension plan. This usually means that you have to work for a minimum of 10 years to even qualify to be in the plan. In that time money is being taken out of your paycheck to invest. After the vestment period, then the company will also contribute to the plan in some form. With stock options in most cases, very rarely in actual cash.

So you pay in all this money, stick with a job after your vestment period because you don't want to start all over again trying to save for retirement and the company decides to keep your pension fund as somehow belonging to them?

[Obamarama]

15. There was a 90 year-old man who bagged groceries here in Kalamazoo...

He just "retired" about 6 months ago. His wife died years ago and he was caring for his developmentally disabled daughter, too. He took the job about 12 years ago to make ends meet.

He was the darling of the grocery store, really. People would look out for him. Many customers would give hime rides to and from work so he didn't have to spend his money on the bus. He'd often forgoe the bus and walk (more than 1 mile each way!) to save the money.

How sad, yet he was always wearing a smile and seemed genuinely happy to be there.

[bedazzled]

22. my dad loved his job bagging groceries at albertson's

he did it until he got sick. he worked hard his whole life, and he thought it was "easy money." not to mention the opportunity to flirt with the ladies and make my mom jealous...

[RebelOne]

18. I will be 67 on Wednesday and I am working full-time

and also collecting Social Security. I can't afford to retire. I'll work a couple more years until I build up some more money in my 401K. Plus, I have fabulous medical coverage through my employer, much better than Medicare.

[DiverDave]

20. We have a little in a 401k

but we had our children late in our lives ( they are 5 and 8, I am 48 and the wife is 46.)
I don't see any way out, I don't want to be a burden to them when we get old.
I will work till I die, thats just the way it is.
I hope that there may be a little SS left by the time I can't work anymore, but I'm not counting on it.

[ComerPerro]

21. I am 24, and I don't think I will be able to retire. Ever.

[NNN0LHI]

23. I spoke to an 81 year old woman busing tables at Culvers the other day n/t

[undeterred]

25. It just isn't right.

[NNN0LHI]

27. She could barely walk to get around. I couldn't believe my eyes n/t

[undeterred]

29. And she probably had to compete with younger, more agile people

to get the job and hope the hiring manager would pick her anyway.

[lonestarnot]

24. Well I plan on it... working till I die.

[Jamison]

26. I think we'll all work until we die unless things change!

Or unless you're one of the top 5% & can afford it.

[lonestarnot]

28. Or unless we keep on the fight to jar loose the change of the top 1%!

[undeterred]

30. We will make them scrub floors!