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In Praise of Older People

By Pat Racimora on November 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM in Current Affairs

webrrgranny_edited-3

Older people, especially older female people who live longer, appear to be targeted as one feature of the “final solution” to our economic meltdown. (We seem to be incapable of going after the greedy and the incompetents who got us into this mess.)

So, no more recommended mammograms for women over 74. Huge cuts in Medicare. Big Pharma ups the cost of meds, many of which are used mostly by seniors.

But what will our country look like if seniors are given little choice but to die off before their time?

If you could see my grandmother, you would recognize her immediately from my toon. Were it not for Grandma, my single mom, sister, and I would have been homeless. We lived with her until I was 10, and she helped pay for my college education.

I am hardly alone. According to the last census (and reported in 2003), 2.4 million grandparents had the primary caregiving responsibility for their grandchildren younger than 18. Among these, 39 percent had cared for their grandchildren for 5 or more years.

And then there are vacation periods when parents must still work every day but school is out. Millions of grandparents care for their children’s school age kids during the summer months. Many millions also baby sit for their kid’s kids on a regular basis.

And how would your church or temple get by without older folks? You may not always see them up-front-and-center-stage, but they are busy keeping things going.

Volunteerism is huge among older people. Look at who’s assisting in classrooms, at food banks and kitchens, at polling places, on grand juries, and so on. Lots and lots of gray hair.

And today’s old people are not your father’s grandparents rocking the day away on the front porch. They are out and about, going back to school, traveling, and learning new tricks. Many still have a job. And even those who are ultimately too frail and ill provide thousands of jobs to gerontologists and eldercare givers.

So whereas seniors have indeed paid their dues by working hard and raising and educating their kids, it is simply wrong to think of the so-called “golden years” as composed of those who no longer have anything to contribute. Seniors still do a lot of heavy lifting to help make our country go round!

  • **== SUPER GALT **==

    Where do the koolaid droolers think they came from? Osmosis or perhaps from mold growing under BO’s armpits? To target older people for a solution is criminal. They built this nation.

    • IndianaDem

      Are you suggesting that people who don’t share a loathing of Barack Obama have no concern for the well-being of their parents and grandparents?

      We seem to be overlooking the fact that millions of older Americans like and voted for Barack Obama, and that trusted national advocacy groups representing older Americans have endorsed both the man and his programs.

      Lest we forget, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid–which keeps sometimes unavoidable nursing home costs for their elders from bankrupting many young families–were all democratic programs, each resisted by their political opponents. Nor should we forget that if republican thinking had prevailed, a significant portion of future Social Security taxes would be given over to Wall Street investors.

      • **== SUPER GALT **==

        Are you suggesting that people who don’t share a loathing of Barack Obama have no concern for the well-being of their parents and grandparents?

        If you start your premise with “share a loathing” it taints any answer I give. I’ll answer it, but will have to rephrase the question to do it fairly:

        “Are you suggesting that people who don’t support and disagree with Barack Obama have no concern for the well-being of their parents and grandparents?”

        I hope they have concerns, but if they really did, they would not support him in my opinion.

        I see the strategy of calling us haters has worn thin, since it is merely a projection of hating those of us who dissent from the group-think of Obama supporters. Calling us loathers is the same kind of projection: you loath our dissent.

      • Tricia

        Lots of folks–including older folks–wish they hadn’t voted for him. But the point is about now, not then.

        Onama wants a bill passed. I don’t think it matters much to him what it is just so long as it has some provisions (some of which are good ones.)

        IndianaDem (BTW, I used to live in Indiana and was a big supporter of Evan Bayh–had a couple of fundraisers in our home for him) I have read both the House and the Senate bill as best I can. (If you have or if you try you will see how unreadable much of it is and how very ambiguous most of it is in terms of what will actually happen.) But the signs are ominous for older Americans.

        Most of us here are Democrats and know so well what traditional Democrats have given to this country. But the party is changing–and many of us are appalled with what is going on now, starting with how the primaries were handled. It’s no longer the party I joined and had been loyal to for so many years.

        • Tricia

          I meant Obama–wasn’t trying to do anything negative with his name.

  • Eastan McNeal

    My 80 year old mother-in-law pushed through minimum wage increases in the WV legislature a year before the feds did. She is a member of the Silver Haired Legislature and the Committee on Aging. She is convinced that, if left unchecked, the kids running our government would simply rather have her and her associates go away and die in a corner. We help her by researching, typing and printing information for her battles because, not only is she spot on with her issues, she is carving a trail that someday I too will drag my cane across.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTmLKUT817Y Eldear Jhane
    • Portia Elizabeth

      Wonderful wonderful article!
      How could they not get that she would’ve been the better President? I wanted to cry at the thought that this amazing woman is not our leader.

    • Tricia

      This reminds me that Hillary is 62. She has also always supported women of any age. I bet she is horrified at what is going on with these health care bills.

  • Stan Davis

    I was blessed to live in the same city (Oklahoma City) as both sets of my grandparents, people I didn’t start losing until I was in my twenties. Since my mother worked 2 1/2 days a week, my sister and I spent quality time with our grandparents in the summers. Because of my grandparents, I knew all 50 (well…48 then) state capitals by age 5 and developed a love of language. (Both grandmothers were grammar snobs.) It was my grandfather who taught me the capitals.

    Great work, Pat.

    Stan Davis
    Lakewood, CO

  • Solara 9

    And seniors vote! I hope they band together now and fight for what they certainly deserve based on current and past performance.

    Congress and the President may be picking on the wrong group this time!

    • N. Lee

      But didn’t AARP give a thumbs up on the health care reform bill? So much for older folks sticking together. Elderly are being thrown under the bus by the organization to represent them.

      • **== SUPER GALT **==

        Please see my comment on the nature of movements. It applies to organizations such as AARP.

      • typical gram cracker

        Perhaps AARP has a conflict of interest. Since they sell medigap insurance to seniors they may stand to make lots more money when Medicare payments are cut back under the Democrats health care reform legislation.

        Also how objective can AARP’s first Black CEO, A. Barry Rand, be when it comes to helping pass or defeat historic legislation in a brother’s historic presidency? Skeptics like me wonder if older folks aren’t being shoved under the bus by an organization that is supposed to represent their best interests.

        Before making history as the first Black CEO of AARP, the nation’s largest membership organization, and before becoming one of the first African-Americans to lead any Fortune 500 company – Avis – this son of the Civil Rights era worked for Xerox for 30 years. There he rose through the corporate ranks and spearheaded Xerox’s corporate diversity initiatives.

        http://www.theskanner.com/index.php/article/view/id/9662

  • leslie

    Thank goodness Ozer0′s grandmother – who essentially raised him after he returned from wherever he claims to have been living – passed away when she did. Can you imagine how she would feel seeing these recent acts against women?

    or maybe she knew what lay and died of a broken heart…

  • leslie

    Thank goodness Ozer0’s grandmother – who essentially raised him after he returned from wherever he claims to have been living – passed away when she did. Can you imagine how she would feel seeing these recent acts against women?

    or maybe she knew what lay ahead and died of a broken heart…

    (is what I meant to write)

  • SHV

    …And AARP has become a front for the insurance industry. They support “Insurance Reform” and the only mailings that I get from that organization are 1)Please renew your membership and 2)Offers to buy insurance.

  • lightacandle

    Obama thought it was wrong that the taxpayers had to pay for his white grandmother’s hip replacement (because, he said, she was old and going to die soon anyway), but he has NO trouble spending our tax dollars on $125 per pound beef so he and his pals can party it up at the white House frolics.

    • **== SUPER GALT **==

      That explains everything! They all suffer from mad cow disease! ;)

  • Blue Orchid

    Keep in mind that without our much maligned government, who stepped in to provide medicare, most, if not all, of our seniors would have no health insurance, because private health insurance industry considers them bad for their bottom line.

    • **== SUPER GALT **==

      Good point. I assume you are not implying we should give the present government carte blanche on creating any new entitlements only because a past one was beneficial? It could very well be a new entitlement is not in the best interest of America, especially if its full of pork and political payback to certain constituencies, or worse yet is trying to turn our Republic into a socialist Democracy as many people fear.

      • Blue Orchid

        Super Galt,

        Do you mean “socialist Democracy” like in Europe and Canada in general and Scandinavian countries in particular? We should be so lucky. I highly recommend Reid’s eye opening book “The Healing of America” comparing health care all over the world.

        Do you know who invented the universal health care and the social programs making up the modern welfare states? None other than the conservative German Iron Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. He was a wise and pragmatic man indeed. As it has turned out, being charitable is good for economies and entire countries.

        • **== SUPER GALT **==

          I don’t have an issue with the population of a country choosing what type of government and therefor policies they receive. The problem I have is when a leader is installed and not rightfully elected and moves the nation where it did not intend to actually go. Good for Europe and Canada if that’s what the people chose. This is not Europe nor Canada.

  • Rich

    Wonderful cartoon! The story that went with it was a bit upsetting.

    First it was upsetting that it appears that this government does not seem to appreciate older people, be it men or women. That means that all of the past successes that were accomplished by the hard work these people before they got old are being ignored, and now the government is going to try and solve some of its problems by helping to create ways to refuse ways to keep them alive and functioning well.

    Second I found it upsetting how you, Pat, felt you had to justify their being allowed to continue to live and receive health care benefits based on how much good they can still do. Instead of, because it is their right to continue to live and to obtain the best medical care possible. I believe they deserve to live and to receive the best medical care possible because they are citizens of this wonderful country, regardless if they can no longer be working members of society. Not just because they can still love, and give others the opportunity to love them, but again because it is their human right and certainly their right as citizens of this Untied States and what it stands for.

    Rich

    • Portia Elizabeth

      Rich — I could be wrong, but I think that was partly Pat’s argument: seniors are still humans, still members of our society who deserve and have earned our respect and attention.

      I had a jarring introduction to the changing attitudes of respect for our elders when I moved from Texas to Ohio. In my part of the South our elders are held in high regard and given the respect and reverence due for all their years of contributing to the family and to society. When I moved north, I found there was little respect for the elderly and even resentment. Consequently, seniors were often seen as cranky and angry while younger people were frequently disrespectful. More than once I was given the impression that senior citizens were considered to be superfluous and a burden. I would’ve never treated my Granny that way.

      I don’t know if what I experienced is a trend or is cultural or what? I’d be interested to know what others think about this phenomenon.

      • Solara 9

        Yes PE, my older friends tell me that they are mostly ignored, as if being “looked through.” Such a shame that all of that life experience may add up to no one listening or even caring what they have to say.

  • Woodhull

    The greatest medical costs are incurred by us in our dotage and in our infancy. Oldest people now — youngest people next. The WH is doing to our population what the insurance companies have only been playing at. They must be extatic.

    • Blue Orchid

      Woodhull,

      You are utterly clueless. Our for profit health care is costing over twenty thousands annual deaths right now.

      Our health care, the only for profit one among developed nations, is the most cruel, inefficient and costly precisely because of lack of government control.

  • lightacandle

    Yes, I think it is quite correct to say we are witnessing “Obama’s ‘Final Solution’ For The Elderly” (whose health care he deems too expensive to justify, since he’d prefer to spend that money on himself).

    • Blue Orchid

      Lightacandle,

      Absurd statements like yours are helping the greedy and unscrupulous health care industry maintain the status quo at the expense of Americans at large.

  • Portia Elizabeth

    As someone who had a cousin who was severely retarded with muscular dystrophy, I worry that the next step will be to calculate that those who are handicapped, disabled, or otherwise less than optimally contributors to society will be too big a burden to keep alive. Where will that road take us?

    • **== SUPER GALT **==

      Where will that road take us?

      Eugenics and euthanasia?

  • Pat B

    Right on Pat!! And Rich I liked your observation that older people deserve care “Not just because they can still love, and give others the opportunity to love them, but again because it is their human right and certainly their right as citizens of this Untied States and what it stands for.

  • Don X

    Great toon and important issue. For a good discussion of important issues affecting aging baby boomers, check out this site:

    http://www.issues.org/16.1/coughlin.htm

    To quote the author:

    “The aging of the baby boomers will affect every aspect of society. Healthy old age is the one characteristic that each of us hopes to achieve. The nation must begin today to ensure that one of its greatest achievements–longevity–does not become one of its greatest problems.”

  • lightacandle

    Hitler believed the retarded and the insane were of no use to society and should be killed.

    What’s Obama’s opinion on that?

    • Blue Orchid

      Lightacandle,

      What has Obama got to do with Hitler? You must be totally ignorant of history.

    • Blue Orchid

      Lightacandle,

      What has Obama got to do with Hitler? You must be totally ignorant of history.

      • http://deleted BuzzisbackLatte

        You didn’t answer the question regarding Obama’s solution, Blue Orchid.

  • ksclematis

    It’s no wonder we weren’t being told about what was going to happen to seniors at 75!!! I’ll be 81 next week and am of sound mind and good body except for the joints wearing out due to my heavy gardening hobby.

    I’ve had a number of “lumps” over my lifetime, including two years ago, and due to the mammogram another small lump was found. Fortunately, all have been benign, although if I had not found some through self-examination and mammograms, and removed some of them might have become malignant. The anxiety caused from the minor surgical procedure wouldn’t begin to compare to months of pain and anxiety of dyeng from the cancer.

    Those of us who were not supporters of BO are now feeling the effects of his “administration” and his pre-election promises. And unless we move to another country, there isn’t a damn thing we can do about it….. Writing to my congress and senatorial persons would do nothing….they are all Rebugs.

    I can’t believe what the Dem senators are thinking when they don’t want certain provisions in the health care bill passed and are so adamant about their negative votes. They don’t belong to the Dem party.I haven’t heard yet all of concessions which were added to the bill, but you talk of “pork”…that’s a bunch of hogs!

    Although I may not be able to take advantage of any “public option” bill, I think it is a good idea for the future generations. I do, however, not approve of it not taking effect until 2014…it just gives the insurance companies five years to raise their profits through premium increases and costing taxpayers to start building a ‘reserve’ for the startup of the new program. I don’t know if it would take that long to start up the new program.

  • TeakWoodKite

    I would sit under the baby grand grandma had, as she trained opera singers, herself a concert pianist.

    I can still hear her telling me to keep my feet of the pedals as she played.

    Thanks Pat for the topic, as I am one of those millions of people that would not have it anyother way when it comes to watching my grand daughter when her mom is working.

    Having to leave my kids with a stranger for child care was one of my biggest regrets in raising them.
    The erosion of the family as a basic construct of our cultural is not helpful.

    Love your granny’s eye’s and pasley outfit. :)

  • Don X

    Although it seems the politicians may be planning to throw the elderly under the bus in order to rescue the economy, there is also a large international push to extend life further and make things better for aging seniors. Note the assembly this month in Dubai of medical professionals, scientists and technology entrepreneurs to deal with anti-aging issues. So there is an effort to make money off our baby boomers by extending life and making it more enjoyable, on the one hand, that contrasts with the health bills that would seem to reduce their benefits and shorten life spans on the other, in order to save money. Check out the promotional for the Dubai conference that occurred earlier this month:

    http://www.dubaicity.com/news/Dubai-Taps-Into-$97-Billion-Anti-Aging-Market-6-08-08.htm

    • Solara 9

      Rich baby boomers will always have an advantage. They can go to Dubai without blinking an eye. Most of us couldn’t afford to get there let alone pay for whatever they come up with.

  • Eastan McNeal

    Here is an example of government intervention in health care. If this story does not bother you, then read it again. It is an example of state government making health care decisions based on – well I’ll say it like I see it – campaign contributions. I personally know the finance chairman who has been blocking equal health care. It is an example of bad insurance companies being enabled by by bad government.

    And Blue Orchid, we really don’t need your twist on this story.

    http://www.wvgazette.com/Opinion/OpEdCommentaries/200911210272

  • Blue Orchid

    To assert that Obama is advocating euthanasia of elderlies is plain fairy tale without any basis on fact. Btw the idea that insurance should reimburse seniors for end of life counseling, should they decide on their own to have one, had been first suggested by a Republican House member.

    • **== SUPER GALT **==

      To assert that Obama is advocating euthanasia of elderlies is plain fairy tale without any basis on fact.

      If you are referring to my response, I was not necessarily suggesting that. But its a possible logical conclusion to the question posed by the other commenter, in the general sense.

      I have no clue what that dude really wants most of the time since he says one thing and does another so much.

  • HARP

    Grandparents are similar to a piece of string – handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren.

  • cathnealon

    Remember socialism also grew out of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” and led to all kinds of “the ends justify the means” evils like population control, euthanasia and eugenics. Look at Holdren, Dr E Emanuel and Sunstein’s writings please. This stuff is turn of the century(20th) progressivism where God is dead, the elitists decide who’s valuable enough in society to live and individual rights only exist in relation to the “greater good.” I always tell my husband that no group of people is more devalued and ignored than ‘old women.’Yet I work with one woman who is 74 and another who is 65 and they work full time. Who’s going to pay for Obamacare if he kills seniors off?

  • http://noquarter foxyladi14

    i wonder what bo,s mum in law thinks about this.she ain’t no spring chicken.

    • http://N/A breeze

      Foxy,
      0zero’s MIL will be well taken care of by FLOTUS.

      Why would she give any second thought to us, didn’t
      she raise Mrs. “I have never been proud of….”?

  • **== SUPER GALT **==

    Please rescue comment-1279463

    • **== SUPER GALT **==

      Thanks! I see it now.

  • Ellen D

    So, no more recommended mammograms for women over 74.

    Is that in the new health care bill? Anybody know?

    • Tricia

      Not that I can see in specifics. (How to save $ is, of course, and that can be done in ways we would all agree to such as elimintaing fruad and waste–or…). The recommendation came from a Government panel with only one woman and NO oncologist.

    • Tricia

      Not that I can see in specifics. (How to save $ is, of course, and that can be done in ways we would all agree to such as elimintaing fraud and waste–or…). The recommendation came from a Government panel with only one woman and NO oncologist.

  • HEP-T

    Not being allowed to phone, see or write to our grandkids by the EX-Wife of our son makes the question over the rights of seniors moot. Even the oldest grandson’s talk of suicide if he doesn’t get to see his Nana does not sway her. It’s common belief that grandparents have nothing to add to the growth of a child. The Ex-daughter-in-law feels that the old ways need to be forgotten because of the trouble they have brought to this country.
    Yup, The EX-D-i-l- is a teacher at the local high school and apparently this is their MO, seperate the old folks from the kids so as to fill their heads with crap that the teachers feel is what the little darlings should know (Propaganda of course) to socially engineer the kids for their own good and the educators own agenda.
    Perhaps the alienation of the elderly grandparents will make “kill granny” more acceptable in the future. The ex-D-I-L and the son divorced on his second tour to Iraq. He is currently remarried and the ex D-I-L is living unmarried with a Mexican man.
    sweet ain’t it?

    • Tricia

      This is really sad…. So sorry….