Lots and lots of lip service are being paid to the elderly. Each candidate has this idea or that plan or such. For instance from Obama’s website:

• Social Security and Pensions: In the midst of the 2005 debate over Social Security privatization, Obama gave a major speech at the National Press Club forcefully arguing against privatization. He also repeatedly voted against Republican amendments that aimed to privatize Social Security or cut benefits. Obama has also voted to force companies to properly fund their pension plans so taxpayers don’t end up footing the bill.
• Medicare: Obama has supported number efforts to strengthen Medicare, including voting for legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper prescription drug prices and to extend the enrollment period for low-income beneficiaries.
• Protecting seniors: After reports that lobbyists, but not the American people, received information about the most unsafe nursing homes in the country, Barack Obama demanded the Department of Health and Human Services release that information to the public. Following Obama’s letter, the names of the four Iowa care facilities cited for unsafe care were released to the public. Obama’s efforts follow his successful efforts in Illinois to make nursing home information public and strengthen elder abuse laws.

How about the other guy, McCain?

A recent check of his website and nothing could be found specifically about the elderly. I guess that could say something about who is and is not important to his campaign. However, he does want to privatize the Social Security system.

Let us look at a little of the truth.

In a study on poverty by Ben Seligman found these conclusions: “The aged are simply an embarrassment. They are poor, unable to provide medical care for themselves; they violate the canon of self-help, so we dishonor them…. “

People work hard their entire lives and then they must, in most cases, retire to live out the rest of their lives in utter poverty. But who looks out after the elderly? The politicians only give a crap at election time. AARP? Sure they do—for a price.

Over 5 million elderly live at or below the poverty line. They struggle with money, housing, health and crime. If you have been watching the tube then you have noticed the increase of violence committed on the elderly. Occupational opportunities are few no one wants to chance some sort of benefit drain or they work part time where there are no benefits. Medical costs rise for the elderly have a greater chance of some catastrophic illness. Preventive medicine becomes a luxury for few live near a medical facility and mass transit is not reliable.

Most of the millions of retired people have worked hard and were energetic and productive during their working years. Unfortunately, it was not enough to give them the quality of life that they deserve. The system under which they live rewards according to assets, not effort.

The system they live under cares little for their plight and tries little to solve an ever growing problem. Devices had to be found outside the capitalist system. Devices like charity, welfare, public housing, but unfortunately these devices are ineffectual, controversial and badly run. Nothing on the political landscape says that it will be any different in the future.

One day everyone will have to face these problems, and then why not force the government to do something now and avoid the stress and the poverty that awaits you? Once you retire you will become pushed aside, silent and unseen—you will become a reminder of what is facing everyone—something few want to face.