Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:20:08 -0600
From: "Andy" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: The Failure of Social Security
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John A. Weeks III wrote:

> The way I see it, elderly folks have it better today than
> at any point in history.  First off, we have elderly people,
> which was rare in the past.  Second, life is getting better
> for them according to life expectancy, up 7 years since 1980.
> Third, due to a dramatic run up in hosing values and the
> great stock market returns of the 90's, many elderly are
> retiring with a surprising amount of wealth.  Medical care
> is available at a resonable cost or almost free, and a universal
> government pension is available to almost everyone over 65.

Actually, to be precise, younger people have it better today than at
any other point in history.  Up until recent times it was the
obligation of the children to support their elderly parents.  The
changes you describe have allowed adult children to spend their time
and resources on themselves and their own children instead of on their
elderly parents.

Andy