...   
      
    FS> Solving both the Medicare and Social Security problems is   
    FS> extremely easy -- if the Congressers would just get down to   
    FS> business.  Raise the age of entitlement to *both* problems   
    FS> to 75 years of age.  That would make both programs   
    FS> equivalent to the conditions of their origin.  After all,   
    FS> people are living far longer these days!   
      
    Actually... no.   
      
    Most of the growth in life expectancy is in lowering the death   
    rate for children. The biggest point of gain is in reducing   
    infant mortality. Each baby saved adds 70some years to the   
    average.   
      
    However, they are not paying into social security, and not   
    collecting from it.   
      
    The life expectancy has increased an average of 7 years for   
    retirees, from the founding of the program. And the poorest 20%   
    only gained 2 years.   
      
    So, increasing the retirement age by 10 years would cut out over   
    half the potential retirees from much benefit at all, and would   
    cut out almost all the poorest 20% completely.   
      
    Now, consider this, people are living longer, but that doesn't   
    mean they are living much healthier. Sure, you have a better   
    chance of surviving cancer and diabetes and other conditions,   
    but that doesn't mean you have more strength and energy than   
    someone your age in good health in 1930. It just means you get   
    to relax longer.   
      
    Now, Frank, the biggie... since the only real problem with   
    social security is high unemployment among those who should be   
    paying into it, what are you going to do with all those elderly   
    people who have to work in an economy where there aren't enough   
    jobs for the younger workers?   
      
    Solve the unemployment problem and you solve the social security   
    problem.   
      
      
      
      
      
    FS> Next problemo, please!   
      
   BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn   
      
   ... Teamwork is essential -- it allows you to blame someone else.   
   --- Via Silver Xpress V4.5/P [Reg]   
    # Origin: Since 1991 And Were Still Here! DOCSPLACE.TZO.COM (1:123/140)   
    * Origin: Eye Of the Hurricane BBS (eoth.dyndns.org) (1:123/57)