The most prominent form of ageism in the senior citizen’s life is the injustices in the health care system. Senior citizens reported that they are more likely to report ageism in their daily lives than racism or sexism (Marshall 2007, p. 258). Social Security and Medicare are two of the most attacked programs in the governmental budget, never physically altered because senior benefits are the third-rail of the budget (Campbell 2003, p. 32-33). The third-rail is the electrified rail of train tracks, and if a politician attempts to change Social Security then they will lose support. Rather than changing the benefits, they simply refuse to reform it and adjust it to fit modern situations and prices, and “borrow” money from their budget, until
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The American retirement is portrayed as freeing, however, the reality of the situation is that retirement is far less liberating than depicted. Furthermore, because the retiree does not expect the harsh environment, they do not prepare themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally for the struggles that come with …show more content…
As previously mentioned there are currently almost 9 million senior citizens in the work force, and the number is on the rise. More and more senior citizens are falling below the poverty line and being forced back into minimum wage jobs. With increased life spans, increased drug prices, and the lack of Social Security reform it is a wonder how there are still elderly Americans who can survive without extra assistance. Stephen Gross, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, predicts that without major reform Social Security will be completely depleted by 2035, and senior citizens will no longer get any major aid from the U.S Government (Gross 2010, p. 111-115). Without the assistance of governmental programs such as Social Security and Medicare many Americans would not be able to survive the transition to retirement. Even if older Americans worked jobs to compensate the lack of governmental help, retirement would become an experience only had by upper class Americans. It is because of economic status, health, and ageism that retirement is not, and will not be in the foreseeable future, an All-American
The American retirement is portrayed as freeing, however, the reality of the situation is that retirement is far less liberating than depicted. Furthermore, because the retiree does not expect the harsh environment, they do not prepare themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally for the struggles that come with …show more content…
As previously mentioned there are currently almost 9 million senior citizens in the work force, and the number is on the rise. More and more senior citizens are falling below the poverty line and being forced back into minimum wage jobs. With increased life spans, increased drug prices, and the lack of Social Security reform it is a wonder how there are still elderly Americans who can survive without extra assistance. Stephen Gross, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration, predicts that without major reform Social Security will be completely depleted by 2035, and senior citizens will no longer get any major aid from the U.S Government (Gross 2010, p. 111-115). Without the assistance of governmental programs such as Social Security and Medicare many Americans would not be able to survive the transition to retirement. Even if older Americans worked jobs to compensate the lack of governmental help, retirement would become an experience only had by upper class Americans. It is because of economic status, health, and ageism that retirement is not, and will not be in the foreseeable future, an All-American