This May marks the 50th anniversary of Older Americans’ Month. It recognizes the valuable contributions senior citizens make to our communities. With so many older Americans under economic assault, we need to take action so this anniversary is more than just another ‘Hallmark’ holiday.
In my working years, I and tens of millions of Americans like me, accepted lower pay and less vacation in exchange for pensions and retirement health benefit guarantees. Pay we didn’t receive then, was to fund benefits when we got older. Instead, over ten million American retirees are experiencing the cancellation or significant erosion of once-guaranteed benefits.
What’s clear is, that while millions of U.S. retirees dedicated their careers to employers and in retirement can no longer switch jobs or withhold their labor, a new, ethically-challenged breed of CEO’s is taking away benefits they earned and already funded in their working years.
America’s seniors need to flex some muscle and be a force on Capitol Hill to fight back. I urge my fellow retirees and their families to stand with the non-profit, ProtectSeniors.org or 1-800-398-3044) to fight for the survival of America’s older citizens.
Peter Hallquest
