By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 15, 2005; 9:07 AM

WASHINGTON -- Work till you're 69 before getting full Social Security benefits? That's one possibility _ for Americans who retire two decades or more into the future _ as Republicans on a key Senate committee review suggestions for improving the program's solvency.

No decisions have been made yet, and it could be fall before the politically volatile Social Security issue reaches the floor of either the House or Senate, if then.

At the same time, an increase in the retirement age is one of the suggestions that Sen. Charles Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, outlined last week for fellow Republicans on the panel, according to several officials. Officials said Grassley's suggestion for raising the retirement age would be phased in, possibly over two decades or more, depending on future demographic trends.

Like they said 69...ha ha ha....69...

Shut up your turdburglar do you wanna work here forever.

Oh....no....ha ha....69...still kinda funny.

I read an article in the Chicago Tribune about what will happen to the United Airlines pilots now that the pension has been passed to the government. One of their pilots used to be able to expect a pension of up to $125,000 a year. Under the Feds bail out program the most you can get is $48,000. But that is only if you retire at 65, if you retire earlier your payments are decreased. The problem is that under Federal law pilots MUST retire at age 60. Guess how much their government sanctioned pension is at age 60, $28,000 a year. These guys are screwed so bad it's criminal. Do you suppose that the management at United is going to take that type of hit on their retirements? Guess again. In fact the bankruptcy court approved BONUSES for these guys during the case.

Another thing, if you try to keep the baby boomer generation in the workforce for four years, this will wipe out new jobs for university graduates, etc. quite completely!

Again, this will hurt the little people, the people at lower levels. The people working in blue collar (non-union) jobs who need to count on $20K a year or whatever to live in their flat, pay for healthcare without eating catfood.

My retirement plan calls for me to start buying cat food "RIGHT NOW."

Another thing, if you try to keep the baby boomer generation in the workforce for four years, this will wipe out new jobs for university graduates, etc. quite completely!

Again, this will hurt the little people, the people at lower levels. The people working in blue collar (non-union) jobs who need to count on $20K a year or whatever to live in their flat, pay for healthcare without eating catfood.

Not to mention the fact that recent grads are already grasping at straws in terms of employment. When upper management doesn't retire, nobody advances.

(looking over shoulder)...I am all for a law that will require retirement of all upper management RIGHT NOW!!!

I read an article in the Chicago Tribune about what will happen to the United Airlines pilots now that the pension has been passed to the government. One of their pilots used to be able to expect a pension of up to $125,000 a year. Under the Feds bail out program the most you can get is $48,000. But that is only if you retire at 65, if you retire earlier your payments are decreased. The problem is that under Federal law pilots MUST retire at age 60. Guess how much their government sanctioned pension is at age 60, $28,000 a year. These guys are screwed so bad it's criminal. Do you suppose that the management at United is going to take that type of hit on their retirements? Guess again. In fact the bankruptcy court approved BONUSES for these guys during the case.
Walmart always needs cheerful greeters.

Another thing, if you try to keep the baby boomer generation in the workforce for four years, this will wipe out new jobs for university graduates, etc. quite completely!

Again, this will hurt the little people, the people at lower levels. The people working in blue collar (non-union) jobs who need to count on $20K a year or whatever to live in their flat, pay for healthcare without eating catfood.
Spunout...what are some good places to live in Canada? It's sounding better every day. ;)

Walmart always needs cheerful greeters.
Most newspapers can use delivery boys

I appreciate the arguments voiced herein against raising the retirement age but, at the same time, it does make sense to me that as people live significantly longer the retirement age to qualify for benefits should rise as well.

SS is not in deep trouble, so a drastic increase in retirement age is not needed.

OTOH, given the policies of the current administration, I wouldn't be surprised if life expectancy decreased. That would, perversely, fix the problem as well.


By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 15, 2005; 9:07 AM

WASHINGTON -- Work till you're 69 before getting full Social Security benefits? That's one possibility _ for Americans who retire two decades or more into the future _ as Republicans on a key Senate committee review suggestions for improving the program's solvency.

No decisions have been made yet, and it could be fall before the politically volatile Social Security issue reaches the floor of either the House or Senate, if then.

At the same time, an increase in the retirement age is one of the suggestions that Sen. Charles Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, outlined last week for fellow Republicans on the panel, according to several officials. Officials said Grassley's suggestion for raising the retirement age would be phased in, possibly over two decades or more, depending on future demographic trends.

As healthcare becomes more and more expensive, the middle class will start to die sooner. As this starts to happen, along with the raise in retirement age, the SS problem will be solved. Anyone left over can move to China to get a job making crap for Americans.

My kids are all Republicans then, they share that sentiment.

since Blacks die young as it is do we lower theirs to 55?
do we raise it for asians to 73?

I'm thinking New Zealand. I'll still be able to smell the BS from the right wafting over the border if I'm in Cananda

I'm thinking New Zealand. I'll still be able to smell the BS from the right wafting over the border if I'm in Cananda

Well actually, that's a solution already being discussed here in my little government arena. If Bush can make all his haters move to Canada and denounce their American citizenship it a) reduces the social security payments in the future b) reduces the medicaid payments and billings my neighbors on the other side of the building cry about c)increases jobs for future blue collar workers and college grads. d) decreases the average per day beer consumption across the country thus increasing the supply and decreasing the prices so everyone benefits.

So, please, go to Canada. I'll continue to shake my head at the horrible decisions Bush makes with Iraq and Social Security (for crying out loud, if he would just tax those rich people, wait that's my family, anyway if he would just tax those over 100g's for social sec we'd have a fix. Oh well.) while everyone else leaves. It's a win, win situation.

I worked with Rush Limbaugh Sr. until he died at age 104, still practicing law. Sort of sets the standard for everyone else.

I'll be 46 satuday the 18th. I'm screwed. I'm in the catfood section now Grump!

I worked with Rush Limbaugh Sr. until he died at age 104, still practicing law. Sort of sets the standard for everyone else.
And I'm sure Rush will be practicing buffoonery until he dies of a coronary or an OD before he's even 60.

You know, it's times like this that I miss the Black Panthers, SLA, etc........

"Repubs want you to work until you die !"

That's ok.... Dems want the pubs to just plain die. Like now.

In general I think it makes sense to index social security in some manner to the life expectancy. It raises some other issues, like different life expectancy by gender and race, but at some point the retirement age will need to rise.