Editorials & Other Articles

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Tue Dec 31, 2013, 03:53 AM Dec 2013

Fifty Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted From Their Jobs - and Denied New Opportuniti

Fifty Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted From Their Jobs - and Denied New Opportunities
Monday, 30 December 2013 12:07
By Lynn Parramore, AlterNet | Report

This is part of Lynn Parramore's ongoing AlterNet series on job insecurity and part of the New Economic Dialogue Project.

In every corner of America, millions of people are terrified of losing their jobs and falling into financial ruin. Men and women with impressive professional achievements and credentials are being let go, nudged out and pushed aside. They are pounding the pavement and scouring the job sites, but find themselves turned away even for the most basic retail jobs. Not because they aren’t competent. Not because they lack skills. But simply because they have a gray hair or two.

This is not just a story of people in their 60s or 70s. Workers as young as 50 are shocked to find themselves suddenly tossed onto the employment rubbish heap, just when they felt on top of their game. They’re feeling stressed, angry and betrayed by a society which has benefited greatly from their contributions.

As the global population grows older, age discrimination is on the rise. It could be headed for you, much sooner than you think.

“I Got Thrown Away”

Jan, a marketing executive from southern California, is just 51, and she has already learned the heartbreak and frustration of age-related job insecurity.

More:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/20926-fifty-is-the-new-65-older-americans-are-getting-booted-from-their-jobs-and-denied-new-opportunities

6 replies

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Highlight:

Fifty Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted From Their Jobs - and Denied New Opportuniti (Original Post) Judi Lynn Dec 2013 OP

Suicide Rates Rise Sharply in U.S. jtuck004 Dec 2013 #1

Just Keep Voting Against Pro Labor, Pro Union or Pro Labor Regulation Candidates. TheMastersNemesis Dec 2013 #2

As long as people vote against their own economic interests 4dsc Dec 2013 #3

And don't forget: retirement age is increasing from 65 to 67.5 dickthegrouch Dec 2013 #4

Throw enough money to LiberalElite Dec 2013 #5

I was edged out right around age 65, but luckily I was at the very top of my earnings that year. CTyankee Jan 2014 #6

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)

1. Suicide Rates Rise Sharply in U.S.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 06:14 AM

Dec 2013

When despair replaces hope...

By TARA PARKER-POPE
Suicide rates among middle-aged Americans have risen sharply in the past decade, prompting concern that a generation of baby boomers who have faced years of economic worry and easy access to prescription painkillers may be particularly vulnerable to self-inflicted harm.

More people now die of suicide than in car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the findings in Friday’s issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In 2010 there were 33,687 deaths from motor vehicle crashes and 38,364 suicides.

Suicide has typically been viewed as a problem of teenagers and the elderly, and the surge in suicide rates among middle-aged Americans is surprising.
...
The most pronounced increases were seen among men in their 50s, a group in which suicide rates jumped by nearly 50 percent, to about 30 per 100,000. For women, the largest increase was seen in those ages 60 to 64, among whom rates increased by nearly 60 percent, to 7.0 per 100,000.
..

Here.

TheMastersNemesis

(10,602 posts)

2. Just Keep Voting Against Pro Labor, Pro Union or Pro Labor Regulation Candidates.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 07:29 AM

Dec 2013

How many of these people kept voting for the GOP all these years? If you run as a progressive pro labor candidate even in Colorado you lose. Unless you run as a middle road candidate neutral on work issues, you cannot win. People look at you like you are Karl Marx himself if you propose economic fairness and decent wages.

4dsc

(5,787 posts)

3. As long as people vote against their own economic interests

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 12:24 PM

Dec 2013

this is going to happen. But on the other side of the coin, how do we create the millions of jobs needed in an era of ever decreasing resources.

dickthegrouch

(3,174 posts)

4. And don't forget: retirement age is increasing from 65 to 67.5

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 12:42 PM

Dec 2013

SS benefits are calculated on the last 15 years of income IIRC. If you spend the last 15 years of working life not working the SS benefit can be devastatingly low to begin with.

How the hell can anyone on minimum wage save enough to support themselves for 30-45 years after stopping work at 50?

Some serious planning needs to be done by the 1% if they want their lackeys to be around to service all their needs.

LiberalElite

(14,691 posts)

5. Throw enough money to

Reply to dickthegrouch (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 01:54 PM

Dec 2013

enough venal politicians and maybe they can bring back slavery.

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)

6. I was edged out right around age 65, but luckily I was at the very top of my earnings that year.

Reply to dickthegrouch (Reply #4)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 12:28 PM

Jan 2014

I was glad I didn't take it at 62, as so many have had to do because of health issues.

What a sad commentary on this American life...

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