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DallasNE

(7,945 posts)

102. Those CEO's Just Don't Understand How Ordinary Americans Live

Wed Jan 16, 2013, 11:01 PM

Jan 2013

My one sister-in-law has a brother that has worked construction all of his life. That brother has a wife that is 3 years younger than he is so their plan was for him to work until his normal retirement age of 66 and she would take an early retirement and retire at the same time as him. Just before his 64th birthday he started having nagging injuries that hampered his ability to perform his duties but he stayed on the job anyway. After about his 3rd nagging injury he decided that his body just couldn't take the daily pounding any more so he retired at 64. His wife has an office job so it became necessary for her to work until she turns 66 this year and can retire.

While she is in good enough health that she could have continued to work there is no way he could have worked past 64 other than take a minimum wage job if he could indeed find work at that age, which is not a given especially with his background. How would these CEO's manage this problem that so many ordinary Americans face?

Incidentally, I have proposed linking the enrollment age for Medicare Part A and Social Security with higher Medicare premiums for those that enroll early, just as benefits are cut on Social Security for those enrolling early. (I haven't called for raising the retirement age beyond current law for obvious reasons). That change only seems fair to me.

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U.S. business executives call for raising retirement age to 70 [View all] IDemo Jan 2013 OP

It should be lowered to 55 AlphaCentauri Jan 2013 #1

They must be thinking about themselves because... JoeBlowToo Jan 2013 #4

When do they ever think of anyone BUT themselves? Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #51

While your idea is much better than 70, it would not surprise me for these indepat Jan 2013 #19

They want to get rid of Social Security because that way they don't have to pay half of duffyduff Jan 2013 #25

close but not quite Locrian Jan 2013 #137

It should be lowered to birth Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #43

Top executives want a larger labor pool to further commoditize labor. n/t Ed Suspicious Jan 2013 #2

Exactly Fearless Jan 2013 #9

And on the other side of the equation, medicare is strengthened as youger, (actuarially) healthier Snarkoleptic Jan 2013 #45

Bingo !!!! orpupilofnature57 Jan 2013 #11

Nope. It's the first salvo in abolishing Social Security duffyduff Jan 2013 #28

Workers pay it all because they are the ones who generate the profits of any business. iemitsu Jan 2013 #106

+1 TXDemoGal Jan 2013 #117

It's about the money. Period. The FICA tax. duffyduff Jan 2013 #131

FICA tax IS really expensive, take it from a small employer wordpix Jan 2013 #144

It doesn't quite work that way adieu Jan 2013 #47

They don't hire older workers. They don't even consider older workers to be part of the labor pool. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #120

Exactly. Then when the unemployment rate shoots up, they'll blame Obama Doctor_J Jan 2013 #128

Great idea Steerpike Jan 2013 #3

and bluedave Jan 2013 #124

just stupid OKNancy Jan 2013 #5

It takes a bunch of bodies to stay aloft on orpupilofnature57 Jan 2013 #6

You can find a list of all The Business Roundtable members here... PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #7

Plenty of them were ailed out by the public a few years ago daleo Jan 2013 #115

Thanks for the list. go west young man Jan 2013 #116

Bullshit. The 66 year olds will lose their jobs to younger, lower paid gateley Jan 2013 #8

I think the 66 year olds will have long ago lost their jobs to younger employees. Lower the age to rhett o rick Jan 2013 #21

I agree! Never happen, though. gateley Jan 2013 #42

That had better fall on deaf ears. djean111 Jan 2013 #10

Yes, you can say fuck them. nt awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #24

Are they revising their policies about hiring workers over 60? Courtesy Flush Jan 2013 #12

Safety net programs including Social Security and Medicare are likely to take center stage. Skittles Jan 2013 #13

Those same companies lay off employees mrsadm Jan 2013 #14

+1000 nt abelenkpe Jan 2013 #84

Sounds good, because there are tons of jobs available for older Americans they won't take. n/t RKP5637 Jan 2013 #15

I say nineteen50 Jan 2013 #16

Easy for them to say, those batards! pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #17

They should take their recommendation and just baguette jberryhill Jan 2013 #55

You can try to reason with them, but they'll just crêpe on you. nt pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #65

...and then you'll be toast jberryhill Jan 2013 #73

Okay, okay, I surrender pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #86

They think the workers just loaf around all day anyway NBachers Jan 2013 #96

...sitting on their buns jberryhill Jan 2013 #98

*rolling on the flour laughing* pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #122

This really does call for the French solution FiveGoodMen Jan 2013 #18

You mean the French solution.......................... BobbyBoring Jan 2013 #46

You mean "The French disConnection?" KansDem Jan 2013 #50

That's the one! FiveGoodMen Jan 2013 #53

It takes too long to build one of those. DocMac Jan 2013 #133

I bow to your pragmatism FiveGoodMen Jan 2013 #140

The Business Roundtable and the faithful news media began their assault today on SS and Medicare TheProgressive Jan 2013 #20

At the same time, they discriminate against anybody over 50 duffyduff Jan 2013 #22

NO to the Business Roundtable! trayfoot Jan 2013 #23

The Business Roundtable is also heavily involved duffyduff Jan 2013 #27

The first move should be to deduct social security from EVERY dollar earned. nt humblebum Jan 2013 #26

+++1 patrice Jan 2013 #34

Funny how these idiots trying to gut Soc. Sec. are NOT pressed on this issue by M$M. 99th_Monkey Jan 2013 #71

It should be lowered to 62 Renew Deal Jan 2013 #29

Push for 55 - know why? Compromise is 62 between closeupready Jan 2013 #103

Bastards. DavidDvorkin Jan 2013 #30

To the Business Roundtable rusty fender Jan 2013 #31

Dogwhistle for "Euthanize the elderly". They can't actually SAY that but they know there are NO jobs patrice Jan 2013 #32

Elders & Disabled, do NOT underestimate the political pressure supporting Social Darwinism. patrice Jan 2013 #33

Elderly and disabled had better watch out for the supporters of Social Darwinism. freshwest Jan 2013 #49

I have been running into them with the rise of Libertarians & anarchists around what was the Occupy, patrice Jan 2013 #56

It's too bad we have to define ourselves these ways - your analysis is painfully correct. freshwest Jan 2013 #63

Hey, I'm willing to consider them otherwise if they were to choose that and, if there's a good patrice Jan 2013 #69

People still will retire at 62, but with less benefits, and I believe thats the result they're bloomington-lib Jan 2013 #35

Excellent point. It's really a way to cut most people's benefits. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #89

Airlines notundecided Jan 2013 #36

Has Obama ever stood up against the corporate feudal lords for us serfs? forestpath Jan 2013 #37

Airlines notundecided Jan 2013 #38

The guys who man a desk are telling workers they need to WORK harder, longer. BULLpucky! CarmanK Jan 2013 #39

They are global corporations not US Cynicus Emeritus Jan 2013 #40

Oh, why go to all that work when a firing squad is faster and cheaper? valerief Jan 2013 #41

I worked until I was 71, and I would still be working now at 74, RebelOne Jan 2013 #44

Fine, so long as they will be prohibited from terminating anybody over 50 without cause! n/t markpkessinger Jan 2013 #48

They can simply make up "for cause" duffyduff Jan 2013 #67

Are they stupid? Dems2002 Jan 2013 #52

They don't have to provide health care for their employees. They can just pay the penalty. nt antigop Jan 2013 #85

Their comments should only apply to themselves, not national policy. freshwest Jan 2013 #54

Rat Bastards nt Mojorabbit Jan 2013 #57

The scumbags attack again! HuckleB Jan 2013 #58

The Koch Brothers are funding this no doubt see: flamingdem Jan 2013 #59

Warning: I was at a Focus Group about raising retirement age to 70 and flamingdem Jan 2013 #60

Exactly what focus group were you a part of? TheProgressive Jan 2013 #61

Really? How many of them will hire a 68 year old? Zookeeper Jan 2013 #62

I seriously don't know how I'm not going to do that anyway. Matariki Jan 2013 #64

Well, they all have a pension, Matariki condoleeza Jan 2013 #109

70 may be cool in white collar, now put that on a blue collar physically demanding job w0nderer Jan 2013 #66

Lots of "white collar" jobs like teaching and nursing duffyduff Jan 2013 #68

they have to "strengthen" the plan after all Kingwithnothrone Jan 2013 #72

having both teachers and nurses in my family w0nderer Jan 2013 #90

teaching also demands nearly round-the-clock work wordpix Jan 2013 #143

It wouldn't save money when people who survive to 70, glowing Jan 2013 #70

Of course, as long as we don't inconvenience them Curmudgeoness Jan 2013 #74

Publish it as America's Greediest 200 CEO Shit List stuffmatters Jan 2013 #75

Sounds like a Koch Brother initiative. n/t RKP5637 Jan 2013 #76

How many here will contact their reps telling them ProfessionalLeftist Jan 2013 #77

Citizens reply "Drop Dead". Historic NY Jan 2013 #78

Who gives a shit what the "Business Roundtable" says? ReRe Jan 2013 #79

We don't give a shit about them, however, Obama does... TheProgressive Jan 2013 #82

I don't think PO does care as much about... ReRe Jan 2013 #94

Troll alert! I expect all that was recommended CranialRectaLoopback Jan 2013 #80

You could just stop trolling... TheProgressive Jan 2013 #83

Just goes to show that "business executives" are not problem solvers. DaveJ Jan 2013 #81

I'll get flamed, but I'm going to say it OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #87

Considered yourself officially flamed...! TheProgressive Jan 2013 #93

For me it was a work permit @ 14 and I've worked EVERY year since then condoleeza Jan 2013 #107

Your story just proves my point, condoleeza.. TheProgressive Jan 2013 #112

Thanks, I'm hangin' in there condoleeza Jan 2013 #118

That's the easy (wrong) solution. DaveJ Jan 2013 #99

As long as there is age discrimination, your idea won't work duffyduff Jan 2013 #111

The people I know who've found work after 50 became self employed OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #114

Self-employment is NOT an option for most duffyduff Jan 2013 #132

First, I'm sorry to read about your situation OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #146

"Any increase in age needs to be phased in slowly" Doctor_J Jan 2013 #129

They're kidding, right? Canuckistanian Jan 2013 #88

Let's regulate their crooked butts out of existence! another_liberal Jan 2013 #91

What rank bullshit. blackspade Jan 2013 #92

First what does a exec who makes Billions worry about Americans SS lovuian Jan 2013 #95

It costs them 6.2 percent of their pay ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #135

aw, where's the violin? wordpix Jan 2013 #145

PHEW! I thought I'd HAVE to work until 75 at least, thank you sirs! may I have another??? benld74 Jan 2013 #97

Frankly, I don't think that's an awful idea customerserviceguy Jan 2013 #100

We must 'err' on retiring *earlier* than later. TheProgressive Jan 2013 #104

We already do retire earlier, in a sense customerserviceguy Jan 2013 #123

A few things DaveJ Jan 2013 #121

Thank you for your sensible posts BeyondGeography Jan 2013 #126

I'm confident things will change in the near future DaveJ Jan 2013 #130

They're the first to say we're richer than anyone; so let's lower to 55 closeupready Jan 2013 #101

Those CEO's Just Don't Understand How Ordinary Americans Live DallasNE Jan 2013 #102

In response, American workers call for business leader's heads. iemitsu Jan 2013 #105

US retirees call for raising taxes on business executives DBoon Jan 2013 #108

Fuck you corporate merika! lonestarnot Jan 2013 #110

They should go to hell daleo Jan 2013 #113

+1 Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #141

Idiots. aquart Jan 2013 #119

why 70? Why not 105? olddad56 Jan 2013 #125

Excellent chance for the WH to show its populist streak Doctor_J Jan 2013 #127

But none of them would want to hire or employ 60 plus Americans! Dustlawyer Jan 2013 #134

SS Disability benefits would increase as applications explode wishlist Jan 2013 #136

Monkey Wrenching and Sabotage Stainless Jan 2013 #138

Fuck the suits!! After this LAST election, they should have the least public media amplification, ancianita Jan 2013 #139

when these CEO's start hiring people in their 60's, I'll listen wordpix Jan 2013 #142

I just emailed this article to my soon-to-be 17 year old son steve2470 Jan 2013 #147