Chapter Fifteen Discussion Blog
This chapter how elderly
individuals lives are impacted by politics, office, employment, and other
issues that they may face, as well as, how the elderly individuals involvement affects
these things. Up until the 1970’s seniors were viewed “… as powerless,
dependent, slow and unenthusiastic (Hillier and Barrow, 2011). But after they
did many protests and sit ins societies view switched and they realized that they
are not what they once thought. With the
right to vote and hold office elderly individuals are having a huge impact on
how our society is run.
With the help of aging individuals there are now political
associations set up to assist the elderly population as they such as, “
American Association of Retired Persons, the National Committee to Preserve
Social Security and Medicare, the National Council of Senior Citizens, the
National Council of Aging, the National Caucus and Center on the Black Aged,
and the Gray Panthers (Hillier and Barrow, 2011)”.These are all set up to help
ensure things such as social security, housing, medical care, and make the
lives of the individuals as comfortable as possible.
However with all of these political associations set up to
improve the lives of elderly individuals, comes with a negative view from
certain younger generations. This group has a view of “generational equity”
which is, the younger population will suffer because of the older population’s
unprecedented size and affluence. They believe that the older generation is
only looking out for themselves and not concerned what will happen to the other
generations in the midst of it. However, the future is uncertain and no one
individual can determine what will be the effects of what our society is doing
today.
It is unfortunate that the younger population views the elderly as only looking out for themselves and unconcerned of what will happen to other generations following them. This is how both sides view each other though! Both sides need to realize that they are all looking out for the good of them and thier loved ones. One group is not trying to undermine the other. The only thing this leads to is more prejudice and descrimination on both sides. I believe the future is bright for our society and for the elderly population. There has been great strides taken polically for every generation and it will get better from here.
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