Here's a thought I haven't seen explored in the media. I hear a lot of angst about the baby-boomers who are about to retire. They will soon begin to be a drain on Social Security and will be requiring Medicare payouts.
It's true, these retirees are going to begin getting government checks and need medical care that will be paid for by the government However it's important to note that these retirees have been paying into these funds most of their adult lives.
Still, it's going to be a drain on the Treasury. But it would be wrong to focus entirely on the payments. What will America get in return? Probably a lot of free service to society.
I'm retired. Many of my friends and ex-coworkers are retired and the thing that strikes me is how many of us do volunteer work that benefits society. Retired friends tutor kids in schools, work at homeless shelters, at soup kitchens, run for minor local office, do volunteer work for the police, libraries, etc.
When the baby-boomes retire we will be getting a huge influx of people used to working, many of them college-educated. Retirement is nice but most of us, at least for the first ten years when we're still healthy and active, want to be involved in the world. Some devote themselves to hobbies, and help young people new to the hobby, others see a need in society and volunteer to fill it. Some start new businesses and eventually hire new workers.
So, yes, money will be flowing out of the Treasury, but in return I think the country will be getting a lot of free service in return.
--Trakker
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