Stand-up Comic from another era Jack Benny, used to have a bit where:
the Robber sticks him up, demanding of Mr. Benny: "Your Money or your Life!"
To which Jack slowly put his hand to his chin, and contemplatively considers the offer.
To which the Crook would gruffly respond: "Come-on what's the Problem?"
Benny would dryly reply: "Don't rush me; I'm thinking, I'm thinking."
The Audience would usually roar with laughter:
http://www.esnips.com/...
Different days, different humor ... but similar problems.
Today, far too many Senior Citizen face far too many, similar Tough Choices ...
However the choices they routinely face are Not such a Laughing matter.
The Choices today's Senior Face are often deadly serious ...
Viewpoints: More On Medicare's 'Hard Choices' ...
KaiserHealthNews -- Jun 01, 2011
Los Angeles Times: Health Insurers Use Scare Tactics To Block Regulation Of Rate Increases
by Michael Hiltzik -- June 1, 2011
The companies cite bogus figures to fight a bill that would give California officials prior-approval authority over premium hikes. And they're trying to convince the public that the measure would actually cost people money.
San Jose Mercury News: Health Insurance Rates Need A Watchdog In California
Mercury News Editorial -- 05/31/2011
In 2010, the five largest health insurers in the United States made $11.7 billion. In that same year, medical costs increased by less than 10 percent. So what did Anthem Blue Cross, owned by the nation's biggest insurer, WellPoint, decide was a fair rate increase for Californians that year? How does 39 percent sound?
What's a little harmless Inflation among friends ?
... among clients ?
... among demographic groups ?
Afterall they're just 'working stiffs', or at least that's what they used to be. They're used to 'sacrifice' ... they done it all their lives.
"Your Money or your Life!" ... "Come-on what's the Problem?"
Seniors Face Hard Choices
Meals on Wheels, San Diego -- 2010
[...]
As Boomers grow into this new phase of life and look towards their future, there are numerous challenges they may not have anticipated. Many are shocked to witness the sheer number of seniors struggling, right here in San Diego, just to maintain a monthly household budget. Lifelong career professionals and community members, who have made meaningful contributions to our society, are finding it hard not only to make ends meet, but to simply afford two square meals a day.
Unfortunately, this is a trend that Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego is experiencing first hand. In the past year, 20% of our San Diego senior clients have reduced the number of meals they receive down to one meal a day. While seniors pay a reduced fee of only 1/3 the cost it takes to purchase, prepare and deliver daily meals, many are struggling to pay even that. We are seeing more and more seniors forced to choose between food and housing and/or medication. In San Diego, we know that 20% of our clients have already made that very difficult choice. The Census Bureau report released in January, 2010 cited a staggering 16.1% of Americans 65 and older are living in poverty -- a jump that nearly doubled from 8.9%.
[...]
Many of today’s seniors have just enough income to pay for their medication and housing, and then whatever means they have leftover is used for food. The most commonly used prescription drugs have had annual cost increases that consistently exceed the rate of general inflation. Just in the last five years, retail prices for the most popular brand-name drugs have increased by 41.5%.
So, the next time you get a chance to visit a Senior, take it. Buy them Lunch. Stock their Pantry.
They way things are going, they're going to need it.
The Greatest generation, the Boomer generation, the Woodstock generation, and soon the Reagan generation, are going need all the Help they can get (if they don't already.)
Afterall a CPI linked to "thin air" to calculate that virtual Cost-of-Living-Adjustment, on the monthly Social Security check -- Ain't gonna put food and meds on the Table, nor A/C or Warmth in the rental unit. Given the Real-world Rates of Inflation.
Seniors will be facing Tough Choices, just like Jack Benny, on a routine basis -- only they won't be laughing about it ... as they ponder their Life-threatening Dilemmas.
Because their choices are part of a Daily Routine, known as "Individual Sacrifice". Day in. Day out. Year after meager year.
As Politicians continue to Debate, in their obscure and pedantic ways, the Price of Tea, in China ...