America's Seniors: Secure their future

As the economy slides, Americans will want to ask themselves about the effects on senior citizens. Have we secured the future of older Americans as well as we hope?

The questions could become urgent as seniors face inflation, low interest rates on savings and tough times for traditionally supportive government budgets. A weak job market could also harm those who see no choice but to ditch retirement comforts to get back to paying work.

As a Seattle P-I story reported, the Seattle mayor's Office of Senior Citizens already has noted a near-record waiting list for a job-retraining program. And this is an area that has so far escaped much of the economic reversal.

By and large, wise social policies have brought huge benefits for older Americans. In the 1960s, one third of senior citizens lived in poverty. Now, the rate is closer to 10 percent among what health care advances have made a much larger group.

Now, economic pressures have forced some retirees to turn to food banks. Many current workers are postponing retirements.

Americans understand the need for economic adjustments. But letting new burdens fall on the oldest would be tragic. Citizens who hope to be senior retirees someday might consider putting their tax rebates to use for senior programs. That would set a good example for political leaders.