Health & Fitness
Hey, Berliners: just when you thought you could retire, the Democrats and President Obama have agreed to raise the retirement age!
Raising the Social Security age will not only affect the lifestyles and incomes of many Berlin individuals, but also many of the small local businesses.
Are you in your early or near your mid 60s and looking forward to retiring? Well, think again, Berliners. The word is out: Democrats under the leadership of President Obama have already privately agreed to raise the Social Security age, up to 68 or 69 years of age.
And guess what? AARP has already given its blessing to raising the retirement age: it made public its position that it is open to cuts to Social Security benefits to seniors as well as to raising the retirement age. Aren't you glad you joined AARP? Are you tempted to cancel your membership?
Of course, part of the deal worked out between Democrats and Republicans includes giving even more funds to the Pentagon: instead of decreasing the defense budget, it appears that we will be increasing its funding by another $17 billion over that from last year.
Find out what's happening in Berlinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I have been informed that as much as 25% of Berlin consists of individuals in or around the retirement age. I wonder how these Social Security cuts will affect many of the small businesses in our community. Do you suspect, too, that many will think twice now before going out to eat or going to a local store for a purchase that may not be absolutely necessary? Do you wonder, too, how these seniors will be making ends meet, including paying their property taxes, especially in light of the fact that property taxes are increasing this year and are expected to hike up significantly in the very near future, with municipal debt maturing and interest rates on debt increasing from the ever approaching inevitability of inflation?
If you are interested in learning more of what's transpiring in Washington behind the scenes, please see the videos:
Find out what's happening in Berlinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
and
Cenk Uygur to Democrats: no more excuses. During Weiner distraction GOP advances radical agenda. Standing strong: time for Democrats to fight GOP cuts. Fight the right: Democrats try to refocus. Cenk Uygur MSNBC TV Live June 17 2011 video and transcript.The irony behind the argument for increasing the retirement age is that the premise upon which it is based may not be true: that the baby boomers will live longer than their parents. The majority of the lower class, and even a certain segment of the middle class, may, in fact, have shorter lifespans than that of their parental generation due to their rich diets and sedentary lifestyles. My cardiologist brought this to my attention very recently. I have suspected such from looking at the obituaries over the past few years.
