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Listening, today, to CNN, it's been reported that the fastest growing component of the workforce is folks over 75. This is an outgrowth of inadequacy in Social Security benefits and shrinking pension payouts.

I find the concept of "Golden Years" difficult to grasp. There's dignity in work - any work. How often have we heard about men, accustomed to vital activity in the workplace, dying not long after retiring?

I think there's far too much cultural fixation on a final goal of retirement. We're seeing, already, how elusive that so called happy state can be in the midst of the current economic crisis. Rather than setting retirement the holy grail of career closure, we'd be better off thinking in terms of creating choices.

Hooray for the over 75 crowd reentering or staying in the workaday world. I can think of nothing healthier or more life sustaining.

Tags: golden years, pension benefits, Retirement, retirement income, retirement planning, retiring, senior employment, seniors, social security

In these days of billions this and trillions that, I propose that health care reform could be greatly advanced over the next six months to save tens of billions of dollars, if the nation were collectively to lose weight to the tune of 3 billion pounds.

Lose 16.7 Pounds Per American Adult

Assuming there are 180 million adults in America, if a total of 3 billion pounds were shed, that would amount to 16.66 pounds lost per adult. There's no reason it couldn't be done over the next six months - 2.8 pounds per month per adult. This would have the effect of reducing heart disease and other conditions, including diabetes, yielding a cost savings for health care of tens of billions of dollars. Among other things, it would reduce insurance premiums, outlays for Medicare, lost productivity and much, much more.

I know it's an insane idea. But, it's no more insane than the inaction on health care reform we've endured for decades.

President Obama - lead the way!

Tags: health care, health care insurance, Health Care Reform