RSSThe Aging U.S. Population
The fact that the population of the United States is aging is no secret. The magnitude of the increase may be surprising, however. The number of individuals over the age of 65 will double in 32 years—from 38 million to 77 million—an additional 39 million people over the age of 65. The total population of California today is 36.5 million. This demographic trend spells trouble for entitlement programs because the ratio of workers to dependents is declining.
24 Responses to “The Aging U.S. Population”
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October 29th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
If we embrace Mexicans and other immigrants our working force will be replenished. Because the immigrants have way more children than the average Caucasian. If we force them out we lose workforce . But I don’t think we should allow them to claim 9 dependents when they are 18 years old. There is no way they have 9 kids. Bring me legit ss numbers and then we’ll talk. Let them be taxpaying additions not take their money back to Mexico.
November 28th, 2008 at 12:07 am
As a boomer, I find a lot of the comments from younger generations amusing. I grew up hearing the constant refain “Social Security won’t be there when you get old.”
But more to the point of the chart, I grew up watching movies like Logan’s Run and Soylent Green. Both suggested a solution to the problem that this topic raises, that would need to be in place by the start of the 21st Century, for sure.
I only wish the current era of doomsayers were more creative in expressing your fears. Why no movies, just boring repetition of the same claims made three and four decades ago?
November 28th, 2008 at 11:31 am
While we don’t ascribe to the premises of either Soylent Green or Logan’s Run and certainly do not advocate their proposed solutions, “mulp” makes a graphic case for addressing this situation sooner rather than later — in a socially responsible manner, of course.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I don’t believe we are looking at the situation in the right manner. The problem is not that the population is aging, but that there are few incentives for our older population to remain as productive members of the population. Many professions and businesses still have mandatory retirement ages, we need to do away with them. Many businesses while professing that they don’t discriminate do so very covertly when it comes to age. Why hire the 60 yr. old with all that experience when you can get a 21 yr. old to mold to your ways. Bringing up media responses to the situation look at ‘Star Trek’ people are productive way into their centennial years. We need to motivate our older citizens to remain in the work force and continue to be productive instead of being a drain. Let’s be creative, think outside the box. Retiring and sitting home looking at four walls because you can’t afford to do anything else can’t be what our older citizens want out of their remaining years.