City needs to squeeze out more money
More fines, higher land taxes, tighter budgets on services is the sketch for the city’s 2013 budget, but there will be some money for public transit (not enough – we should expect another fare increase for 2013). The city’s carrying a lot of pensions – people have to stop living so long.
Jack 10:16 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
Fireman retire at 52 in this day and age that is ridiculous.
Kate 10:52 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
There might be good reasons to not expect 50-year-olds to be as effective in action as men in their 20s and 30s, but maybe there are limited numbers of supervisory or desk positions for them to move into?
Fred 11:08 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
Believe it or not, actuaries have coined the term “longevity risk.” Awful concept.
Robert 11:19 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
I understand that certain professions are not really feasible for people in their 50s, but as a society we can’t give a retirement salary to people for the last 20-30 years of their life if they’re still in good health. Not only is it really expensive, but it just isn’t natural for people to spend a 3rd of their lives idle.
We should work on programs that reinsert people into the workforce in other more feasible jobs.
Kate 12:49 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
In general I agree with you, although I’d prefer to see it done via carrots (create less physically demanding jobs for people over 65, offer easily accessible but relevant retraining) than via sticks (cutting back pensions or otherwise penalizing people who don’t continue to work). Demonstrating in various ways that staying active keeps people healthier and happier would be good PR.
Kevin 16:39 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
I have seen several people I work with take early retirement in the past 5 yrs, and I expect many more to do the same.
I don’t get it.
My dad is still working at age 67 with no plans to retire, and my grandfather worked until age 75 ( he lied about his age to keep working)
Find a job that you love, where you don’t hunger for the weekend or a vacation. Isn’t that what life is all about?
Ian 21:40 on 2012/09/15 Permalink
Those of us without pensions or riches can pretty much expect to keep working as long as we possibly can.