Replies

Sorry to hear that WVNan. I'm 42 next month. I expect to work until I drop. All I have earned in nearly 30 years of work since a teen has gone to keeping above water — paying my taxes and bills. I've never expected Social Security to be there for me, and I expect even less of Medicare.

But, when I start to get down, I think about my grandparents who came here from Ireland in the 1920s with nothing in their pockets but lint. They didn't complain, and I hope I won't either — despite the fact that the generations from those days until today have enjoyed the blessings of wealth in this country, and have let their government squander it all on the welfare state. We're broke as a country. The brokest country that has ever been.

But I believe in the American spirit. I believe the rising generations can fix this country, because they will realize that they need to do it. And I guess I'll do my part by not complaining (too much) that all my labor goes into paying off the debts of the previous generations so that ones in the future can prosper again.

All that said: I'm sorry your wealth and the retirement you thought you'd have is gone. I really am. I hope you live long enough to say "tough break for me," but are heartened to see the turn-around to the values and vibrancy this nation once had. I think that's the best we can hope for. I'm 37 years your junior, and I have my doubts that I'll see that before I'm "retired." But there's no chance of it happening if we don't all work to fixing things starting right now.

Yours in liberty,
seamus