Generations United's Response to Samuelson's "Affluent Elderly"

In a recent edition of the Washington Post, Robert J. Samuelson launched yet another broadside against Social Security and Medicare and the supposedly “well-off” elderly population in America [“The affluent elderly, Opinions, May 16”]. Generations United’s Program Committee took exception to Samuelson’s article and wrote a Letter to the Editor rebutting Samuelson’s argument.

While the Post did not publish the letter, we wanted to share the gist of it with you:

Samuelson’s argument is convincing—if you take his statistics on face value. But you shouldn’t.

Let’s begin with how Mr. Samuelson wrongly characterizes these important programs. First, and most unfortunately, he implies that Social Security and Medicare are retirement programs and that only elderly Americans receive “benefits.” Not true. These programs provide critical financial support to individuals with disabilities and their families, children whose parents have died, and families headed by grandparents or other relatives.

In fact, Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program. Today, 6.5 million children receive part of their family income from Social Security.

Samuelson also claims that the median net worth (assets minus debts) of 65-plus households is twice the amount for households aged 45 to 54. What he fails to note, however, is that much of our elderly’s net worth is tied up in their homes. Homes which are difficult to sell even in the best of times, often because of the updates and maintenance required. You can’t modernize homes with a limited income. Nor can you eat roof shingles or drywall. It takes liquid assets to buy groceries.

But Samuelson’s most egregious misstep is that he advances his argument by pitting old against young. Such a tactic weakens the social fabric. A nation is like a family: we should and must work together for the common good.

We were disappointed in not getting our letter published. At the same time, we were heartened that the Post did choose to publish an opinion submitted by John Rother, Executive Vice President of AARP and a member of the Generations United Board of Directors. We encourage you to read Rother’s thoughtful letter, which appeared in the Post’s May 19th edition.

Three Things Robert Samuelson Missed in today’s column

Three Things Robert Samuelson Missed in today’s column

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Robert Samuelson would try and foment intergenerational conflict – I have blogged about his misguided views before. Samuelson continually tries to swim upstream by inventing imaginary cleavages between the generations. Samuelson recycles some of those arguments in today’s Washington Post and I could quarrel with most of what he writes, but I thought I would highlight three specific points that Samuelson misses:

1. Young people currently benefit from Social Security and Medicaid and will continue to enjoy its benefits when they get older. Samuelson mistakenly labels entitlement spending as a payout to today’s seniors. Social Security pays benefits to more children than any other federal program. Six and half million children receive assistance through Social Security from its survivors benefits program. Crucially, 98% of the children in the US are covered through the program if they were to lose a parent. The program provides vital financial security for our nation’s children. Additionally, the vast number of Medicaid recipients are children. Yes, the majority of Medicaid money goes toward paying the long-term care costs of our seniors, but it is still a critical program for our nation’s poorest children. Of course, it goes without saying (unless you are Robert Samuelson) that today’s children will eventually grow old and will continue to benefit from these programs.

2. The current insurance market is not working. Samuelson takes issue with the House and Senate bills because they limit the ability of insurance companies to charge different rates based on your age. Samuelson wants to defend the status quo on the health insurance market when it clearly isn’t working. Debt from medical care is the single biggest reason for bankruptcy in the US. The current market makes it very difficult and prohibitively expensive for older adults to purchase insurance in the individual market. Yes, younger Americans will be subsidizing older Americans to a degree, but that’s the only way to make sure everyone is covered. Not having health insurance is different from car insurance and homeowners insurance. The stakes are higher when it comes to your health. The country cannot continue to tolerate millions of uninsured citizens (young or old).

3. Young people are the most enthusiastic supporters of health insurance reform. Samuelson frequently cries out for young people to get mad at their grandparents’ generation for perceived political injustices. Once again, young people are ignoring his battle call; because they realize the need for reform – many of them witnessed their parents go without insurance. Millennials, like the grandparent's generation are drawn to the call to service and realize that our nation’s problems require shared sacrifices from everyone.

-Terence Kane

Response to Samuelson

In yesterday’s Washington Post Robert Samuelson addressed a memo to young voters and asked them to get angry because they are supposedly being duped by an alliance of senior voters and the two presidential campaigns in an effort to ignore them and their issues. Samuelson has long been banging the drum for entitlement and budget reform, and he often raises legitimate questions, but his solutions and tactics are misplaced and wrongheaded.

There’s a good reason why young voters aren’t angry with seniors (much to Samuelson’s dismay); after all, they care about their own parents and grandparents and they understand that they too will age. Further, he narrowly lays the blame of the budget deficit on older adults. He omits the cost of tax expenditures, bail outs, two wars, and the inefficiencies in our health system.

Older Americans do care about youth and how they will leave the country for them. It’s the reason we’ve seen such an up rise in senior civic engagement, especially with children and youth. GU’s Seniors4Kids is a perfect example of elders selflessly advocating for a brighter beginning for a younger generation. If you have a moment, please leave a comment on the Washington Post and remind Samuelson that we are all in this together, both young and old and the only way to solve our challenges, which are many, is to work together. Click here for the article and here to leave a comment.