While this country just celebrated another July 4th holiday, I do not want to make an historical disquisition of this day. A few brief comments will be sufficient. Rather, I want to take a more utilitarian focus and discuss what our elders were probably thinking about on this day. Historically, the Declaration of Independence expressed the grievances of the colonies regarding their governance by England and declared that the colonies are now separate and free from England’s hegemony.
This document provides the clarion call that government must be responsive to its people. And when government is no longer responsive, it is the right of the people (in this case our elders) to alter that government. Now I’m not suggesting that we create an army of sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and octogenarians to wage a literal war against the entrenched enemy of our elders, who are holed up in Washington D.C.
However, it has long been recognized that our elders possess a potent asset of their own: THE BALLOT BOX. And so our elders must wage a figurative war against those in power who purposely and steadfastly remain blind to helping them maintain “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.
The flip side to the Declaration of Independence is perhaps the greatest document ever contrived: The Constitution of the United States. It begins with WE THE PEOPLE. Our elders know that our leaders have forgotten just what WE THE PEOPLE mean.
A new war is being waged where seniors all over the country are turning to another weapon in their financial arsenal: The reverse mortgage. The use of the ballot box will induce change. The use of the reverse mortgage will secure self preservation.
In the introduction to my book, Piggy Bank Your Home: Tap Into The Power Of a Reverse Mortgage, I decried the manner in which the government has treated our elders: "A long time ago, many of our today’s seniors were our country’s heroes. During WWII and the Korean War, they sacrificed much for love of country. At first America remembered and responded. Many of our gallant men and women received a college education under the GI bill. Many became homeowners because of the ubiquitous VA & FHA loan programs. Our warriors, returning to civilian life, prospered. And so did America.
Many years later, something sinister and ominous took hold. Those in power became afflicted with “historical dementia.” They forgot about those that did so much. Those once young warriors, are now experiencing the decrepitude that accompanies longevity. Our seniors once again need America to remember and respond. But it is a different America today. Our past heroes have become victims of circumstance, as big business lobbyists have overrun Washington (and our state capitals). “We the people” has lost its meaning as corporate America has become the new master to serve.
A new war is being waged in this country. It is a war against this country’s most precious resource- our elders. Our past heroes, including those who fought in Vietnam, have become the “enemy.” Congress has made it more difficult for seniors to declare bankruptcy, even though 50 per cent of all bankruptcies are due to health related issues; even though the credit card companies can still entice seniors to obtain more cards with billions- yes that is billions- of unwanted solicitations, knowing that seniors couldn’t make the payments on the additional credit given.
Congress has made Medicaid planning a minefield, under the Deficit Reduction Act. Congress has caused seniors untold anxiety by the passage of the program known as Medicare Part D, which is making the insurance and pharmaceutical companies rich. Many states are in fiscal crisis, and the universal remedy and protocol has been to increase property taxes. Accordingly, our fixed income seniors are extremely vulnerable, as this “scorch the earth” policy has become the typical reflex.
In this new war, the weapon of choice for our seniors has become the reverse mortgage. This book will arm seniors and their families with the tools to fight and win back their independence and their dignity. Our elders will be able to protect the family dynamics. Many care-giving children will no longer have to quit their jobs or forego promotions because they have to care for mom and/or dad.
Our heroes will not have to choose between having heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer, as they ration their meager savings. Our warriors will not have to limit the meals they will eat in a day, or eat cat or dog food because it is all that they can afford. Our protectors of liberty will not have to have their electricity shut off because they need to use the money to buy medication.
The new battleground has literally shifted to the front doors of our elders. And they now have one weapon that will help them reclaim their future. However, the bigger battle is to make “We the people” have meaning once again. Unfortunately, that will take a little longer".
In the next few days, I will talk about how our elders are suffering because those in power are playing "politics" with important legislation that could help our seniors.
