Early Retirement Blog

The Economic Policy Institute just released an incredibly persuasive article, written by Ross Eisenbrey, which gives 10 excellent reasons why the retirement age should not be raised.  This short article is a must read for anyone interested in countering the arguments made by the Budget Deficit Commission and their Wall Street backers, for why we must raise the retirement age.

I would like to add 5 more reasons not to raise the retirement age.

11. Raising the retirement age is age discrimination. Forcing younger workers  to work longer, to pay for current retiree benefits, is age discrimination  plain and simple.

12. Raising the retirement age is bad for the economy. Raising the retirement age increases the number of workers in the workforce, exacerbating unemployment, and reducing wages for everyone.

13. Raising  the retirement age is bad for the environment. More years commuting and working, extends an individual’s consumption of natural resources, increasing the rate of climate change.

14. Raising the retirement age is bad family values. Grandparents should be spending time, passing on their family values to their grandchildren, instead of passing reports in a cubicle.

15. Raising the retirement age is dangerous for public safety. 68 year old cops, 74 year old firefighters, and 85 year old airline pilots, endangers everyone’s safety.

Raising the retirement age is a bad idea for the individual, community, economy, and the environment.  Instead of spending time thinking of ways to raise the retirement age, everyone would be better off trying to find ways, to lower the retirement age.

If you can think of anymore reasons not to raise the retirement age, please share them with everyone, by using the comment section below.

Visit our Early Retirement Website, learn how to retire early, and use our free retirement calculators to find out if you can retire today.