From the Pacific Standard:
When officials of the Trump administration and the Republican-majority Congress speak of “reforming” entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, the conversation is largely confined to cost-cutting. It’s easy to forget the enormous impact these programs have on Americans’ lives.
A striking reminder comes in a new study, which finds “a significant, sudden drop in suicide rates upon turning 62 years old” — the age at which one becomes eligible for Social Security benefits.
“This decline is large, particularly among males, (and) has emerged for females and widened for males in recent years,” writes economist Jeffrey DeSimone of the University of Alabama–Birmingham.
“Much evidence suggests this discontinuity is attributable to the Social Security early retirement age, more so than the act of retiring itself,” he adds in the journal Contemporary Economic Policy. ...
12 comments:
Unfortunately, I think one of the goals of this form of conservatism is to cull out what is to them the useless part of the population. Those who feel entitled to things like social security and basic healthcare. Also, they don't think there is great enough opportunity for exploitation of the poor for profit when they are treated by a standard of human decency. They prefer excess labor and desperation to drive the price of labor down and incarceration if done privately offers profit opportunities. If you can wipe out disability and continue to scale back life expectancies perhaps no one will make it to the retirement program except the right kind of people.
11:35, your hypothesis is not as far fetched as some people on this board will start characterizing it as.
Those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it.
See France circa 1789
See the good old US circa late 19th century
The finding is not at all surprising. For people who are sick, can't work, have trouble getting badly needed health care, don't have enough money to buy necessities, and are a burden to any family or friends (if you have any such to rely on) you would expect a higher suicide rate compared to the general population. So, when libertarians and republicans talk about cutting Social Security Disability, SSI, or retirement, they are saying they are ok with more people prematurely dying.
Correlation does not equal causation. "Much evidence" is cited...but there is no elaboration.
@6:41AM:
Spot-on!
8:58 AM I suppose you would say there is correlation, which doesn't equal causation, with those in the Conn case who committed suicide after their benefits were cut off? I'm no expert on suicide, but I do know how hopelessness, depression and stress and constant pain can get you to contemplate the "unthinkable."
It's probably true!! I have known a current employee of SSA who has thought about committing suicide although the person is not yet 62. This is an agency that is not treating its employee as accommodating as its needs to be. Especially with members of other minority's minority group(s). The person is still crying foul with this agency's bureaucratic red tape, absence of inclusiveness and total lack of compassion. What a shame!!
What compassion?! From what I've seen and heard, Federal Agencies' HR and Office of Civil Rights components seemingly are trained to focus on confusion via intimidation. SSA is no exception and possibly one of the worst. The year is 2017, hello!!?? It's not just shameful but disgusting when an employer in that kind of influential capacity could not provide equality for ALL its employees! Regardless if they are not vocal enough. This is also a combination of lack of moral character and training issues by the management... my guess, it's time to drain the swamp!!!
Drain the swamp it is!!! In America's best interest especially from the top down!!!!
Starting first with Boston Regional and the city's Area itself. Named by one of SNL main actors/anchors as the most RACIST city in America!! What's up with that??!! The land of convicted racist Mark Wahlberg and many more....
Boston' s Regional Commissioner is the leader of that tainted swamp that needs to be drained!!
I used to live and work for SSA in Mid-Western area if Massachusetts, and yes it has its share quite a few proud Irish Yankees!! Especially those work at Boston Regional Office who are downright arrogant and could more than likely be labeled as racists and anti-foreigners or Asian-haters if you want to call it. I never had the stomach for it. It makes me look and feels uneducated. I couldn't figure out how they would had felt??? Georgia-born notion I guess.
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