What will rapidly growing elderly population mean for U.S.?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The United States is about to get a whole lot grayer... Consider this: people 65 and older now make up 13-percent of the population in this country. But as baby boomers keep aging, seniors will make up 20-percent of U.S. residents by 2030; and more than a quarter of the population by 2050.
New census data shows that the world's senior population will triple by mid-century to one-in-six people. Thanks to a decline in births and medical advances that help people live longer, seniors are now the fastest-growing age group. And the U.S. - along with many other countries - will find themselves struggling to support them.
As a result, one expert says the 2020s will be "an era of fiscal crisis" for most developed countries.
As for emerging countries like China - they may have it even worse - with millions of elderly Chinese potentially falling into poverty, creating social and political unrest. Of course, This could have a serious impact on the global economy as well.
As for the U.S., immigration of younger people has helped slow the aging of the population overall. Nevertheless, Medicare is expected to go broke by 2017. Social Security is also on its way to going broke. We have known both of these facts for years and the politicians consistently fail to muster the courage to do anything about it.
Here’s my question to you: What will a rapidly growing elderly population mean for the U.S.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should S.C. Governor Sanford be removed from office?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admits he's been having an affair with a woman from Argentina - which is where he's been for the past week. This comes after days of speculation on the whereabouts of the Republican governor, ever since he went AWOL last Thursday.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford - and father of 4 - has admitted to cheating on his wife.
Sanford's staff said Monday that he was hiking along the Appalachian Trail, where Sunday was nude hikers day. That's where he told his staff he might be going. I wonder if he knew it was nude hikers day. Probably not.
As late as yesterday, Sanford's wife told CNN she still hadn't heard from her husband. Sanford has four sons - and was away from his family over Father's Day weekend... Charming man.
Sanford announced he's resigning as head of the Republican Governors Association. He was also once thought to be a contender for the 2012 presidential nomination. Governor Sanford is not what the Republican Party needs at this moment - or ever.
It's one thing to have an affair; but when you're the chief executive officer of the state, you can' t just disappear without telling anyone where you're going - let alone leave the country for almost a week.
Here’s my question to you: Should South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford be removed from office?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
When it comes to Iran, can women make the difference?
Supporters of defeated reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate in Tehran. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Ordinary women have been playing an extraordinary role in the events following Iran's disputed election.
The most powerful example - the 26-year-old woman named Neda, who seemed to be only observing a demonstration when she was gunned down in the streets of Tehran with a single bullet to the chest. A crudely shot video of her final moments has been all over the web... instantly making her a martyr.
Neda is a symbol for all women who have become involved in this movement - an image of both the brutality of the regime and the significant role women are playing in fighting it. And there are many more like Neda.
As the protests and clashes with military forces continue, we continue to see images of women on the streets; they wear their scarves and traditional clothing. Some chant, some march, some collect rocks for ammunition against security forces. Riot police have even been seen clubbing women dressed in black robes. Real macho stuff - beating women with clubs.
One 19-year-old woman tells CNN that she's not scared of the security forces - no matter how many times she gets beaten: "When they want to hit me, I say hit. I have been hit so many times and this time it doesn't matter. I just want to help my brothers and sisters." She says women have been out in the streets in larger numbers than men.
One analyst says in the 1979 revolution, the iconic images were those of "bearded men." This time it's young women who are "the vanguards of Iran."
Here’s my question to you: When it comes to Iran, can women ultimately make the difference?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Recent Comments