Compulsory viewing tonight: “The great granny chart invasion” at 9pm which seeks to highlight the plight of Britain’s old people by the formation of a rock band “The Zimmers”- average age 68 - with a lead singer of 90.
A serious re-think is required in this country about the way we write off old people for humanitarian, but also economic reasons. A hundred years ago very few people made it past the age of 60 and those that did were knackered from working in coal mines or cotton mills and only too happy to sink into much deserved retirement, assuming they could afford to do so. Nowadays people are being thrown onto the scrap heap at 60 even though they are perfectly fit, capable and willing to continue to work. Ruthie wonders how many people are vegetables before they go into old peoples homes or whether they are turned into vegetables by feelings of worthlessness and lack of stimulation?
Since people seem to have stopped having babies and life expectancy is increasing, if you are under 40 are reading this, give some serious thought to the promotion of older employees in your workforce, cos otherwise you are paying the increase in pensions in taxes. Older people also tend to be more loyal employees, have the benefit of life experience, and tend to have less time off sick for getting drunk and laid.
Judging people on gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation and sexual orientation is slowly becoming unacceptable. It should be equally unacceptable to pass judgement on someone’s abilities purely on the basis of their age. Ruthie would love to see a society where everyone is judged on the basis of their individual character and abilities.
Recent age discrimination legislation is a positive step forward in empowering older people, but older people now also need to think about their own group image. A misconception exists that “old” people must be unfit and forgetful. Ruthie knows a lot of “young” people who are unfit and forgetful. Instead of wasting time going to prison for council tax non-payment, newly forming older peoples protest groups might be better to spend their time promoting the image of older people generally. The issues of poverty and abuse of old people would attain greater prominence as a consequence, rather than as single issues in themselves.
Ruthie would love to see The Zimmer’s cover of the Who’s “talkin bout my generation” make no. 1. It goes on general release tonight.
That phrase...
Unfortunately even the legal profession has a reputation for being notoriously ‘discriminatory’ when it comes to taking on ‘older people’ (whatever they are). I am a mature entrant to the profession (due to start pupillage in October) and have many friends who have also come to the law later in life. Most have had to work twice as hard to achieve their goal (some are still struggling). It is quite clear from their experiences that had they been 22 with the same qualifications as they have, they would undoubtedly have seen far fewer doors closed on them. If a profession which is made up of intelligent, independently minded people is unable to embrace the concept of non-discrimination on the grounds of age, there is little hope. I quite agree that ‘older people’ are frequently overlooked, quite unjustifiably; as you say, they are often more reliable and have the benefit of life experience. However, it is very difficult to establish a case of discrimination on grounds of age so, not surprisingly, many employers find it easier to stick within their comfort zone. Let’s hope that attitudes gradually begin to change… L2B