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"It is just blatantly unfair that younger people should be subsidizing us, at least the majority of "us" who don't need the subsidy. Sure, I can hear a few posters already: "Well Escort Rider, you don't have to take advantage of them if you don't want to." I agree, but that is not the point I am raising. I am raising a general point about overall fairness.[/quote]
Since many Seniors are forced to retire or unable to work due to a disablity that may appear with the onset of old age, their earning capacity is diminished and the opportunity for a discount is a welcome one. I think that is what the premise upon which the Senior discount is based.
I did not mind "subsidzing" older people when I was young, strong and healthy. It just seemed to be the right thing to do.
Don't matter to me what they call me, senior or senior citizen, senior ditizen, senior critterzen, senior pityzen. Senior Kidizen would be more accurate. We start out as diapered infants, go the full circle to diapered infancy again, and at age 62, there's a kiddy side re-emerging and I'm enjoying every minute of it!
Last edited by tijlover; 11-21-2012 at 07:05 AM..
Reason: edit
I've never been a fan of being "lumped together" with others in groups. (Like being called a "tween" or "Baby Boomer" or whatever!)...It just seems too limiting for me. The assumption is that everyone in the group is pretty much the "same." And this isn't necessarily true in all ways...Age-wise I guess it is! But there can be so many variables...If someone refers to me as a "senior" or "senior citizen" I will always be nice about it and gracious etc...I'm not going to send a pack of wolves or attack dogs after someone based on the terminology they use...It's more about what I prefer and how I "see" myself etc.
I think, for myself, I worked hard & long enough to benefit from, what I consider, respectful discounts. Having worked in nonprofits, the last of my working years working with Native American communities, I saw the respect given to elders.
I feel, not privelaged, but thankful our efforts & age are acknowledged.
I don't mind the "senior" if that's what I am. I think it might even have a tone of respect to it. What I find amusing and kind of silly is adding the word citizen to it as if we need to be recognized as citizens. Why are children not called, "child citizens", teenagers "teen citizens", or others called "adult citizens" or "middle aged citizens"?
I hate it and I think having senior discounts is patronizing and insulting.
I don't mind the discounts but they are so minimal, I don't even pay attention to them. I think though they may be unconstitutional in that they give a benefit to someone because of age, not given to anyone else. I don't know if it's ever been challenged in court.
There used to be places that gave discounts to women for instance like a discount car wash on Tuesdays simply because of one's sex. I think that was stopped because it was taken to court and ruled to be illegal. I don't think anyone has yet had the guts to take senior discounts to court as being unfair and unconstitutional because it gives a benefit to a group simply because of age, but I could be wrong.
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