PBS Frontline - Can You Afford to Retire?

[perinova]

just an observation: retirement as we know it (or would like to have it) is a relatively recent phenomenon. is there any reason to believe it is an inalienable right?

In the course of human development people asked the same question about health, human rights, right to shelter, to security etc... The question are answered when wants became needs. Is being connected to running water and electricity an inalienable right?

Even more complex: How about access to education?

Today one might answer unquestionably that retirement is an inalieable right when you are not able to hold a job any more due to frail physicla health or diminished mental ability. If you are still able: retirement is for those who can afford it just a nice vacation or an expensive bottle of wine.

 

[SteveR]

just an observation:  retirement as we know it (or would like to have it) is a relatively recent phenomenon.  is there any reason to believe it is an inalienable right?

I earned my retirement the old fashioned way. I worked for a mega corp. for over 32 years while saving both inside my 401k plan and outside of it in about equal amounts. Were it not for my ex-wife taking half my retirement benefits, I would already be in ER. My "right" to retirement is being FI. I earned my ticket to ER by saving, investing and through debt self control. Nobody owes me anything. SS is a tax and I have been paying lots of taxes all my life with no expectation of every getting a direct monetary reward from them. And yes, I do know about funding of road, public schools, national defence etc. that I "enjoy" the rewards of each day. I am talking about food stamps, welfare, free medical, etc. that I will never see. I don't bedgrude those that truly need these things and I am truly thankful I am FI so I don't have to suck on the public teat.

I just don't see a paid retirement as an inalienable right....you work for it.

 

[Chris24]

Anyone notice the COBOL adds at the bottom of the page?

 

[REWahoo]

The Frontline documentary seems to have created some debate on whether the program "...work to shock nonsavers into action or does it freeze them in the headlights?"

 

[maddythebeagle]

Anyone notice the COBOL adds at the bottom of the page?

yep, those ads sure are smart. Maybe we should change the subject and talk about porn and see what we get

 

[Nords]

The Frontline documentary seems to have created some debate...

Spouse spent a lot of time on travel discussing ER with a fence-sitting shipmate and then returned home to watch that Frontline show. She doesn't obsess get as much exposure to these topics as I do but she knows the basics, and she was alternately fascinated & disgusted at their portrayal of the 401(k) system. To her the scariest parts of the show weren't about UAL but the level of worker ignorance, followed by the degree to which the 401(k) system wastes its assets on expenses.

Sounds like automatic enrollment in a target-retirement fund is the best default for those who don't (or can't or won't) help themselves.

Otherwise the show hasn't come up for discussion. It never occurred to anyone that it'd be an important-enough topic to watch.