How The Left Sees Seniors?

This weeks headlines: Harry Reid says support the Post Office because (in part) Seniors Love to get Junk Mail. It keeps them in communication with the outside world.

I’ll be honest. I laughed when I read this. Ninety-nine percent of my junk mail goes immediately into the recycling bin…that is after I shred all the unwanted credit applications.

But I’m not a senior. Yet. So I shared this with my ‘slightly’ older friends. One, who lives in a retirement neighborhood, wrote back how insulted she was. She put bulk mail in the same category as phone solicitations -neither fit into her schedule. Of course, she didn’t write immediately because she was at pottery class while her husband was out exercising. I also thought of my parents, who do claim their senior citizenship. I couldn’t talk to them about it as they are in the middle of the Arizona desert prospecting gold and photographing wildlife, out of cell phone reach. And let me just say, Mom’s last email began with OMG… They’re not waiting for the postman, to communicate with the world.

Who sits at home waiting for junk mail? The closest I could think of was my mother-in-law who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. Its debilitating effects did keep her home and limited activities outside. Yes, I remember she always asked about the mail. Yet, she was looking for letters from the kids and her siblings; not an enlightening article advertising the merits of liposuction.

In general the seniors I know are a busy lot. They take advantage of their free time with hobbies, travel, spending time with family. Heck, many are still working. So Senator Reid’s comment makes me wonder if he speaks from personal experience or if this idea that seniors are feeble and homebound is something more related to a Progressive philosophy where elderly people have limited abilities.

Remember the health care debates? Or the left response to Paul Ryan’s Medicare modification plan (which would not affect those over 55)? Progressives claimed that the GOP wants to Throw Granny Off A Cliff while  President Obama , ironically, clearly indicated his thoughts whether seniors should have the same quality of care as others. Give Granny A Pill

There is no doubt that ‘end of life’ care might be different from ‘retiree care’ but these comments cause one to question the general attitude. Does the government think it knows what’s best for the folks? Or a better question, does this current administration listen to and understand the wants and needs of its citizens? Or is this administration, as Harry Reid appears to be, out of touch? When Team Obama accidentally shares its true agenda including its thoughts on those who might not be seen as productive workers we should take heed.