Protect retirement

Jan. 31 was the 75th anniversary of the first Social Security checks issued to older Americans back in 1940. Following the Great Depression, Social Security was implemented to address skyrocketing poverty rates among seniors. Even today, as a nation, we have got to do more to protect the oldest and most vulnerable Americans.

At the time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “This Social Security measure gives at least some protection to 30 million of our citizens.”

Today, our nation has yet another older American crisis, as tens of millions of retired Americans who were guaranteed lifetime pension and healthcare benefits from their former employers in exchange for working decades at a lower wage are under assault by self-serving corporate CEOs and their bean counters.

I’m part of ProtectSeniors.Org, a nonprofit retiree group that is fighting for retirees on Capitol Hill and in state capitols to achieve legislation and recognition that protects older Americans’ earned retirement benefits.

It’s time for Democrats and Republicans alike to recognize these aren’t party issues; it’s about safeguarding older citizens.

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Protect retirement."