Don't Ignore America's Seniors in the Presidential Debates
If a problem affects more than half of America's active voters, you'd expect the candidates to field questions on it all the time.
In the next ten years, 75 million Americans will become senior citizens. That 75 million, at face value, equals 58% of the voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election. As we face this unprecedented age wave, we still face high rates of unemployment.
I want to ask the candidates: How will you ensure that our aging population receives the support they need to age with dignity in their own homes, and create good jobs at the same time?
Join me in asking the moderators of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates to put this question to the candidates.
Ai-jen Poo, Co-Director
Caring Across Generations
Dear Jim Lehrer, Martha Radditz, and Bob Schieffer,
We are excited that you will be asking the presidential and vice presidential candidates important questions about how they would lead our nation if elected.
The issues of aging and the workforce who cares for our rapidly growing elderly population (every 8 seconds another American turns 65) will be more and more pressing for our county during the next president's and vice president's tenure.
We urge you to ask the candidates this question:
"In the next 10 years, 75 million Americans will reach retirement age. How will you ensure that seniors receive the support they need to age with dignity in their own homes, and create good jobs at the same time?"
Please consider this question for your respective debates.
And thank you for helping inform the American electorate about the candidates so we can make informed decisions.
