Abstract

RIDING INTO THE SUNSET

Discusses the issue of increasing life expectancy in the United States and the political and economic issue inherent in the fact that people are living longer. Author's view that longer life expectancy is a meaningful achievement that is being transformed into a monumental problem by contemporary politics and narrow-minded accounting; Discussion of the views of economist Robert Fogel, who asserts that expanding longevity is not a financial burden but an enormous and underdeveloped asset; View that Fogel's perspective is ignored by other economists; Analysis of Fogel's idea regarding the restructuring of the American Social Security system; Review of the effect of decreasing pensions and personal savings; Increases in the cost of health care; Analysis of how the economic issues associated with increased longevity should be considered with a progressive political framework.