[Sailorsam]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...s-feeding-america-aarp-food-insecurity-health

"The study, released last week by Feeding America – a nonprofit network of food banks – with funding from the AARP Foundation, a lobbying group for older adults, found that roughly 8 million baby boomers are going hungry and are turning to charity for food. According to the report, which surveyed 60,000 people, the main challenges fueling the crisis were unemployment, housing shortages and poor health."

Miscount? Could there be that many careless morons? Is our economy much worse than we thought?
every time I see a story like this I buy another bag of rice...

 

[Grotius]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...s-feeding-america-aarp-food-insecurity-health

"The study, released last week by Feeding America – a nonprofit network of food banks – with funding from the AARP Foundation, a lobbying group for older adults, found that roughly 8 million baby boomers are going hungry and are turning to charity for food. According to the report, which surveyed 60,000 people, the main challenges fueling the crisis were unemployment, housing shortages and poor health."

Miscount? Could there be that many careless morons? Is our economy much worse than we thought?
every time I see a story like this I buy another bag of rice...

I don't have any access to their data, but I have a bit of familiarity with the manner in which statistical studies can be skewed.

The quote states that "60,000 people were surveyed", as a result of which a finding was produced that "8 million baby boomers are going hungry".

I'm not saying it's inaccurate, but it doesn't provide any explanation as to how a random sample (if the sample was indeed random) informs or results in an estimate of 8,000,000 going hungry. [For example, the article states that all data comes from people served by Feeding America. OK...that is de facto not a random sample. I'm not saying their data is incorrect- but the sample is not random. Ergo, there are issues with extrapolating from that data to any broader population.]

When you have a relatively tiny survey sample relative to a very large estimated outcome...let's be charitable and say that its easy to mischaracterize your outcomes and findings.

I'm sure they have an algorithm somewhere that spit out the 8M number, but...with a survey sample size of only 60K there is considerable room for error with respect to causal inferences for 8,000,000.

All that said, there isn't any doubt in my mind that there are huge numbers of retirees who retired with inadequate funds to pay for long term expenses - medical costs are astronomical, and food costs are not cheap either. Every time you talk to a financial planner, they're confirming that huge numbers of people are reaching retirement age with inadequate resources.

The problem is certain to get worse as more and more baby-boomers retire.

 

[Dragonid]

...
I'm sure they have an algorithm somewhere that spit out the 8M number, but...with a survey sample size of only 60K there is considerable room for error with respect to causal inferences for 8,000,000.
...

It's an order of magnitude greater than most surveys collect data from.

The elderly have frequently been among the groups most likely to experience hunger and malnutrition, and plenty of other surveys regularly state that 1:7 or 1:8 people in the US experience hunger due to undernourishment. So 8 million can't really be that far off.

 

[Wayson]

Miscount? Could there be that many careless morons? Is our economy much worse than we thought?

No, yes, and yes.

Right now it's not that bad either. If all the dire prognostications about the depth of the Boomer retirement crisis are correct, we may very well see worse to come once savings are exhausted and Social Security is the only source of funds for many Boomer retirees.

Despite being one of said dire prognosticators, I do not want to be proven right. No one should ever go hungry or worry about their next meal.

 

[ActionJackson]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...s-feeding-america-aarp-food-insecurity-health

"The study, released last week by Feeding America – a nonprofit network of food banks – with funding from the AARP Foundation, a lobbying group for older adults, found that roughly 8 million baby boomers are going hungry and are turning to charity for food. According to the report, which surveyed 60,000 people, the main challenges fueling the crisis were unemployment, housing shortages and poor health."

Miscount? Could there be that many careless morons? Is our economy much worse than we thought?
every time I see a story like this I buy another bag of rice...

I guess when a population of folks continue voting for Socialists and Globalists then they get what they ask for. The American Dream has turned into an American Nightmare.

I currently make what used to be considered a good salary. Now I basically work from check to check. My medical insurance costs have risen considerably since Obamacare yet the quality of service isn't as good.

Giant bail-outs and the creation of fiat money have devalued the Dollar's buying power. Taxes and prices are higher while wages remain fairly static. Governmental red-tape (hidden fees, penalties, permits, etc.) are on the rise.

Penniless illegals continue to flood the southern border. Who pays for their medical needs, housing, food, and clothing? Yup ... the American taxpayer. America's "handlers" (Social Engineers & Socialists) believe that if you have something and the guy next to you doesn't then you need to give what you have to that guy. They can't seem to get through their thick skulls that when you give away what you have then you are left with nothing. Thus, we have older Americans begging for food.

We can expect more of the same because we'll keep voting for the same fools (both sides of the aisle) that we always do and we'll villainize the guys who are actually willing to point out America's underlying problems and propose a fix for those problems (Trump).

 

[Basic Human Unit]

I can't say I'm surprised. The rate of inflation has outpaced the interest rates of all but the riskiest investments. People who invested for decades for their retirement are now realizing that they have less actual wealth than when they started.

 

[Sailorsam]

I can't believe anyone really thinks they can live on soc sec alone, even if their house is paid for. as stated, next few years will see many, many more retiring.
price of gas is a big thing for me. it's about a dollar cheaper this summer than last, and that makes a huge difference. Obama's coal shutdown will raise energy prices that much higher. hope these boomers can pay their heating bills. Florida is looking better and better.

 

[ActionJackson]

I don't have any access to their data, but I have a bit of familiarity with the manner in which statistical studies can be skewed.

The quote states that "60,000 people were surveyed", as a result of which a finding was produced that "8 million baby boomers are going hungry".

I'm not saying it's inaccurate, but it doesn't provide any explanation as to how a random sample (if the sample was indeed random) informs or results in an estimate of 8,000,000 going hungry. [For example, the article states that all data comes from people served by Feeding America. OK...that is de facto not a random sample. I'm not saying their data is incorrect- but the sample is not random. Ergo, there are issues with extrapolating from that data to any broader population.]

When you have a relatively tiny survey sample relative to a very large estimated outcome...let's be charitable and say that its easy to mischaracterize your outcomes and findings.

I'm sure they have an algorithm somewhere that spit out the 8M number, but...with a survey sample size of only 60K there is considerable room for error with respect to causal inferences for 8,000,000.

All that said, there isn't any doubt in my mind that there are huge numbers of retirees who retired with inadequate funds to pay for long term expenses - medical costs are astronomical, and food costs are not cheap either. Every time you talk to a financial planner, they're confirming that huge numbers of people are reaching retirement age with inadequate resources.

The problem is certain to get worse as more and more baby-boomers retire.

I'm always a bit skeptical of these random polls as well. I'm almost 55 years old and have NEVER been polled. If the 60,000 folks who were polled were all inner city, welfare recipients then the report is totally skewed.

However, even without a poll anyone with their eyes open can see that Americans' buying power isn't what it used to be. We've exported countless jobs while allowing illegals to take many of what jobs ARE available. Our system is broken.

 

[REM]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...s-feeding-america-aarp-food-insecurity-health

"The study, released last week by Feeding America – a nonprofit network of food banks – with funding from the AARP Foundation, a lobbying group for older adults, found that roughly 8 million baby boomers are going hungry and are turning to charity for food. According to the report, which surveyed 60,000 people, the main challenges fueling the crisis were unemployment, housing shortages and poor health."

Miscount? Could there be that many careless morons? Is our economy much worse than we thought?
every time I see a story like this I buy another bag of rice...

There are ~76 million baby boomers in the US, so that would be 10.5%. That sounds about right to me. From poor planning to medical debt to mental issues that prevent people from maintaining a job there are many reasons that people get that far in life without financial resources.

For what its worth:

https://www.census.gov/population/international/files/97agewc.pdf

Page 5 in the link above breaks down poverty levels by racial group by decade. That too is about what I'd expect to see.

http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2002/JustHowManyBabyBoomersAreThere.aspx

There were actually a total of 76 million births in the United States from 1946 to 1964, the 19 years usually called the "baby boom." Of the 76 million baby boomers born, nearly 11 million had died by 2012, leaving some 65.2 million survivors. However, when immigrants are included (the number of people coming into the United States from other countries, minus those moving the other way), the number grows to an estimated 76.4 million because immigrants outweighed the number of baby-boomer deaths. The flow of immigrants greatly increased after passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, just as the baby boom was ending.

That's in good times, though. What might it be if stocks crashed and the values of IRAs and investments were to plummet?

That kind of goes back to the overall plan. You'll need enough rice to carry you through and a plan to grow, hunt or whatever for the longer term. Rice and beans are dirt cheap right now... yet over 10% of the boomer aged population cannot afford to buy and cook them.

 

[rabiddog9]

Between raising and educating children, all of the other costs of running a household, and most importantly various levels of government stealing up to half of ones earnings, it's no wonder people have to live from paycheck to paycheck.
And to top it off they have the nerve to criticize us for "Not saving enough" for retirement.
One hand in our pockets.....as they admonish us with the other. Just another means of insuring dependency of a whole "nuther" class of people.

 

[REM]

I doubt that anyone in the top income tax brackets lives pay check to pay check, but socialism has certainly damaged the country and I just do not see it ever returning to a nation based upon personal responsibility.

Once the 51% learn they can vote from free stuff taken from the 49% it's all over.

 

[The Waylander]

The Guardian (nicknamed The Gonad) is a left wing newspaper fit only to wipe ones arse with

It is written by ivory tower left wing buffoons and is not worthy of being used to wrap fish and chips.

Waylander

 

[howyadoin]

Once the 51% learn they can vote from free stuff taken from the 49% it's all over.

I'm pretty sure they've already figured that out....even if they're too ignorant to realize it.

 

[The Old Coach]

I don't trust anything the Guardian publishes as far as I can throw a Buick. One-handed.

Same for AARP.

 

[REM]

Regardless of the source we can see that the basis for that article holds true here in the US. And times are good. Historically the Boomer Generation is one of the wealthiest. But that's almost all in paper statements of IRAs. If we were to have the financial meltdown that many of us are concerned about that wealth would vaporize for most.

I just cannot understand how the house of cards still stands with the debt that we carry here in the US. I might just be too simple minded, but I view debt as obligation to pay.

 

[txprep]

No, yes, and yes.

Right now it's not that bad either. If all the dire prognostications about the depth of the Boomer retirement crisis are correct, we may very well see worse to come once savings are exhausted and Social Security is the only source of funds for many Boomer retirees.

Despite being one of said dire prognosticators, I do not want to be proven right. No one should ever go hungry or worry about their next meal.

sorry but being hungry is one of the greatest motivators for people to work. There is no right to food. People should go hungry if they arent working. Charity will help some and we donate quite a bit of food but Im strongly against the government becoming involved.

 

[bjcarpetguy]

I am a "boomer" born in '56. At the heart of the recession I got hurt at work. Then got laid off and by the time I could go back to work there were very few jobs. Now its not even feasible as I am approaching 60 and my injuries are enough that I am limited in how much I can do. So My wife and I get by on my SSDI. It is hard but don't usually go hungry. I imagine one of the ways they got their 8m figure is taking the percentage of the 60k who use food banks and the number of food banks around the country.

I know are local one here, SIL goes, has about a 2hr or so line each time its open. I see people begging on every street corner, every on or off ramp, entries and exits from stores. There are huge buildings boarded up that use to be large grocery stores. Actually there is a lot of commercial real estate open.

I also have noticed a sharp increase in food costs at local stores. Meat is through the roof. My wife's Uncle bought a pack of 3 steaks at 17.99 total 52.00. However chicken and eggs are not out of reach yet.
I imagine things are going to get a lot tougher before they get any better at least for a lot of folks.

 

[REM]

sorry but being hungry is one of the greatest motivators for people to work. There is no right to food. People should go hungry if they arent working. Charity will help some and we donate quite a bit of food but Im strongly against the government becoming involved.

The government is VERY INVOLVED. This is a big tool for wealth redistribution that serves to send the signal that you can make terrible decisions and other people will pay for them. I see this causing generational bad decisions, government dependence, expectations that this is OWED to them and the tendency to vote democratic on my better half's side of the family. It is disgusting.

 

[REM]

Power to you, BJ.

 

[SG1]

Well, should have not trusted the Dems morons..