»Old people
are not all the same, probably even less than any other age group: for their
long lives have made them into individuals. One of our current problems is that
society refuses to understand that and treats all old people 'equally'.«
– Lily Pincus:
The Challenge of a Long Life
Unfortunately elderly people are often
perceived as a burden. They no longer perform as well as young people and when
they reach retirement age, society has to provide for them. If they become
frail and ill, they are all too often shunted off to old people’s homes, which,
in turn, cost a lot of money.
And, once again, things are quite different in
the Natural Economy of Life. As old people contribute to creation of money and
thus help to finance both the national income and the Equalisation and
Environment Fund, they are welcome alone from a financial standpoint. In
addition, they are lucrative customers for the business sector and thus welcome
there as well, which constitutes the financial aspect.
The community can also greatly benefit from old
people’s experience and wisdom, particularly from a human point of view. What a
blessing it is for a family when the grandparents are still alive. Children
adore their grandparents: they are more serene and indulgent, more generous and
always ready to help – be it only with good words. This does not make them
better than their biological parents, whose strictness is important for the
children’s upbringing, but they are a great enrichment for everyone. A visit to
their grandparents is like a holiday for many children.
What applies for the family applies even more
for the larger community: old people enrich life in many respects. If they
receive an active basic income, thus enjoying the right to unconditional
participation, they also have social commitments, which give them the certainty
of being needed. In this way they contribute actively to the common good. That
keeps them young and fresh, they stay healthy longer and can therefore serve
the community longer so that everybody concerned benefits.
