As with many rich, industrialized countries, America is facing a crisis as the boomer generation ages into retirement. Among the problems already occurring are fears for the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. With fewer working age people contributing to the programs they face uncertain futures. There are relatively easy fixes, such as raising the amount of income subject to taxation, but the current Congress will refuse to do so. Raising the retirement age is also a nonstarter. Raising the number of people subject to the tax through immigration would solve the problem. It would also help alleviate the shortage of workers available to take care of our elderly.
Alas, the anti-immigrant fever shows no sign of breaking anytime soon. Most of the would be immigrants are black or brown skinned. There is no wave of white people clamoring to be let into a country with far fewer benefits than most industrialized nations. The French, for example have a retirement age of 62 with far better benefits than America. Ditto for Italy, Germany and the Nordic nations.
The most probable outcome of this trap we are in is a combination of raising the retirement age to 70, cutting benefits and turning a blind eye to the southern border and letting in enough immigrants to do the jobs Americans no longer can or will do. Welcome to 21st Century America!
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