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One of the guests for today's segment on Social Security and the Family was Ken Dychtwald who co-wrote an article for the March 2004 issue of the Harvard Business Review called "It's Time to Retire Retirement." Here are some of the emails we received about retirement and age discrimination:

Your guests ask, "Would you want to retire?"
Maybe not as a professor with tenure but certainly as an adjunct paid
$3000 per course or as an employee at McDonalds making minimum wage.
--R.K.

Despite the issue of changing demographics and impending boomer retirements, there is actually a form of age discrimination in reverse – young people are having a very hard time finding good jobs and we need to enable more young people in the workforce to mitigate against some of the potential for problems we’ll have in the coming decades (fewer people available for all jobs, and lack of management skill). There needs to be a balance and currently we’re way out of balance in all directions – top heavy with boomers, not hiring younger folks, thus not giving them the skills and training necessary for upcoming generations to succeed.
--M.S.

What about so many people who have spent years working very hard at either physically demanding or very monotonous jobs? Most elderly can't start a second career heading their own organization. A job in retirement for many people would mean minimum wage at a fast food restaurant. These people deserve a work free retirement.
--R.G.

I retired at the top of my career in a very rewarding professional life. I retired because of a family situation and moved back to New York after 42 years in the heartland. I have spent an extremely rewarding year and a half in New York (the first 6 months were a little tough); filled with meaningful volunteer work a rich cultural life and a social network that is increasing each month. It seems to me there are two keys: having enough money so that you don't have to work (both my husband and I have an excellent defined benefit pension + social security+ excellent medical benefits from my former job, although housing is a bit of a challenge) and being a self-starter so that you can create a life filled with interesting activities which contribute to the community. There are lots of people out there who can do what I have done, maybe with just a little support and encouragement.
--B.M.

The idea that people "slow down" after 45 or 50 is insane and applies largely to certain classes of people -- i.e. those without large power and wealth. How come the US Congress is full of men over 60? How come major corporations are run by men over 60, sometimes 70???How come big TV netowrks are run by men over 60??

I and several friends started our own businesses at 55 -- something which requires enormous physical and pyschic energy, persistence, experience, etc,etc -- in part because we could not even get interviews for senior level jobs for which we were highly qualified. We work 60 plus hours per week -- since one has to do all the work that is contracted and simultaneously be out there marketing services to get more.

As a highly educated professional woman with 30 years experience -- it is offensive to find that I am thought of as "slow"....--W.B

Do you plan to retire?