Sources and Resources: Some highlights on what has been in the news lately that reflects the political climate for seniors.

Retirement trends could create a U.S. labor shortage of 4.8 million workers in 10 years
FROM Senior Journal
May 7, 2008 - Although many of today's senior citizens find it is tough to find employment it may get a little easier is a new Senate bill passes. The bi-partisan bill has been introduced in the Senate to prevent projected dramatic declines in the workforce following the retirement of the baby boomers. It will provide incentives and eliminate barriers for older Americans wishing to stay in the workforce longer, and encourage employers to recruit and retain older workers. The “Incentives for Older Workers Act” (Senate Bill 2933) was introduced in April by Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Kent Conrad (D-ND). Smith is Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and Kohl is Chairman.

Martha Stewart headlined a hearing of the Senate's Special Committee on Aging yesterday that may set the wheels in motion to expand the recruitment and training of healthcare workers to meet the needs of the 78 million baby boomers about to join the Medicare ranks, and to help relieve the 44 million Americans serving as the sole source of care for an older family member or loved one.

Endorsement announced - John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who bowed out of the [2008 Election] presidential race in January, endorsed [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Illinois] Senator Barack Obama.
Jay Leno, joking about presidential candidates in his opening monologue recently said: “You can’t criticize Hillary. Ooh, that’s sexism. You can’t criticize Barack. Ooh, that’s racism.”
(pause) “And you can’t go after McCain, because that’s elder abuse.”
Why are senior jokes okay, when racism and sexism are now considered politically incorrect? Read the fascinating article on the NY Times web site. (Links below)

In the midst of primary season media feeding frenzy, it may seem a bit strange to pause, sit back and wonder “Okay, so we’re getting a new president… what’s the big deal?”
However, that's what citizen Joe dares to do - starting with a mini-primer on what our president has the power to do in the first place.
Check out their segments on:
• the health care difference
• the energy & environment difference
• the economy difference
• the education, national security, immigration and courts difference
Read all about it at CitizenJoe.com (link below)