According to the U.S. Census Bureau the poverty rate for persons over 65 has risen precipitously in the past decade. Women over 65 encounter twice the poverty rate of men, reflecting the lower income of widows plus their longer life expectancy.

True, many retirees live better today than earlier generations, due to careful investments during working years. Add Social Security benefits and they survive comfortably even with rising costs. But many do not.

The percentage of elderly poor has risen to an alarming figure. Majority are women; widows whose retirement income dropped, or vanished, when their husbands died; single women too old or unqualified to compete in the job market. Add the homeless who wander our streets.

Many men feel betrayed when forced into retirement at an arbitrary age of 65. At a time when they could enjoy creative pursuits delayed during work years, some suffer loss of self-esteem, a sense of loss, depression, even an identity crisis.

Many young persons believe our generation receives more than our share of benefits. If it were not for senior discounts and other price breaks, still more of us would live on the edge.

Another fear young people have is that when they reach their "Golden Years" the coffers will be empty. Their fears are not without foundation. We constantly hear contradictory predictions regarding the future of Social Security and Medicare. Who do we believe?

What we need is more inter-generational understanding. Our generation needs to imagine what the world will be like in another 25, 50 or 100 years. We need to conserve natural resources so our grandchildren and their grandchildren will have something to inherit.

Natural resources also include intangibles such as values. Are we instilling basics of thrift, honesty, integrity, and love of one's fellow man, or will our children expand on what we see now as insidious greed and self-serving values?