SENIOR DISCOUNTS

Readers respond to Vincent Carroll

Re: “Senior myth?” Feb. 2 Vincent Carroll column.

Vincent Carroll has addressed an issue that I and others of my acquaintance (including many senior citizens) have commented on over the years. Discounts and entitlements provided to seniors as a group are inappropriate. As Carroll points out, the poverty rate for seniors is arguably lower than for other age groups. When a group is targeted for economic assistance, that group should be defined by its economic makeup, not its age. How does it make sense for Colorado to charge a senior only $1 for a fishing license that costs $26 for people ages 16-64? How does it make sense for Colorado to provide a partial property tax reduction for seniors, regardless of income?

Louise Crosby, Centennial

While I was sorry to see Vincent Carroll retire from The Denver Post in 2016, I am glad he continues to write articles for The Post. His insightful commentary on senior discounts is just one of the reasons I say that.

Even though many of us seniors are the beneficiaries of the discounts Carroll refers to, we have to agree with what he wrote. I, for one, have always failed to see the justification for most senior discounts. Where there should be a senior discount is for activities such as amusement parks (e.g., Disneyland and Elitch Gardens), where seniors often are simply there to accompany their grandkids.

Jim Malec, Roxborough

While I enjoyed reading Vincent Carroll’s piece regarding senior discounts, I think he may be overthinking the reason for the discounts. I think the discounts are less a recognition of seniors in dire economic circumstances than rational business and other reasons to extend discounts to a particular demographic.

For example, the Denver Botanic Garden discount he cites (as well as other discounts extended by similar attractions such as movie theaters) recognizes a demographic with free time that might, if offered a discount, fill a slower time period in the day when many people are at work or school. The lifetime Senior Pass to national parks recognizes older people have paid a lifetime of taxes and have limited time remaining (and hopefully free time now available) to enjoy our national parks.

I don’t see these discounts as some poverty program for seniors but merely rational reasons to offer discounts for certain items to a particular segment of the population likely and able to use the discount offered.

Kevin Fletcher, Golden

Vincent Carroll’s column on senior discounts was very accurate regarding many seniors. However, there are two main reasons for giving senior discounts. The first is a business decision. When deciding where to spend their limited dollars, seniors will often go to the vendor offering a discount, thus increasing their business. The second reason for seniors to participate in discounts is that most have a limited income. They do not have the opportunity to work extra hours or a second job. Even if they can do this, the years available to them to physically do extra work may be limited.

The senior discount has a real place in our economy. Without this incentive, some seniors would sit at home rather than go out and be more active, let alone contribute to our gross domestic product.

William F. Hineser, Arvada

I agree with Vincent Carroll that seniors as a demographic class have more disposable income than younger adults. However, as he points out, seniors are also the most reliable voters, and any politician who attempts to “fix” entitlements will find him or herself not re-elected. Politicians learned long ago that they could buy votes by giving things away and lose votes if they ever tried to take them back.

Entitlement reform will not happen until the situation becomes so dire that there is no other choice. If there is any doubt, look at the situation in Colorado where politicians, particularly Democrats, are afraid to do anything meaningful to reform PERA, the public employee Ponzi scheme, which is rapidly approaching the dire stage. It is much more generous than any entitlement in the private sector, but lives on because reform requires politicians who care about something other than being re-elected.

Mike Eller, Littleton