The Boom Arrives!!

A month ago the people at New Jersey Transit, without prompting, informed me that, based on my appearance, I was a senior and eligible for reduced fares. That was okay with me. I have been riding as a senior ever since. I did not know that their definition of “senior” meant “over 62″.

Just recently, I am seeing a very different attitude that pretty clearly shows the results of a memo from a pretty lofty level of the bureaucracy. I cannot buy senior tickets without showing ID. As it happens, that is really no problem for me, but it is is an indiction that something has happened.

My guess is that the number of “seniors” has drastically increased and that NJT is assuming that some of these new ones may be bogus. I do not know about you, but I am finding more and more situations where I have to show identification to prove my age in order to receive benefits based on it–despite the fact that, unfortunately, I look my age–and then some.

It may be an indication that the baby boom has begun to affect all of these “senior services” by increasing the number of eligible people. That is pretty much what I think is going on. Anyone out there who has a story that either confirms or denies this notion? Please comment.

Of course, we all know that it couldn’t possibly be about the money. (When they say it isn’t about the money, it’s about the money.)

Advertisement