President Obama has proposed sending a tax-free check of $250 to Social Security recipients in the early part of 2010. The president wants the checks to replace the annual COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) that Social Security beneficiaries normally receive but won't next year because of the current state of the economy. This payment would be in addition to the one-time payment made to seniors as part of last year's economic stimulus legislation. That payment was taxed.

The one-time check proposed by the president would cost $13 billion over a 10-year period, the White House estimates, and it would add to the nation's ballooning deficit.

The first thought that popped into my mind was: Gee, $250...that might pay for a few prescriptions or a utility bill, and while that's helpful, what happens after that?

There is no doubt that seniors have been hit hard by this recession in many ways: lower interest rates on their savings plans; reduced or lost pension plans and health benefits; rising medical costs;investments that have been depleted--or stolen--by scammers such as Madoff and his ilk. Then add inflated prices for gasoline, groceries and insurance and, of course, utilities -- especially in San Diego. Also. many seniors have had to come to the aid of their children and grandchildren who are also being affected by the economic meltdown as well--lending them money and even having them move in with them.

Then add in the State of Califonia's budget crisis that has resulted in many programs that assist seniors being cut. The safety net has been shredded by the state's economic problems.

Of course, if we look at the President's proposal through cynical eyes, giving senior citizens a tax-free check in an election year isn't a bad move either. Even Republicans might jump on that band wagon with amazing speed but hold on -- adding $13 billion to the deficit for a one-time shot in the arm? I am not so sure.

If I was going to place a Vegas bet on this, I'd put my money on the payment being approved by Congress, but there are other things that could be done that will help America's seniors and disbaled in the long run.

Instead of sendng a $250 check, I'd suggest that greater priority needs to be given to see that the nation is restored as soon as possible to economic well-being to protect and stablize the retirement dreams and benefits of so many. We need to put real teeth in the regulation of banks and other financial agencies responsible for this economic meltdown,and take steps to assure the solvency of Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations of seniors. Why not put more funding into quality programs that help seniors on the local level because those funds will go to seniors who really need assistance, and let's not forget about the current debate on health care reform.

This nation is aging fast, and our government has done little to prepare for that reality. That fact is a recipe for the next huge national crisis (see below).
Maybe investing that $13 billion in expanded health care and assistance
on the local level for our seniors is the better way to go.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta gives a clear picture in a report on Healthy Aging:

"The United States is on the brink of a longevity revolution. By 2030, the proportion of the U.S. population aged 65 and older will double to about 71 million older adults, or one in every five Americans. The far-reaching implications of the increasing number of older Americans and their growing diversity will include unprecedented demands on public health, aging services, and the nation's health care system.

"Chronic diseases exact a particularly heavy health and economic burden on older adults due to associated long-term illness, diminished quality of life, and greatly increased health care costs. Although the risk of disease and disability clearly increases with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging.

"Much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures."