by Robert Reardon, Columnist for The Humanitarian

When I grew up it was a common expectation that you would join a firm, a company, or a business of some sort and make what is essentially a lifetime commitment. In exchange the company you joined offered medical, dental, and retirement benefits such that it was worth your while to stay for a career. In short, the path was a two way street. Not so today. The risk of being "downsized" long before reaching retirement age is great and the benefits offered are shrinking faster than the ozone layer. For better or for worse, things are much different today. This is why it is so important for today's youths to understand that THEY, not us or anyone else, will be responsible for their lifestyle and eventual retirement. THEY must plan from the beginning if they are to survive retirement at the end. Lyndon Johnson's Great Society is dead. So is the Great Retirement of yesterday's corporations. From what I can observe, our youths are totally unprepared for this change. They still expect some Great Benefactor to take care of them. We must tell them that the Great Benefactor has a name...it is called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.