Are there ethical considerations to early retirement?

[Eclectic12]

The government does not make it easy for people to realize the true value of many services such as health care and education (which are two darn big budget items).

[ ... ]

I bet that in and of itself would make many people who keep on complaining about how much taxes they pay to just shut up (or to complain doctors and teachers earn too much).

Actually - quoted section about not understanding what has been collected from gov't services was realist's post, not mine.

And yes, it would be helpful to have a broader statement on the bill. However, I suspect the summary line items will still hide the waste/abuse.

If it were honest, one of my university bills would need a line item for the $2 million lawsuit with the student union over the name of the campus centre. The student's union wanted to go to take the disagreement to the combined council as per due process but the admin didn't want to waste time when they were "right".


Cheers

Cheers

[Sherlock]

Or what about the lottery winner who won $10 million but kept his day job on the manufacturing line.


Cheers

Very selfish, considering how high our unemployment rate is.

[Spidey]

It's interesting to ask whether it's ethically wrong to retire early, but what about those who work past 65, thereby denying those positions to younger people who may need them more, isn't that just as wrong? Whether they're refusing to retire because they didn't plan for their retirement and are now nearing retirement age and finding out they don't have enough to retire on, or whether it's because they think they'll be bored in retirement so they keep on working, in either case isn't that just as selfish as those who retire early and live off taxes?

I guess in a free society these things are perhaps something each individual should contemplate and not something society should try to regulate. One thing I do have trouble with are those collecting very generous pensions being favored for work over new recruits. There seems to be an old boy's or old girl's network in the teaching profession where substitute work is given to such retirees. Meanwhile there are young recently graduated teachers who are unable to gain experience. (My wife worked with such a young lady in government.)

[kcowan]

Some people work to give them a sense of purpose.

Some retired people continue to contribute even though they are not paid.

So there is no easy answer.

[Brian Weatherdon CFP]

Many have expressed how there is a continuing contribution -- whether retired or not.
So may I ask? ....
.....at what age should a tree stop delivering oxygen and just live off the state?
.....at what age should strawberries or rhubarb stop giving of their fruit for pie?
.....at what age should we stop giving of our wisdom & experience to help others?
.....at what age should the sun stop nourishing our earth with its warmth & energy?
.....when and why would we ever just stop and "take" of others or our own savings?
How awesome is it, that we each get to rise each morning and give in the way we choose!!

My personal retirement dream is to keep giving always because that's how I believe life works best for everyone. No guilt in that, and if you're worried about guilt have a chat with your local community foundation, food bank, seniors centre, church or faith centre, elementary school, environmental reserve, or other service who would welcome what you're able and eager to give. And thanks to each comment above, because you've been contributing here too.

[lonewolf]

The basic omni present physcological need of esteam which is to be able to live, be worthy of living & to be committed to that which is good & true is strong force & one does not need a paying job to achieve esteam.

That which is morral. Is to do that which promotes the most long term happiness weather it is working or not. Each wolf, fox, rabbit etc provides for its own exsistance or is granted none @ all.







"I firmly believe the worlds troubles would be solved (& the earth would resemble heaven) if everyone would take total RESPONSIBILITY for himself. In talking to hundreds of people. I dont find that 1 in 50 holds himself up. Takes responsibility for his own life, does his own thing, accept his own pain (instead of inflicting it on others). This same refusal to take responsibility spills over into the financial sphere. Today people insist there is a right to everything - as long as you & I pay for it. Theres a right to work, the right to go to college, the right to happiness, the right to 3 meals a day. Who promised everyone all those rights? In believe in freedom of all kinds, except where freedom becomes licence & inflicts damage. But Americans confuse freedom with rights."
Ricard Russell

[steve41]

I firmly believe the worlds troubles would be solved (& the earth would resemble heaven) if everone would take total RESPONSIBILITY for himself

How about if everyone took responsibility for the simple tasks of learning to spell and how to string words together in coherent sentences.

[lonewolf]

Hi, steve

I will be responsible for bringing the chease to the party.

[Nemo2]

Hi, steve

I will be responsible for bringing the chease to the party.

[Square Root]

i sure don't feel guilty for retiring at 56. I have paid more in taxes than I or my family could ever hope to get back directly in benefits. Still do. That isn't the point though. This country provided the environment fo me to succeed and no reasonable amount of taxes paid from that success would be too much ,in my opinion.