People get packed off into retirement
and have a tough time adjusting to the real world on a skimpy pension. After you’ve spent your whole
life fighting for freedom and democracy, early-bird specials and bingo nights don’t really cut it.
Cara
An "Early-bird special" is some kind of cheaper deal, such as perhaps paying less for a meal in a restaurant if you eat before 7 o'clock. You are eating earlier than most people want to eat, so you are given a discount. Bingo is a gambling game that retired people are thought to enjoy. "Don't really cut it" means these small advantages for pensioners are not good enough, or are not tempting enough to the person who is writing this.