wht in the usa do we look down on older people, making fun of them?

Well, wisdom and experience are one thing, but the whole of the human evolution has been based on progress. Unfortunately a lot of older people refuse to be progressive. If nothing ever changes, how can we keep up with everyone else? How can we survive? I think that an informed sense of progress is the best way to go, and that we need to keep in mind the experience of older generations while continuing to move forward and make changes. I don't like the fact that older and younger generations equally refuse to work with each other. It's stubborn and stupid and it leads to a lot of missteps.

Another thing is that older people tend to make bad decisions about what they do with their days. For example, if you really can't see well or judge distances well or hear well, you really shouldn't drive. And all of those things are the case for the majority of older Americans. At the same time, their families should offer to help them get around more. Compromises have to be made on both sides for everyone's betterment.

There is respecting your elders as they did make it possible for you to be here, and their experiences and then realizing that their ideas are not necessarily any better just because they are elders.

I think if you look at the views most elderly people have in their 70's and 80's it would be the same as the views they had in their 30's and 40's. Those who have saved and such for retirement started when they were younger. The elders in congress have the same views as when they were first voted in. On the Democratic side, look at Senator Kennedy. His positions haven't changed since the 60's. He has just been in there long enough to get the power seats. Jesse Helmes has the same his whole tenure. McCain has the same positions as when he first was voted in.

Older does not mean wiser. It just means older.

This current generation has gotten over the idea that age makes you wise and deserves respect. This generation believes that if you want respect you have to earn it, not just live a long time - it doesn't take a whole lot of talent to survive. A side note though, if nothing else, John McCain has earned respect from how he has served our country overseas.

Personally, I think a lot of young people are the foolish ones.. I look down on them.. they are nasty way they dress and their sorry personal hygiene.. Many of them are disgusting..pierced tongues, lips and eyebrows..nasty hair..wearing pants so low their crack shows....Plus they are lazy and have no idea about the realities of life. By the way I believe "wistom" is probably spelled wisdom.

It's the culture of instant gratification combined with the culture of eternal youth.

Businessmen start firing young workers at about thirty now, to keep down the cost of benefits.

And the foolish people under thirty cooperate... then act surprised when its their head on the chopping block.

You can look up to older people and respect what they have accomplished, but you can't give a senile old man the job of President out of respect for his age.. THat would be like signing Babe Ruth at age 70 to play in the major leagues.

Unfortunately age discrimination is one (along with fat discrimination) that is perfectly acceptable and sometimes condoned in our society.

I blame Hollywood and the fashion industry. We are all inundated from day one that youth and beauty are the ideal. If you are old (which is 35 and older) and overweight (anything over a size 2) then you are useless.

Hmmm. Interesting that so many are concerned with the treatment of elders now that a 71 year old is running for office. I wonder how many were so up in arms 6 months ago. Not many I'd bet.

Age can bring wisdom. It can also bring infirmity. Let's not kid ourselves.

Nice plug for McCain!

But, 'Confucius say':

A young fool deserving no respect will become an old fool deserving no respect.

Im in the USA, I don't make fun of them