Chapter 19
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Babies are on the receiving end of all the goodies of life. As we get older then we begin to contribute to the society or family or social group to which we be-
long. Children in the days of the early pioneers and farmers had duties to perform as a natural part of their life. As we became urbanized these duties became less and less, and now, in most cases young people are total consumers until they get on their own. As teen agers they get a part-time job at the local restaurant or supermarket and spend all the money on their own activities. Probably most do not contribute a share of their earnings to the family expenses room and board so to speak.
At a conference I attended recently there was a seminar on the future of society and we noticed a young person standing at the back of the room. So we asked her what are the main interests and aims of young people to-day. The clear response was: get a job and buy a car.
Are we training people to be consumers only; and to act in self-interest to the point that they don’t see the reason for paying taxes or contributing to community?
To take and not to give is amoral.
Amitai Etzioni has coined the word “communitarian” as one acting for the betterment of the moral, social and political environment. When he asked young people to say what was special about the United States they said “individualism and the fact that it is a democracy and you can do whatever you want.” In his book "The Spirit of Community"(8) he shows how wrong that is, and how we all must bear some responsibility for the community of which we are a part. (See the next Chapter: True Community) So what is the response of the senior in retirement years?
Is it sufficient to say that we have paid our dues, we have worked all our lives, and now we are entitled to enjoy leisure and do what we please? I don’t think so; there is more to it than that. Now it may be time to return some of that hard-earned knowledge and experience to society.
Just how could this be done? A lot depends on one’s talents. Some have a lot they could contribute. I have a friend that has great talents in the communications field; in fact he had an international reputation before retirement. Now he is spending most of his time on hobbies, fixing up the house, travel, and some volunteer work in the community. I tell him he could be a powerful force in the communications field, but he turns down speaking requests and takes no interest in updating his knowledge in the field. He is happy in what he is doing, but he has so much more potential to contribute to society.
There are three ways for a retiree to contribute to community:
By giving of one’s talents to society then the negative image of an ineffective old person would be replaced by one of respect for sharing the value of the experience and knowledge gained over the years.
As we move into the next few decades the number of working adults supporting the number of non-working members of society will be getting less and less. The pension funds will be stretched pretty thin. Interestingly, generational stress may also increase as the proportion of seniors in the population rises. Seniors may HAVE to work and be self-reliant. But that’s not all bad.
For seniors to continue to work, as employees, consultants, entrepreneurs, or as volunteers; or to contribute to society or the ecnomy in any way, has two benefits: it adds something to society; and at the same time, it is personally rewarding.