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Florida Power attorney smacks
of smugness,  shows disrespect
for older workers

By Daniel Hines
Publisher/ America's Seniors at TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

Watching the news telecast about the age discrimination suit now before the Supreme Court, there were many things that made me uneasy--and that confirmed, I truly am a part of the most discriminated against class in the workforce today, namely older people.

First of all, there were the Supreme Court justices, all guaranteed jobs for life or until they retire with juicy pensions, questioning whether or not a 'history' of age discrimination existed, saying that in the case of civil rights suits, there was a historic pattern. 

Listen, folks:  the first lynching of a Black person or a person not being allowed to vote even once, or having to give up a seat on the bus , are all vile forms of discrimination and should not have required  a century of injustice to overcome.  The same is true of age discrimination. (It was this same court, different players, of course, who gave us the Dred Scott decision that said a former slave must be returned to his masters--so much for intelligence or even justice being a requirement for sitting on the court--, based on the historical record,  of course).

Next, was the Chamber of Commerce, which throughout the years has been one of my least favorite organizations.  It has always reminded me of Charlie McCarthy, Edger Bergen's beloved dummy--never an original thought, but well-dressed and charming in their role as mouthpiece for anything that its collective and well-heeled membership wants. 

The Chamber shows that it isn't discriminating by trotting out an elderly spokesman.  His skin had more wrinkles than his suit, folks, proof that the Chamber doesn't just love old people, it loves really old people.  He sat there explaining why we just can't interfere with businesses, even after they discard the human resources that helped make those same companies prosperous.   

The AARP was in its usual form.  I thought maybe the TV networks had made a case of mistaken identity.  The AARP spokesperson was a youthful woman, who if she is a senior is a person whose supply of Human Growth Hormone I want to start taking. Perhaps it was just that she came on screen after the Chamber spokesperson.  At least her heart was in the right place, but one must wonder about the depth of conviction.

But the top award goes to the lawyer for Florida Power. Somewhat fleshy, perhaps in his mid 40s (it's hard to tell sometimes on TV), he laughingly talked about the problems with older workers--resistant to change (smirk) , they don't understand technology (smirk) are less adaptive (smirk) and don't comprehend as well as younger workers (benevolent smile).  It was though he were saying, "Oh if you only knew how troublesome these 50 and 55 year olds are--at least we don't shoot them."  

This is coming from a person representing an industry that has a monopoly on its services, and which always asked for rate hikes higher than it needs knowing that they will be turned down and receive something less, but still something that will guarantee their profitability, free from competitive forces. 

I know it's true.  I once was a speech writer for a high-ranking executive who was on the board of a Midwestern utility.  He was always crying about the fact that the utility was troubled each year by having to return for new rate increases, when, if only they would get the one they needed, it would cover the who administrative procedure for years to come.  Sure, and I have a bridge to sell you.

It was the lawyer whose image remains with me.  The only comfort I have is that he too shall grow older, unless he dies first (I wonder if the smirk will be on his face then…undertakers are pretty good at sewing up corners of the mouth ).  In any event, if he lives long enough, perhaps his somewhat soft look will receive some definition by trials, understanding and doing the right thing. 

I hope he is in as good physical, mental and moral shape as are the majority of seniors.  But, should he pass on to his eternal reward first,  he will probably be warmer than he was when he so arrogantly dismissed an entire generation of workers to the trash heap.