I felt surprised when I first saw a bus driver with white hair. He seemed to be about 60 years old but he drove well. However, you have no chance to see an old bus driver in China. In Chinese tradition, all old people need to do is to enjoy their life. Sons and daughters should take the responsibility to take care of their parents. If one's parents are still working when they are old, he will be considered as a person who is lack of filial piety. Lack of filial piety was taken as a kind of crime in ancient China. So it is hard to see an old people work outside. But it's so different in U.S. Many old people are still working. They are on all kinds of position, such as bus drivers, cashiers, farmers…… The reason for the difference is obvious. It's due to the difference in culture. But it's difficult to explain. I grew up in China, so I agree that old people should not work. There will be a much higher risk to get ill for old people. Parents brought their children up when their children can't feed themselves. There is no doubt that children should take care of parents when they are old. In China, there is a famous saying: Even crow knows to feed old parents. Human beings are much more clever than crows. How can human lack of a virtue that crows have in blood? So I think old people should not work. They have worked hard when they are young, and owe to have rights to enjoy their life when they are old.
Actually there are still many old people on work in China. Most old people who are enjoying rest of their life are government officials, you know that in China, those people get high retirement pay and have better life than any other people. Therefore, the problem is that in China the treatment to the old is not fair.And I think that in US, the reason why the old still work is that those people feel themselves still young. The values perspectives of the old are different between two countries I guess.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe that there are cultural differences considering that America has an individualistic culture. However you should take into consideration that some people can't afford not to work when they get old so they have to continue working in order to support themselves which results in retiring at an older age.
ReplyDeleteI can ind that old people work in many places in most countries. However, the government's policies can dramatically control the phenomenon. I wish old people can enjoy their time and do more things they like to do.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this. Unfortunately, with low pension rates, the averaged retired person wouldn't be able to live a financially comfortable life, which is sad. Greed overrules virtue in this case, and in most cases dealing with a free market economy.
ReplyDelete