Ageism

Wow.  It seems to be a famine or a feast.  Sometimes I have heaps of ideas to write about and sometimes the well seems to be dry.  Right now (or should I say Write now) there are a few things I am mulling over.
The Press Club function the other day featured someone talking about Ageism.  To me it is no surprise it is coming up now.  We baby boomers seem to want everything.  We will highlight injustices and rightly so, but it seems there is an incredible amount of self- interest.
When I was growing up if I was to make a car insurance claim part of the spiel was invariable that I get a new windscreen.  It did not matter if I needed one or not.  It was part of what could be claimed so I was offered it. Now making an insurance claim seems like trying to get blood from a stone.
Superannuation was offered in our generation.  We wanted to be comfortable in retirement.  It seems the past was tougher, and the present is harder.  We wanted to have our cake and eat it too.  As we are all getting older it seems only natural we should desire in-built discrimination be dealt with.
To me it is right that discrimination be dealt with.  Racism, genderism, disabilities are being dealt with.  Discrimination based on religion is a “watch this space” thing.  Although I am yet to be convinced that discrimination can be legislated out of existence.  Seems more like a heart thing to me.  It does help though if the consequences of not conforming are so high that it is not worth doing.
I reckon often road laws are obeyed because of the consequence.  The same probably goes for looting.  If people can run amok, they do. 
Racism seemed to be a real issue in the south of the USA (though of course racism is not confined to the USA).  It amazes me how someone from one race can despise someone from another, and the same thing happens in reverse.  It sort of points out to me that racism is not endemic to one people, but is a found in all people groups.  It seemed to be a problem in the US because convictions were not always based on justice but on preference.
To me, racism is craziness.  Discrimination against the aged is craziness too.  It is not guaranteed, but often age brings good experience to the table.  To discriminate is to miss out.