If each of us had a nickel for every comic strip or scene on a television show about a tired middle-aged wife turning her husband down (for sex, of course) at night because of a headache or whatever reason, we would each be millionaires.  For some reason, it is assumed that people, once they reach a certain age, lose their sex drive and just no longer have any interest in it.  As the teenyboppers would say, “Aren’t you too old for that?” 

Of course Baby Boomers and senior citizens aren’t too old for that.  In fact they are just figuring out what is right for them and are finally comfortable with a long-term partner.  So if the sex drive has faded away, and it isn’t age, what is causing it?

There are a variety of physical reasons that can put a damper on the flame.  And there are also a variety of psychological issues that can contribute to the problem; things like stress, overwork, raising kids and caring for older parents all take their toll.  This article talks about some options you can use to slow your life down and rev your libido up.  And of course, as always, if there are medical issues or prescriptions you take regularly, take to your physician.  He or she will have heard the story before and will likely have some suggestions for you to reclaim one of the best parts of your life.

Leapin’ Libido

United States citizens are guaranteed by law to a fair trial with a jury composed of one’s peers.  But what happens if no peers can be found to serve on the jury?  This is exactly the problem being faced by the State of Georgia.  A woman, age 79, is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend.  But the legal exemption age for serving on a jury in Georgia is 70.  No one can be found that is within ten years of this woman’s age. 

“This is the youngest jury pool I’ve ever seen,” said Lena Sims Driskell’s attorney, Deborah Poole. “Most of these people look under 30. How does one have a trial when you are not able to include a whole class of people in the jury?”
CNN

Driskell is accused of shooting the man she was seeing in the senior citizen’s home they both lived in when she discovered he was seeing another woman.  She has, according to news reports, confessed to the crime.

Potential jurors have said they could not judge a person older than themselves.  And none of the jurors being questioned were involved in any senior advocacy groups.  The death penalty is not being considered and the trial, once it is able to be started, is expected to be short.  But without a jury?  It is hard to say when Driskell will, or if, face a jury of her peers.

Client Too Old To Get Fair Trial

It is quite a dichotomy.  The Government of the United States seems to pass many laws that work against the needs and desires of the population of senior citizens.  Yet many of those Senators and Representatives, one-third in fact, are senior citizens themselves.  Have they become so disconnected with the trappings of “real life” that they are voting against their own population demographic?

 The Senate historian says the average age for a senator is 60.3 years, the oldest ever and up six years from 1985. Thirty-seven are at least 65, 19 of whom are in their 70s. Five are in their 80.
Reuters

Although opinions vary widely on the effectiveness of these senior Senators, it is generally agreed that, like driving, ability to function in a job should not be determined by age.  But how do you determine whether or not a Senator is still able to meet the demands of the job?  Without term limits, a Senator who is well-liked, through reputation, may be in the elected position for life. 

It brings up two questions:

• Why do they stay?
• Why have they lost touch with the general population of senior citizens in the U.S.?

“In most cases, it’s because they have a safe seat and public service ethic,” James Thurber, of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, said. “A cynical view would be they can’t do anything else or find it uncomfortable to leave the stage.”

Considering the perks it is easy to see the answer to both questions.  Senators earn $165,200 annually and of course they have a health insurance plan that most of us can only dream of.  They do have, albeit unused, great retirement benefits as well.  What is the motivation to leave?  But shouldn’t they be called on the carpet for ignoring the needs of the other, less well-off seniors?

Perhaps the continual re-election of these Senators is just tradition.  A voter gets into the polls and is pressured by time; there is always a line behind waiting to vote and subconciously voters feel rushed.  They vote for many people because they have always been in that office and since the world hasn’t fallen apart, perhaps it is the best vote to make.  Perhaps it is, but it may be more important to look at what is actually happening in the “World’s Most Exclusive Club,” and see if that vote is in the interest of the people.

Senate Packed With Senior Citizens

Do you have an Aretha Franklin song running through your mind now?  Good!  That will always make you smile.  But this article might not and it shouldn’t.  Do you think it is demeaning or disrespectful when a younger person calls a senior citizen, “Young man,” or “Young Lady?”  I sure do.  I remember that happening a lot on talk shows when a guest of senior years would appear and the host would call him or her that.  I cringed then and I cringe now.

A “Dear Abby” column was recently rerun at the Houston Chronicle discussing this issue.  If you are a younger person, keep this in mind.  And if you are a senior citizen demand the respect you are entitled to!

Patronizing Senior Citizens Is Disrespectful