Show B By GERALD GERAID ANDREWS Retirement Adviser A Growing Force Senior Force Senior Power Senior Power Is booming I from Prom small towns to big cities it packs a wallop at the ballot box in the marketplace in the community Our Influence today Is becoming mighty important Our voting power snakes politicians poll poli They know of us Sixty five five and over represent about 25 percent of the people voting In any election Theres There's no question that if we seniors sixty sixty- five and over representing 20 million voters choose to vote in ina a bloc we could elect or defeat any candidate or issue Senior power is becomIng g well well known known among businessmen too They They're ro recognizing that wo we now are one of the biggest markets mar mar- markets in America America we we spend about 45 billion annually That's big money and profit for them And in every community throughout the country senior power is tho the force behind getting getting get get- ting better housing nutrition programs employment opportunities opportunities more moro recreation facilities ties Now all aU this sounds impressive written in black and white But its it's important to remember that the core of senior power is you and me concerned me-concerned concerned citizens invoiced involved in in- voiced in political social and economic action How hew do we begin demonstrating senior power There arc are hundreds of paths to follow First for our vote to have true meaning and strength we must first know the tho candidates and issues We Wo can study the problems become active in i a campaign write to the tho press am and our representatives in Washington Washing Washing- ton expressing our views and o. o of course vote Lets Let's not forget our buying power either We must let bus know that the over sixty sixty five five market is good bustness bust busl ness fleas and highly profitable tool I heard of ono one group of seniors that campaigned for discounts discounts dis dis- counts from their local mer chants They released news o of their program to the local media and the widespread wide publicity soon drew over business agreements to honor a 10 percent discount to seniors That's getting results I Another high score for senior power comes from working to achieve social improvements in our community This isn't easy Any benefits will wll bo be hard bard won and our enthusiasm our willingness willing willing- ness to serve servo on program program plan planning ning committees or policy policymaking policy making boards in our neighborhood are aro the keys to action in our own behalf we wo can solve many of our own problems lems It Its It's s up to us to let everyone every one know that senior power is here hero to stay and growing crowing stronger |