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Show salt lake L--- - free WESTERN AMERICANA liborhood news weekly community news for metro Salt Lake volume two number april 19, 1973 thirty-thre- e amount for living. And when he does live to collect it, he still has to pay taxes on his house. "We're not asking for something we haven't paid for we've pafd our whole lives," Hicks emphasized. He said he is angered by -- politicians who claim the government can't afford to bring the retirement age down to 60. "Yet, we pour billions into West Germany, billions into Japan, billions into Korer and South Vietman - and intend to pour millions more into North VVietnam,'' he said. "The government subsidizes everyone else - why can't they subsidize older citizens?" Hicks, who has been Westside's representative to the Housing Task Force and to the Utah Technical Advisory Program (UTAP), said he hopes his fight for earlier retirement will Willard Hicks spread. Resident Working For Earlier Retirement Law by Jeff Becker Willard ' Hicks, at 60, is getting old, and he knows it. But he is starting a campaign to make others realize that they, too, are climbing toward the golden years - and that they'd better start doing something about it. Hicks, a Westside resident who has been involved in community activities there for many years, wants older citizens to be able to retire at 60, with full medical benefits and higher Social Security payments. "Aged persons are the most discriminated on this earth," Hicks, who plans to present his campaign to the Westside Council, said. "For example, he marries, has a family, buys a home - and spends a lifetime paying for it. He supports the government by paying exhorbitant taxes, has a certain amount taken out of his paycheck as a so-call- ed 'old-ag- e and then is held working to an age where he dies before he can collect a very small insurance,' "We're just striking the match," he pointed out. "Until now, there has been nobody that has ever fought to bring it down to 60." "Many people are scared to get involved," he continued. "After a certain age, they get timid. It's time they stood up and fought." Hicks said that the worker, especially, needs an earlier retirement. "He r blue-colla- cannot Jceejajtp with the far as are health and money-makin- g cpncerned. The Whjte collar man penoiand vyho only yet, conjrolsnhe country - does not consider the: plight of the blue-c6llperson," he pointed out. whitecQllai&vbrker as pra ar p (Contiiiued on page 2) |