The Oxford English dictionary defines " old" as " having lived for a long time".It illustrates the sense with an accompanying phrase,"the old man lay propped up on cushions" :the old person as one who has made all the useful contributions he can possibly make to society and is now at rest.When pensions were first introduced in Prussia,in the 1880s,this was probably a fair characterisation for anyone over 65.Not many people lived beyond this age; those who did were rarely in good health.But today many 65-year-olds are healthy and active.Donald Trump ( 71) may be many things,but old he is not,nor for that matter is Vladimir Putin ( 64) ,who qualifies for his bus pass in October.Yet governments and employers still treat 65 as a cliffs edge beyond which people can be regarded as "old" :inactive,and an economic burden.
This is wrong,for three reasons.First,what " old" means is relative.Today the average 65-year-old German can expect to live another 20 years.So can most people in other rich countries,meaning old age now arguably kicks in later than before.Second,the term carries an underlying implication about health,or at least fitness.But healthy-life expectancy has grown roughly in tandem with life expectancy; for many,70 really is the new 60.Third,surveys show that the majority of younger over-65-year-olds increasingly want to stay actively involved in their communities and economies.Few want to retire in the literal sense of the word,which implies withdrawing from society as a whole.Many want to continue working but on different terms than before,asking for more flexibility and fewer hours.
The author cites the examples of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in order to show that _____ .无