In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Meanwhile, we see some politicians enjoying power well into their eighties. Clearly, there is little agreement on an appropriate retirement age. In my thought, the ideal age of retirement should be differed based on the kind of job that people are doing. There are some jobs which require prime physical condition, while other jobs “merely” require experience or charisma.
The jobs which require prime physical condition should have an earlier retirement age. Blue collar jobs such as brick layer, miner, athlete, and porter are some jobs that need early retirement. Those jobs take a lot of stamina, and therefore, doing those jobs in old age has the risk of deteriorating one’s health. The risk of injury and accident is also increased along with the growth of worker’s age. Mohammad Ali for example, suffers Parkinson’s disease after retiring. Parkinson is one of age-related diseases (http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/20030418225016_health_news.shtml), but the doctors suspected that Ali’s got too much impact in his head while boxing. So, it is understandable, that jobs like Mohammad Ali’s should have an earlier retirement age.
However, many countries still have the same retirement age for every job. Singapore for example, has set the regulation of workers’ retirement age at 62 (Anon. http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_standards/employment_standards/The_Retirement_Age_Act.html). Many countries other than Singapore have set the same retirement age.
But, there are some jobs which require experience and charisma, which should have a late retirement age. The best example of this kind of job is politician, CEO, and senior doctors. They may not have the best physical condition, but their experience, wisdom, and charisma are needed by the new cadets to be set for example, or for the people led by him/her to get a dependable figure. One may replace their position with a better physical condition, but maybe not with better, even the same experience and skill. The minimum age for a president in United States is 35 (http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A2Sec1.html ). John McCain, the republican candidate for president of United States, is 72 at age. It proves that some jobs need a late retirement age.
In conclusion, the ideal retirement age differs from one job to another. Each job has its own physical and intellectual requirements. Some jobs need high level of stamina, while others need charisma and intelligence. These factors should be considered to determine the ideal retirement age.
References
Parkinson [Online Article] : Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web:http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/20030418225016_health_news.shtml)
Singapore’s retirement age [ Online Article] : Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web:http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_standards/employment_standards/The_Retirement_Age_Act.html)
US’ minimum president age [Online Article]: Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: (http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A2Sec1.html )
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Classical Jazz Eternity
We all know that music has many types, or we may call it genres. A music genre (or sub-genre) could be defined by the techniques, the styles, the context and the themes (content, spirit). Ge origin is sometimes used to define the music genre, though a single geographical category will normally include a wide variety of sub-genres. Every genre has its own specialities. It’s not only from the sound-type which is produced or the artist’s style, but also the class of the genre itself. We may like it or not, but there are certain kind of stereotypes about kinds of people who can listen to a specific genre while the others can’t. For example, when you’re among the socialite people, maybe you’ll feel unclassy or even unintelligent if you tell those people that you’re so into punk.
In many genres, there are 2 main special genres that has never ending stories, classical and jazz music. Classical music is probably more familiar than we might at first imagine. Indeed, nowadays it is all around us, whether it be in restaurants, supermarkets, lifts, for advertising or as theme and incidental music on television. A great deal of film music either directly uses or draws from the 'classical' tradition. Classical music can also take on the form of the concerto, symphony, opera, dance music, suite, etude, symphonic poem, and others.
But it can be understood that not everyone in this world love classical music, and not everybody can understand how beautiful it is. Classical composers often aspire to imbue their music with a very complex relationship between its affective (emotional) content and the intellectual means by which it is achieved. Many of the most esteemed works of classical music make use of musical development the process by which a musical germ, idea or motif is repeated in different contexts or in altered form. Along with a certain desire for composers to attain high technical achievement in writing their music, performers of classical music are faced with similar goals of technical mastery. As demonstrated by the proportionately high amount of schooling and private study most successful classical musicians have had when compared to popular genre musicians, and the large number of secondary schools, including the conservatories, dedicated to the study of classical music. The only other genre in the Western world with comparable secondary education opportunities is jazz.
Jazz is quite complicated actually. But it has several differences in express the music. Sometimes the classical player has a problem in how they can express their style. It is different with jazz that aim the player that they should express their expression all out. Today, Jazz music is played, studied and taught at private and public institutions around the globe. However, as lower budgets force public schools to cut back, private lessons will not only supplement the school, but may eventually replace it in many areas. This is especially true for Jazz education.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Perfect Time to Retire
According to Wikipedia, online dictionary, retirement is the point where the person stops employment completely. This usually happens upon reaching a determined age, when physical conditions don't allow the person to work anymore (by illness or accident), their kind of job or even for personal choice (usually in the presence of an adequate pension or personal savings). Because of all those reasons above, the retirement age of people is different one to another.
In my own opinion, the appropriate age to retire is about 60 to 65 years old. Especially, in the development country like Indonesia. Why? As a development country, Indonesia’s citizen is about 220 billion souls. Because of the tradition, a lot of them have a lot of children. So, most of them are big family, that also have a lot of needs to fulfill. So, in order to fulfill those needs the head of the family, have to work a lot until their children could find their income alone. Furthermore, workers salary in this country is still low, so it will take a long time to fulfill all those needs. That’s why I think time until you reach 60 or 65 years old is enough to fulfill that kind of needs. You are not too early to stop but also not working for the rest of your life.
Secondly, the education situation in this country is not that good. Not all of the young generation has a good education, even the academic or moral education. So, it’s not that easy to give the higher position to the younger. Furthermore, there is an opinion that the elder is the smarter. Because of this situation, I think it is good for someone who has the important position in some companies to work until they reach 60-65 years old. They can use their ability to develop the company where they are working and also could prepare the younger employee in those companies to replace them in the future.
But there still some reasons that makes or forces some people to take their retirement early. Firstly, physical condition. If their health condition is not make possible for them to work, of course automatically they have to retire. Some workers may want to continue working until they reach the normal retirement age, but others may not have that option. Sometimes a worker's health has already deteriorated to a point where working additional years is not possible. This is especially true for low-income and blue-collar workers, women, and African Americans (Weller,2000).
Secondly, kind of job. A different job also lead someone to a different retirement age. The country of the person also influence the retirement age of person. For example: In 2007, retirement age for teachers in France is thirty eight years after employment and age 50 for train engineers on the SNCF, the national railway.The retirement age in India for public sector employees is enhanced from 58-60 years in July 2007. In Malaysia the retirement age has just recently been raised from 55 years to 56 years. Many politicians, scientists, lawyers, television anchors, and professors still work well into their 70s,because they are trusted to have good experience in their life, however some actors, models, athletes, and musicians only work until their 30s. For example: Michael Jordan, world famous basketball player. He retired in 2003, in the age of 40 years old.
In spite of that exceptions above still I think that 60-65 years old is the perfect time to someone to spend the rest of their life to have a good time. To spend their time with their family, or to spend time to do everything they like and many more. So, from those reasons above, I certainly suggest that the right age for someone to retire is about 60-65 years old.
References
Michael Jordan [Online article], Retrieved May 5, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jordan
Retirement (2008, April 18) [Online article], Retrieved April 19, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.wikipedia.org/Retirement.htm
Weller, Christian E. (2000) Raising the Retirement Age: The Wrong Direction for Social Security
Good Old TV.
Television had been a big part of almost everybody’s life for the past decades; nearly all households own a television for entertainment or informational purposes. There are many opinions about the negative effects of television’s existence in family life, but television could be harmless and improve (both the quality and quantity) the communications among the family members. It all depends on the way the people use the television.
Television does consume time, but it could be positive depends on the situation. When the television is watched together by the family, it adds more quality time for the family. People usually chat with their fellow audience when watching television. In this particular situation television acts as a family unifying media.
Television enriches the communication among family members by supplying information from the outside world. Educational and informational channels are giving the audience information faster than any newspaper or magazine can do, and the information is more diverse. This information given by the television provides excellent topics for conversation with family members.
For the reasons mentioned above, television should not be judged as a family destroyer. Because, despite being addictive, television is highly resourceful and advantageous in family life. It makes the family member gather up to watch it and it provides up to date informations.
arkasha 16107071.
arkasha 16107071.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Television Effects
Television nowadays has become a basic needs in people’s live. In this information technology (IT) era, television is a very supportive and helpful device in order to accomodate people with information. Information is needed to support people with direction to keep moving. In every sector such as economy, social, politic, etc, the situation is dinamically changed everyday and everyhour. Television also can entertain people. Sometimes it can be a good hideaway from the exhausting activity, like a coffee shop you’d like to visit in your spare-time. Television changes many things, almost everything, including the lifestyle.
Back then, in our country, Indonesia, people knows almost everybody who lives in their neighborhood. They’re supporting each other, and helping each other. Peoples relationship is closed one to another. Indonesian even have their own words for that, such as “tenggang rasa” and “gotong royong”. In english, we can describe it as fraternity. It’s a very beautiful way of living. Awfully, people is sort of losing this kind of habit now, and television is believed as one of the most responsible in this case.
Television channels is responsible to make social relationships less interesting compared to watching them. There is less of talking among family members. Although people can watch television together, it is usually just happen a little chat between them. Usually, there is not much interaction happen. Many of the programs is produced by the country that have a very different culture with the viewers, and people from every level of age can watch. Sometimes it brings bad effect. It means, television provide people with not only information they need, but also they don’t. It flows away the time unconsciously, so people don’t have enough time to socialize. And it leads peoples relationship to become widened one and another.
Beside of social, television also affect people in personal. The information technology is developing so fast, but human physical ability and endurance is not. Before the era of information technology, children have needs to go out and play games outside the house with friends. The playing activity gives good effect to the children. It involves more physical movement, which is healthy. But now, children rarely move out of their homes. So they are not only losing crucial interaction with the friends of their age, but also the physical exercise that they gain from the games. The result, you often find many child obese and having health problems. In many other case, it also happen to adults. People’s lifestyle is getting more and more unhealthy.
Although there are some things that have to be regretted, it is basically impossible to get rid of television from peoples live. Peoples have huge needs of information. What people can do is minimize the negative effect with their proper self-control. More exercise and outdoor activity have to be done in the spare-time. And also, most important, it must be reassured that social aspect of human lives is precious, and not to be forgotten.
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
Back then, in our country, Indonesia, people knows almost everybody who lives in their neighborhood. They’re supporting each other, and helping each other. Peoples relationship is closed one to another. Indonesian even have their own words for that, such as “tenggang rasa” and “gotong royong”. In english, we can describe it as fraternity. It’s a very beautiful way of living. Awfully, people is sort of losing this kind of habit now, and television is believed as one of the most responsible in this case.
Television channels is responsible to make social relationships less interesting compared to watching them. There is less of talking among family members. Although people can watch television together, it is usually just happen a little chat between them. Usually, there is not much interaction happen. Many of the programs is produced by the country that have a very different culture with the viewers, and people from every level of age can watch. Sometimes it brings bad effect. It means, television provide people with not only information they need, but also they don’t. It flows away the time unconsciously, so people don’t have enough time to socialize. And it leads peoples relationship to become widened one and another.
Beside of social, television also affect people in personal. The information technology is developing so fast, but human physical ability and endurance is not. Before the era of information technology, children have needs to go out and play games outside the house with friends. The playing activity gives good effect to the children. It involves more physical movement, which is healthy. But now, children rarely move out of their homes. So they are not only losing crucial interaction with the friends of their age, but also the physical exercise that they gain from the games. The result, you often find many child obese and having health problems. In many other case, it also happen to adults. People’s lifestyle is getting more and more unhealthy.
Although there are some things that have to be regretted, it is basically impossible to get rid of television from peoples live. Peoples have huge needs of information. What people can do is minimize the negative effect with their proper self-control. More exercise and outdoor activity have to be done in the spare-time. And also, most important, it must be reassured that social aspect of human lives is precious, and not to be forgotten.
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
Child Labor
Child labor is employment of children under age. It still happens in many countries, although most of them have stated that it’s illegal. According to the International Labor Organization, the estimation of child labourer is 218 million children aged 5 to 17 in child labor worldwide, excluding child domestic labor. Basically, the parents permit their children to work because of economical reason, their struggling effort to keep living their lives. But often, they’ve been forced to that.
Despite their young age and undeveloped mind, child is also a human. They have rights to live as what they want, what they need, appropriately, although still under the adults supervision. In my opinion, it’s not a problem if the children works because of their own will. As long as the parents can keep them educated, eventhough they can’t afford to pay school. If both of of it, experience and education, succesfully accomplished, there is a big chance that the children will grow up and become productive adults and live longer, healthier, and wealthier lives.
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
Despite their young age and undeveloped mind, child is also a human. They have rights to live as what they want, what they need, appropriately, although still under the adults supervision. In my opinion, it’s not a problem if the children works because of their own will. As long as the parents can keep them educated, eventhough they can’t afford to pay school. If both of of it, experience and education, succesfully accomplished, there is a big chance that the children will grow up and become productive adults and live longer, healthier, and wealthier lives.
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
Nectar
According to online wikipedia, nectar is a sugar-liquid that produced by plants, especially flowers. It is attractive to insects and other kind of animals which soon will pollinate them so they can reproduce. Nectar produced in glands called nectaries. It’s a sugar source for honey. Nectar is a vital part of biological cycle of life. It’s existence is very important to all being, human, plants, and animals. The Bee Movie, a cartoon movies produced by Hollywood moviemaker , use the ideas about the importance of nectar as their main ideas of the film.
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
Roos Haikal Ramadhan. 16107013
When is the Right Time for Us to Retire?
According to Wikipedia, retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. The retirement age varies from country to country, each country have their own standard of retirement age for their employees. In our country, the retirement ages in Indonesia is mostly from 55 to 56 (Leoi. 2008). In my opinion, employees may retire from their job in the age about 60 to 65 which must be appropriate with the type of their job. There are several reason that may be
influential for the retirement age.
Firstly, the type of the job very related with employee productivity period. Certain jobs, the most dangerous or fatiguing ones in particular, such as firefighters, police officers, etc, have an earlier retirement age. But actually the case is the longer someone has dedicated to his/ her job, the more experiments he/ she get, and the more professional he/ she will be. Many professions have mandatory retirement ages for example: pilots, military, education, and other professions. Education professions; many are required to retire at 60 or 65. Although these educators are fully capable of working in the areas of their expertise, they are forced into mandatory retirement (Rincon. 2007). Many politicians, scientists, lawyers, television anchors, and professors still work well into their 70s, however some actors, models, athletes, and musicians only work until their 30s (Anon. 2007).
Yet, some people believe that if the retirement age for social security keeps moving backward, it will make room at the top for younger employees to move up the corporate ladder so they may bring fresh ideas for a sustaining the company in a global economy.
Second factor for the retirement age is the personal factors, such as the worker’s health, family situation, or personal aspirations. The most important personal factor is the worker’s health. Until the age of 60 to 65, people are probably experienced and will give a perfect performance. Besides, the physical condition of Indonesian people will decrease in the age about 65, and we can get sick more easily in this age. Other reasons that people are forced into retirement are mainly meeting the physical requirements of the job (Rincon 2007).
In conclusion, the retirement age is not only depends on one factor. It depend on the type of the job we do, it may take a longer time than usual if the job need a lot of experience. The condition of our physic is also important to decide when is the best time for us to retire, and the other factor which are related.
References
Anonim. 2007. Retirement. The Online Wikipedia. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement
Leoi, Sim. 2008. Government extends civil servants’ retirement age to 60. 3 Stocks You Need To Retire Rich. Free Report. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/18/nation/20988451&sec=nation
Rincon, Paul. 2007. Retirement age 'should reach 85' . BBC News Article. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4726300.stm
Andriani Oktadianti
16107065
influential for the retirement age.
Firstly, the type of the job very related with employee productivity period. Certain jobs, the most dangerous or fatiguing ones in particular, such as firefighters, police officers, etc, have an earlier retirement age. But actually the case is the longer someone has dedicated to his/ her job, the more experiments he/ she get, and the more professional he/ she will be. Many professions have mandatory retirement ages for example: pilots, military, education, and other professions. Education professions; many are required to retire at 60 or 65. Although these educators are fully capable of working in the areas of their expertise, they are forced into mandatory retirement (Rincon. 2007). Many politicians, scientists, lawyers, television anchors, and professors still work well into their 70s, however some actors, models, athletes, and musicians only work until their 30s (Anon. 2007).
Yet, some people believe that if the retirement age for social security keeps moving backward, it will make room at the top for younger employees to move up the corporate ladder so they may bring fresh ideas for a sustaining the company in a global economy.
Second factor for the retirement age is the personal factors, such as the worker’s health, family situation, or personal aspirations. The most important personal factor is the worker’s health. Until the age of 60 to 65, people are probably experienced and will give a perfect performance. Besides, the physical condition of Indonesian people will decrease in the age about 65, and we can get sick more easily in this age. Other reasons that people are forced into retirement are mainly meeting the physical requirements of the job (Rincon 2007).
In conclusion, the retirement age is not only depends on one factor. It depend on the type of the job we do, it may take a longer time than usual if the job need a lot of experience. The condition of our physic is also important to decide when is the best time for us to retire, and the other factor which are related.
References
Anonim. 2007. Retirement. The Online Wikipedia. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement
Leoi, Sim. 2008. Government extends civil servants’ retirement age to 60. 3 Stocks You Need To Retire Rich. Free Report. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/18/nation/20988451&sec=nation
Rincon, Paul. 2007. Retirement age 'should reach 85' . BBC News Article. Retrieved May 4, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4726300.stm
Andriani Oktadianti
16107065
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Super-skinny Models
According to online dictionary, a model is a person who is employed to wear clothing for the purpose of advertising or display, or who poses with a product for the same purpose. That's why appearance is the most important thing that found in models. In the fashion industry, size of a cloth is numbered from 0 to 22. Models usually wear size 0, which means they have to be very skinny in order to walk the runway or photographed well in the designer clothes. But that fact brings us to one question: Do they really need to be so skinny?
There is absolutely a problem with underweight models shown by the death of several models that caused by anorexic. But it hasn't seemed to faze the industry that still uses girls severely underweight and sometimes sick-looking. Not all models are Anorexic, sick, and have body image problems. There are small percentage of women who are the size of the "ideal" catwalkers, naturally. As much as overweight individuals should never be discriminated against because of their size, so too should people who are naturally thin not be excluded.
The problem arises when the industry that hires, casts and publishes the images of models will only use ones who fit into a size 0. Many designers are quoted as saying that they feel they have to follow the lead of the "thin" industry, otherwise they lose exposure. For example, most magazines will only hire women who fit into the lower sizes, so if a designer doesn't have samples for those models, they don't get into that phtoshoot.
People start to notice and act about it. This unprecedented outbreak of common sense began in Spain, where organisers of the Madrid fashion show took the extraordinary step of banning models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 18. Your BMI is the figure you get when you divide your weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25, so the Madrid limit – which still allows underweight women to model - can hardly be described as draconian. Spain has disallowed models to walk down the runway this year if their BMI (Body Mass Index) was lower than 18. The country wants to promote a healthier image of models to the young girls who idolize them.
London's Fashion Week has refused to follow suite, the organizers stating that it was a move that, not only violates the designers right to choose their models, but is also a place that they shouldn't be controlling.
London's Fashion Week has refused to follow suite, the organizers stating that it was a move that, not only violates the designers right to choose their models, but is also a place that they shouldn't be controlling.
It is fair to demand that when they see young women dying, starving themselves and looking like death beneath their make up, like several models who recently died, to stand up and speak their mind. Some models did, with much support from those in and out of the industry, but others need to take some responsibility, too. They have to make changes from within.
In conclusion, for those of us outside the fashion world, we can also do our small part. When companies or designers do make a positive statement, support them with letters to the media or the organization they are standing up to, spread the word about their actions and find out more about their clothing- maybe it's a line available in your area that can be purchased instead of a company who has no interest in developing a positive body image in its customers. There's always something we can do to affect change.
High School National Examination
National School Examination is considered to be the main indicator of student’s competence in Indonesia.
The word “national examination” will always remind me of my experience last year. The teachers - especially the school master - bombarded us with reminders that we must work hard since I joint my third year class. The teachers even had regular meetings with our parents in order to “push” us to work harder and harder. At home I heard my father complain about how the school scared us. “They don’t really care about the students, they only care about the prestige of the school”, said my father. My world is shaped into extra-school lessons and try-outs. No time for fun!
Last year, the national examination was set only for three subjects: Bahasa Indonesia, mathematics, and English. The rest of curriculum’s exam conducted by each school. Since our competence will be only decided on those three subjects, we tend to focus our effort on those subjects. Other subjects are not that important for the total national exam score. We all know that competence of the students is not appropriate if only measured by the national exam score.
This year government changes its policy of high school examination. The subjects for national exam have increased from 3 to 6 subjects. The IPA students should also pass physics, biology and chemistry besides Bahasa Indonesia, mathematics, and English. I could not imagine how tense the students were.
From the news I also learn how strict the local government carries out the exam. Not only education employees being busy, but they also ask help from security personnel - especially national police - to guard the examination papers from the distribution center to each school. The police also present at the school-gate examining students ID card. The Jakarta Post (April 23, 2008, collum 1-2) report that the first day of three-day nationwide exams for senior high school and vocational students ran smoothly. But as we all read from newspapers, most of the students complains about how difficult it was, especially mathematics and physics. Some students were even so desperate so they cried.
With all this condition, I think that national school examination will more look like a terror for the students than a test how they mastered all the subjects during school days, not even an indicator of a complete competence as a high school graduate.
Siti Amalia Hasnida
16107090
Concerning the Retirement Age
According to online Wikipedia, retirement is a condition where a person is no longer fully employed by its employer. Indeed, the controversy of the relative retirement age is intriguing. To analyze this case, I will focus the scope of view in Indonesia and for governmental work only. In Indonesia, the standard retirement age for an ordinary government staff is at 56 years old (Anon. 2004). For me, the exact retirement age should be well-defined and in this case is 65 years old (which is elongated than the standard but it is fixed for all positions) because it is appropriate to the governmental system and productivity of the person.
First, the elongated and fixed retirement age is appropriate to the governmental system. The work in the government such as civil state employee, police, and soldier in higher level require an experience from the past. The older someone has dedicated on a certain job, the more experience he or she had in his or her field and the more professional the work could be handled. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the opening of the 26th Indonesian Doctor Association Congress stated that the age was the apex of the officer’s maturity, health, and wisdom (Wiguna 2006). Presumably until this age, the governmental staff will still have the physical competence and most importantly experience and knowledge of how the system goes, thus such performance is suited for governmental duties which requires great efficiency and precise planning. The extensive elongation of the retirement age is somehow a detrimenting matter because the physical condition of a person is decreasing and so reducing the efficiency. This is supported by the recent data on the Statistics Indonesia that shows the life expectancy of Indonesian people is about 65.5 years old (Anon. 2000). Although it is a relative number, we could presume that beyond the age of 65 years old, most people are starting to get diseased and then deceased.
Secondly, the elongated and fixed retirement age is increasing the productivity of work of the person. With increasing productivity of the staff, the more income of the government get. Logically, the more the time that someone spend to work on a job longer, the more contribution that person will give to the job and to the income of the state by paying taxes. But still the boundary of a productive age must be considered here due to the point on the previous paragraph. This elongated but fixed retirement age also make people spend their retirement age less thus reducing the government expenses to support them in their relaxed life in the retirement. In USA, for comparison, where many people are retiring at a very early age the elongation of retirement age is proposed to increase the Social Security revenues (Weller 2000). Not to mention it is also supporting the staff to be remain ever productive as they still have responsibilities to fund their family’s life, children’s education, health expenses, housing expenses, etc. Putting a stop too early would also mean hardening the burden of their life, while actually they can still have contribution to their government and family.
First, the elongated and fixed retirement age is appropriate to the governmental system. The work in the government such as civil state employee, police, and soldier in higher level require an experience from the past. The older someone has dedicated on a certain job, the more experience he or she had in his or her field and the more professional the work could be handled. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the opening of the 26th Indonesian Doctor Association Congress stated that the age was the apex of the officer’s maturity, health, and wisdom (Wiguna 2006). Presumably until this age, the governmental staff will still have the physical competence and most importantly experience and knowledge of how the system goes, thus such performance is suited for governmental duties which requires great efficiency and precise planning. The extensive elongation of the retirement age is somehow a detrimenting matter because the physical condition of a person is decreasing and so reducing the efficiency. This is supported by the recent data on the Statistics Indonesia that shows the life expectancy of Indonesian people is about 65.5 years old (Anon. 2000). Although it is a relative number, we could presume that beyond the age of 65 years old, most people are starting to get diseased and then deceased.
Secondly, the elongated and fixed retirement age is increasing the productivity of work of the person. With increasing productivity of the staff, the more income of the government get. Logically, the more the time that someone spend to work on a job longer, the more contribution that person will give to the job and to the income of the state by paying taxes. But still the boundary of a productive age must be considered here due to the point on the previous paragraph. This elongated but fixed retirement age also make people spend their retirement age less thus reducing the government expenses to support them in their relaxed life in the retirement. In USA, for comparison, where many people are retiring at a very early age the elongation of retirement age is proposed to increase the Social Security revenues (Weller 2000). Not to mention it is also supporting the staff to be remain ever productive as they still have responsibilities to fund their family’s life, children’s education, health expenses, housing expenses, etc. Putting a stop too early would also mean hardening the burden of their life, while actually they can still have contribution to their government and family.
References
Life Expectancy. Statistics Indonesia home page. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.datastatistik-indonesia.com/content/view/460/460/1/3/
Public Opinion. Kompas Cetak homepage. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://64.203.71.11/kompas-cetak/0504/28/opini/1714614.htm
Retirement. The Online Wikipedia. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement
Weller, Christian. (2000, September). Raising the Retirement Age. [Online Article]. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.epi.org/content.cfm /briefingpapers_ raisingretirement_ raisingretirement
Wiguna, Oktamandjaya. (2006, November 24). President Recommend the Raise of Civil State Employees’ Retirement Age. TEMPO Interaktif home page. Retrieved May 3, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/nasional/2006/11/24/brk, 20061124-88389,id.html
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Appropriate Retirement Age
Retirement is a condition where a person stops employment completely after reaching a determined age, when physical conditions don't allow the person to work any more, or based on personal choice. The retirement age varies from country to country but it is generally between 55 and 70. In some countries this age is different for male and females. My opinion is that a person should retire once between age 62 and full retirement age, in connection with retirement benefits for employee (personal choice) and health state.
First, the advantage of retire at age 62 and full retirement age is has retirement benefits for life after. "In the United States, while most view 65 as normal retirement age, many retire before then, sometimes with condition causes such as job-loss, disability or wealth. However, the Old Age Survivors Insurance or OASI, better known as the Social Security system has age 62 as the earliest retirement age." (Social Security homepage. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/
First, the advantage of retire at age 62 and full retirement age is has retirement benefits for life after. "In the United States, while most view 65 as normal retirement age, many retire before then, sometimes with condition causes such as job-loss, disability or wealth. However, the Old Age Survivors Insurance or OASI, better known as the Social Security system has age 62 as the earliest retirement age." (Social Security homepage. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/
agereduction.htm). A person can retire at any time between age 62 and full retirement age. However, if the person start benefits early, the benefits are reduced a fraction of a percent for each month before full retirement age. So, there are advantages and disadvantages to taking the benefit before full retirement age. The advantage is that the person collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is the benefit is permanently reduced. Each person's situation is different, so based on data, the person who want to retire must make a proper plan to receive retirement benefits.
Although, there are several cases where a person may also semi-retire and keep some sort of retirement job or have an earlier retirement age. Some job, like politician, doctor, and lecturer have an exception for retirement age, that could be longer than normal. This exception is considered by the experience, knowledge, and skill that couldn't be replaced for quite a time by some newbie. For this kind of job, older the person, more trustworthy they become and more important roles they have. On the other hand, somecertain jobs, the most dangerous or fatiguing ones in particular, have an earlier retirement age. Considered by this kind of job, older the person, more dangerous the situation it has or even risk the person's life.
Second is, people at age 62 and older basically would have health state reduction, became no more fit to do usual activity or even unhealthy because of some disease. In this condition, the person is expected to retire from any kind of job they have before, because their physical condition is already dropped to do so. For these cases, a few of the aged who became too ill or infirm to work received support from a charitable institution, such as hospital and chapel.
For example the infirmary chapel of St. Leonard's. The hospital catered to a wide range of needs, including care of the sick, maintenance of the elderly, temporary shelter for pregnant women, education of 30 choristers, and spiritual support to the poor. In 1985, St. Leonard's Hospice was founded in York as a charitable organization providing in-house palliative care and off-site services for others with serious illnesses. (Florilegium Urbanum. http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns//florilegium/popret01)
The other example is, the hospital of St. Giles. The hospital continues today as a charitable institution, under another name by which it was less formally known in the Middle Ages: the Great Hospital. It still pursues one of its original aims in providing accommodation and care for the elderly; about 200 pensioners and their wives are residents nowadays. (Florilegium Urbanum. http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns//florilegium/popret03)
To conclude, the appropriate retirement age for retirement benefits is between age 62 and full retirement age. But for some special cases including skill of a person has when he or she got older, dangerous kind of job, and health condition, the retirement age is depended on the situation it in. Retirement age could be longer or even earlier than usual. So, the appopriate retirement age is different for each person, based on the situation, kind of job and decision they choose.
References
CULLUM, P. H.(1991). Cremetts and Corrodies: Care of the Poor and Sick at St. Leonard's Hospital, York, in the Middle Ages. Borthwick Papers, no.79 .
RAWCLIFFE, Carole.(1984). The hospitals of later medieval London. Medical History, vol.28 , 1-21.
Social Security homepage. [Online article] Retrieved May 2, 2008 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm
Florilegium Urbanum. Retirement homepage. [Online article]. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from
the World Wide Web :
http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns//florilegium/popret01
Florilegium Urbanum. Retirement homepage. [Online article]. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from
the World Wide Web :
http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns//florilegium/popret03
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