Am I More Likely Than You to Be a Terrorist?

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Added: Fri Jan 11th 11:06am
Posted in: Politics

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As a member of the Growing Bolder team, we're always on the lookout for examples of ageism.  Many people call it the final great "ism" that this country needs to tackle.  Usually the type of things we come across involve jobs dumping highly experienced people (read: more expensive employees) in favor of younger, cheaper workers.  I, like my colleagues, am always angered by this because I know as a younger person there is so much left for me to learn, particularly from the people around me who have blazed trails first. 

Occasionally I have felt the sting of reverse ageism -- people who don't take me seriously because of my youth or the fact that I know I look younger than I actually am.  But it's usually minor and once the person I'm dealing with knows that I'm serious and prepared for the situation, they treat me as an equal. 

But I was outraged this morning when I heard what the government is about to impose on all us under the age of 50.  The Department of Homeland Security has announced that within the next six years, all Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964 will have to get more secure driver's licenses if they want to board a plane or enter a federal building.  The reasoning? We're more likely to be a terrorist! 

The REAL ID Act is designed to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get government-based IDs.  I'm all for tougher security measures if it means keeping all of us safer, but c'mon, there are no con artists or terrorists over the age of 50? Do the names Jeffrey Skilling and Ted Kaczynski ring a bell? And don't even get me started on the members of the U.S. Congress convicted in the past several years for a variety of fraud and bribery charges.  In the words of ABC's John Stossel -- GIVE ME A BREAK! 

Here at GrowingBolder.com, we celebrate those who smash stereotypes by redefining what it means to be someone over 50, whether it's breaking world records or scaling the world's highest peaks.  So, is the government now saying that your generation is incapable of conning or terrorizing us?

Get it all out of your system now because according to the current plan, eventually everyone -- regardless of age -- will need the new, stricter ID if they plan to board a plane in this country.  So, live it up Boomers -- you have until 2017 until you have to join us "suspects" in line at the DMV.