Herzog Riles Readers with "Pensioner Democracy" Comment

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At 74 years of age, Roman Herzog has answered a significant and underlying part of the problem. Since people generally live 10-15 years longer than they used to when 65 was struck as the retirement age, people simply have to work a few years longer to redress the imbalance. Maybe take a year off to re-skill. Many retirees are also very skilled and experienced people. -- Charles Smyth, Britain

Roman Herzog probably has enough money for retirement. I say if Germany wants to attract and keep talented people in Germany, it should provide for a good retirement. As the major economic powerhouse of Europe, Germany should provide for old codgers, or anyone with a brain will move to another country! -- Stan Balabuszko, US

Just tell me and all the other seniors what Mr. Herzog's income is. -- Horst K. Habicht, Canada

Someone should criticize a small increase for pensioners who have one of the highest pensions without having paid one cent in contributions. This again is one of the most arrogant hypocrites one could imagine. -- Henry L. Rose, US

Please pass on that if I was getting the same amount of euros as Mr. Herzog I would also feel that I was plundering the young. But I am not and I don't. There is no law that says he can't give some back to the young. -- Richard Kearney, Germany

Obviously, to be fair, the increase should not be across the board the same for everyone. Anyone who already has a high pension does not need any increase, and those on very minimal pensions need the increase to allow those people to live with the basic necessities of life. But, as in so many aspects of this "democratic" system, numbers count to get elected and so our politics is the politics of stupidity. -- Wilhelm Waldstein, Canada