It's not that these people don't save for retirement or receive pensions but as you get older there are certain costs that aren't there when you are younger that eat into your savings. For instance, funeral arrangements, increased health-related costs, etc. It's not that people are mooching off the system and, as I said before, it's not that people depend on seniors' discounts. Again, it's simply a nice gesture that is a mere glimpse of the respect for the elderly that we once had in our society.
Not flaming
, not angry
, just some differing thoughts ....
"as you get older there are certain costs that aren't there when you are younger that eat into your savings. For instance, funeral arrangements, increased health-related costs, etc" This can be very easily turned in the opposite direction. When my wife and I are of retirement age, we probably won't have a need for two cars, so there's one less expense (along with insurance, maintenance, gas, etc.). We won't have kids to support, and all of the parents here know how very expensive children are -- groceries, clothes, school lunches, activities, leisure, computers, cellphones, extra phone lines, education expenses, I can go on and on. I can also see selling my home and downsizing, which should be a net gain for me.
"Again, it's simply a nice gesture that is a mere glimpse of the respect for the elderly that we once had in our society." I agree that respect and granting nice gestures is an important part of being human, of being a good member of a community. However, it's very common for us to wax nostalgic about the way things used to be even if they really weren't that way. I'm 40. Over 30 years ago, in elementary school in like 1974, I can remember teachers decrying how our society doesn't respect its elders like it used to. Before the 1930s, our elders were either living with younger relatives or they were starving and cold, due to the fact that there was no such thing back then as entitlements like Social Security (in the USA). About 10% of my salary goes towards respecting my elders. You may think it crass for me to lump together money with respect for elders, but isn't the senior citizen's discount the same thing?
The problem is, where do we draw the "respect" line? I respect the contributions that generations before me made to the world I now enjoy -- I stand on the shoulders of giants. But why draw the line at senior citizens? Why not military personnel and veterans regardless of length of service? What about first responders like police and firefighters and EMTs/paramedics? What about teachers? What about the many other people in jobs that are worthy of our respect? Pretty soon, the only people paying full price will be Bill Gates, Donald Trump, and left-handed plumbers named Bob. I'm not arguing, I'm just trying to demonstrate a point.
All is love here on the DIS, so I would like to believe. 
Oh, I so don't think of myself as a 'senior'!!! Think that's the issue in the US. Our politicians are getting older but can't think of themselves as 'senior's!!!! I prefer to think of myself as 'experienced' thank you very much!! Back to our regular discussion!!
So technically...Her child ticket is for me and my adult is for her. I don't think I should get cheaper tickets just because some rides make me ill and others bring out my ride chicken genes.
