Opinion

Why not enlist an army of volunteer retirees?

Bad news that happens fast always grabs our attention — earthquakes, plane crashes, cyberattacks. But what shapes our lives more profoundly, yet often eludes our notice, is good news that happens slowly.

Few slow-moving developments are more astonishing, or consequential, than the surge in lifespans over the last century. In 1900, the typical American could expect to live only until their mid-40s. Now, that figure stretches well into the 70s. Today, an American who reaches age 65 can expect to live, on average, nearly 20 more years. Contrast that to 1900, when just 4 percent of Americans even made it to 65.