The United States of America celebrates its Independence Day on 4 July. Independence is governed largely by the Charter of Freedom – the key documents starting with the Declaration of Independence, include Constitution(s), and Bill of Rights. Essence is captured in Preamble – “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
This year, the campaign of electing the POTUS is on, with 5th November being the date of the elections. POTUS gets elected indirectly through the members of the electoral college. The inauguration day is 20 January next year. Only a natural-born citizen of the US can be a POTUS. Nomination conventions end by August. Election debates end in October. Electors cast their votes in December and the President-elect gets announced in January. The campaigns can be dirtier this year around. Probably the costliest ever. It is Trump on the Republican side. Democratic side is still making up its mind.
UK Elections are on 4 July. Rishi Sunak is leading the campaign for Conservatives, and Keir Starmer of Labour. Opinion polls are betting on Labour. We should know people’s verdict in the next 2 days.
Cholesterol guidelines have been released. Dyslipidemia – high cholesterol- management. High LDL/bad cholesterol, high triglycerides and low HDL/good cholesterol could increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other peripheral artery disease. Minimum level of cholesterol should be less than 100 milligrams sugar per decilitre. The recommendation is to go for non-fasting lipid measurements. High sugar and carbohydrates are the major contributors. High triglycerides should make us worry. Dyslipidemia is a ‘silent killer’. However, it could be managed with diet, exercise and medication.
In India, the retirement age varies. Between the centre and the states. Between the states. Between the services. 58 years minimum. Professors, Judges can retire at 65. Another 2 years is normally possible. Post-retirement, senior officers, professionals can get additional tenures, but at the will of current dispensation. Private, Non-Government Organizations, Corporates, Businesses, Politics have no retirement formally set. Individual entities might have set their own norms. In any case, not less than 55. But it can go till ‘life’. Apart from no-barrier exit, there are provisions to seek voluntary retirement. Professionals may freelance life long. Some have no choice. Some have the luxury to choose their work. Post retirement, some get decent pensions. Some get sarkari pensions. Some serve themselves with their own savings. Some depend on the mercy of their children. Come to think of it, a typical ‘slave’ in an organization/government may join for work by 22-27. Maybe after an UG or PG. May work for 35 years and retire at 60-67. Probably with a modest or no pension. She has no option but to seek alternate engagement. This engagement, series of them, or portfolio of them, may have to last 10-15 years if not incapacitated otherwise. This engagement may be voluntary, or less remunerative, or more satisfying.
Can we find an eldercare system that engages elders beyond 67/70, for 5 years with dignity, meaningfully, usefully? Mandatorily. Can we give this justiciable right to elders?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, if we are a community of coexistence, co-flow. In N? iksanayoga for 7L.
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