The first of the vast US baby boom generation goes into retirement in January, setting off a demographic tidal wave with wide-ranging economic, political and social implications.

The New Jersey grandmother is the first of an estimated 80 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964...

The cost for government-funded social security and medical care for the boomers leaves a funding gap of between 40 and 76 trillion dollars for next 75 years, according to various estimates.

"An unprecedented number will soon be entering the retirement stage of life. One-third of the population will be over 50 by 2010. One in five will be over 65 by 2010."

About half of Americans will buy new homes after retirement, and many will continue to work in some capacity or become involved in social activism.

On the economic side, some fear the "silver tsunami" will drain the country of its wealth, but Baxter says the United States has some advantages.

"It's true that everything in our society is built on the idea of continued growth, it's kind of a giant Ponzi scheme with every generation prior to this one having given birth to a larger generation," he said.

But Baxter said "the US is cushioned to some extent by a more liberal immigration policy" and because "there is more flexibility in our workforce. It's illegal to have mandatory reitirement and that's not the case in most countries.

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A funding gap of up to $76 trillion. I wonder who these future "social activists" will target to pay for their upkeep?

And nothing like relying on liberal immigration policies to keep things going. If these immigrants don't assimilate, the Unites States could cease to exist.

Raise taxes on tobacco? Ban smoking everywhere? Make smokers pariahs? You people are going to regret it. You wanted Heaven, but you're going to get Hell.

Too bad I have kids or I'd be smiling.

On November 3, 2009, I'll turn 50. It will indeed be interesting to see what happens in this nation over the next 20 years or so. If things get worse for smokers, I would seriously consider leaving the US. As I anticipate freezing my ass off tonight delivering bundles of newspapers, my thoughts turn to Mexico and Costa Rica, both smoker-friendly countries, having very appealling weather.........

Pat, what are you talking about freezing your ass off tonight? The low is supposed to be 22. That's kind of warm. Didn't we already have a few minus teens already?

What a sissy.

I don't consider it nice outside until the mercury reaches about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and in Wisconsin, you only see that about 3 months out of a year.