RH Jones: Stress shortens life span

From RH Jones, February 26, 2009
Subject: Stress cuts years off life

To all:

Stress, and the worry that accompanies it, have been shown to be (by various health studies) a major cause of a shortening of one’s life span. Most certainly, having exorbitant health care (HC) costs, and prescription (Rx) costs, may be a major cause of the shortening life span for retired Ohio educators, particularly men and women who a expected to be the family provider.

A 30 year career as a professional educator in the classroom, or in administration, is a major reason to be stressed out -- that’s why I retired. But, for Ohio STRS retirees to be stressed about HC/Rx, and to have worry where they will get the money, has been a shameful exploitation. Teachers are those very folks who taught you and me to read this!

Therefore, the time is here for the rebirth of the Ohio HB 315 to increase the employer/employee contribution to our STRS. The Supplemental Federal Stimulus Package has arrived. Our Ohio legislators need to quickly pass the HB 315. It is the moral thing to do. Cutting into retired educators' funding has been going on long enough. It is time to=2 0end the disgraceful and shameless exploitation of the elderly retired educators.

Everyone knows who has been using us. I shall not make a long list of their names. They have the funding now to correct past mistakes. If they do not, what can they expect when they too reach old age? They need to set an example of resourcefulness.

And will the failure to do the right thing for today’s retired educators stress their consciences? And, in their future elderly life, will this stress be a cause of shortening of their life span as well? I wonder.

The opinion of an old retired 6th grade teacher,

RHJones