The Nation: Old Folks' Liberation

Having mobilized a youth corps of consumer advocates over the past several years, Ralph Nader has now begun work on an old folks' liberation movement. Last week, with an initial group of four retired professionals, Nader established a force that he expects to function as a clearinghouse for information about and for the elderly. Nader's first volunteers plan, among other things, to coordinate investigations into such problems as nursing homes, employment for older workers, retirement income and prescription drugs.

The nation's 20 million citizens over 65—10% of the population—represent a potentially powerful lobbying force. Nader's "Retired Professional Group" will begin by concentrating on problems of the elderly, but eventually, as he notes, "it will become apparent that the problems of our society are seamless and ageless."