On the attitude of ageing pilots

This is going to ruffle a lot of feathers, but the truth needs to be heard.
But first, let me take you back to the summer of '91 when I was an LCA on the 727 panel at Pan Am. Things were not going well. We were selling routes. The BIG cherry just picked was the European operation (Frankfurt hub/A-310s) and the NY shuttle (LGA hub/727s) going to Delta. Delta wanted the crews they were prepared to take already trained in seat and type. So to accomodate the senior folk ALPA, the FEIA and management REBID the airline. Those who would have been saved from the inevitable collapse (like me) by going to Delta were now looking down both barrels at unemployment, furlough notice in hand and 90 days to figure out what to do. Yeah, my union was looking out for me again god bless 'em. So when I get called into the office and told in effect "You will be training your replacements" (the 747 F/Es who were bidding back to the 727 panel) I was at a loss for words. A thousand emotions flew across my mind.
But I was still collecting a paycheck and as far as I was concerned, I had entered into an agreement with the company to provide services in exchange for it. I had no aspirations at a management slot or salvation of some other kind, I was just keeping my word. A working stiff. Moreover, I knew the history of the replacements. Many had suffered long furloughs, were pushing 60 with little retirement, this was their shot at a day in the sun. I was no spring chicken (late thirties, a couple of airline failures already under my belt, no retirement to speak of, a newborne baby.....the usual story) but I recognized their situation was more dire than my own. I did the checkrides, got them all through (some needed work) and felt good about being able to help when called on. December '91 I was back to flying boxes around in a Cessna 310 for 20K a year.
Fast forward now to 2007 and the brouhaha about raising the retirement age is in full swing. Young pilots rabid about the potential for stifled growth because the old guys won't leave. United ALPA took a vote and it was about 70-30 against raising the age limit. Of course the rest of the world was going to do it, The US government was going to do it, and so ALPA national rolled over and acquiesced to it. But had it depended on a straw vote it would have failed, and age 60 would have remained the law. Never at any time did I hear a younger pilot express anything except WHAT PERSONALLY BENEFITTED HIM. The greater good, others needs, the ultimate benefit to him monetarily, all were ignored. It was me, me , me like a broken record. Not vey impressive from an ethical standpoint. Pretty poor.
Unfortunatley it gets worse.
There are many turning 60 now (like me) who are aware that their presence was, by and large, not wanted on the property. (If we were to assume that everyone over 55 voted to extend retirement age, and that the age demographic from 35 to 55 is roughly constant, then we see a shocking 7:1 vote within the 35 -55 age group against raising the age limit.). The majority had spoken.
Well, they, the old guys,  are on the property. They are not going anywhere.
And so when you look for unity, when you look for someone over the age of 60 to put their job on the line for your benefit, for your future, for your "quality of life", for your scope protection, remember this:
You didn't want him to have that job or that vote in the first place. He is already an outcast in his mind. Had you had your way he would be unemployed right now thanks to you.

It's nothing personal, just business.