Introduction
A mandatory retirement age is the time when employees are required
to leave their jobs. Most jobs have their own mandatory retirement
ages, and they generally vary based on each job. However, some jobs
do not ask the workers to retire at all. This week’s debate will
discuss whether there should be one mandatory retirement age that
applies to all jobs. Let us see what Henry and Ashley have to say
about this interesting topic.
Henry
(Constructive)
There should be one mandatory retirement age for all jobs. People
often spend the majority of their lives working. After a certain
age, people should stop working and rest. If there is no common
retirement age, employees may work until they are extremely old
and sick. I think that people should retire once they turn 65 years
old. They should spend their time with their family, traveling,
resting, and enjoying their lives. Life is more than just work!
Ashley
(Constructive)
There should not be a universal mandatory retirement age for all
jobs. People should choose when they want to stop working. Also,
there should not be one general retirement age for all jobs because
every job is different. For example, a professor may be able to
teach a class at 65 years old. However, a construction worker may
have a hard time lifting heavy equipment at 65 years old. Different
jobs require different skills, and should therefore have different
mandatory retirement ages.
Henry
(Rebuttal)
If people are allowed to choose when they will stop working, I guarantee
that there will be many people who work for their entire lives.
We should establish a mandatory retirement age so that people have
a chance to rest and enjoy their lives. Also, some people could
get hurt if they try to work when they are too old. For example,
a 65-year-old construction worker should not be lifting heavy equipment
at his age. He could get seriously injured!
Ashley
(Rebuttal)
Some people love to work. Their work gives their lives meaning and
purpose. In fact, it is actually common for people to become depressed
after retirement. People should not be forced to quit working before
they are ready. I am sure that this would cause widespread depression
among senior citizens. You said that people should be forced to
retire so that they can enjoy their lives. However, many people
already enjoy their lives because of their work.
Judge’s
Comments
Today’s winner is Henry. Ashley committed the logical fallacy called
slippery slope. A debater commits this fallacy when he or she claims
that if we let A happen, then Z will eventually happen. Ashley said
that we should not establish a mandatory retirement age for all
jobs because it is common for people to get depressed after retirement.
Therefore, establishing a mandatory retirement age would lead to
widespread depression among senior citizens. This is an example
of the slippery slope fallacy.