COMMENTARY ON THE ELDERLY : Senior Citizens Shouldn’t Gripe About Nickel Bus Fare Hike : Improvements in their finances leave most in a position to absorb a small increase in what is still a bargain.

Before I reached the dreaded age of 65, I worried about becoming a member of an unfortunate group referred to as “senior citizens.” I had read the myths about aging and was concerned about being poor, pitied, dependent on friends and children for my daily cat food.

And what happened? By age 78 I find that I’m a paid up member of one of the most powerful political groups in the country--one of the “untouchables” when it comes to paying my share of the nation’s expenses.

The good news is that the economic situations for seniors compared to other groups have actually improved in the past 15 years. The bad news is that we now face a serious backlash from those who are paying for our Social Security, Medicare and other benefits--including special discounts.

The term “greedy geezers” pops up now and then. Recently, a two-part Newsweek article was titled “Pampering the Elderly.” It pointed out that “unlike 40 years ago, the over-65 population is now at least as well off as the non-elderly. Per capita incomes are about equal. Poverty rates are lower. Elderly are better housed (and) have better health insurance coverage. But the elderly are still seen, by virtue of age alone, as ‘needy.’ ”

The most recent abuse of what some call “senior power” has been a chorus of complaints about a very modest increase in the senior fare on our excellent Orange County bus system. I should explain that four years ago I sold my new car for a new love--the bus. I must always explain to my friends who are married to their cars that I didn’t flunk my driver’s license test or drive my car through a DMV office. With two cataract operations, I wanted to quit before I scraped some cyclist off my rear fender.

I found that although it takes more time, I could get “from here to there” on the bus. There were many other advantages, and the economic one was in major savings. My estimate is that I save about $5,000 a year; and I think of myself as riding in a $250,000 limousine with a professional chauffeur.

As a result, I cringe in embarrassment when my peers complain about a five-cent raise for seniors. For those who use other transportation, I should explain that my current senior fare is 15 cents during off-peak hours and 45 cents during peak hours. And now, with the price of gas and everything else going up, a raise to 20 cents and 50 cents has been proposed, and now delayed or dropped, due to senior complaints.

For my fellow seniors to complain about this 5-cent increase while the rate for others is going up a dime is ridiculous. To save myself confusion in coins, I’ve always used 15 cents and 50 cents. And it is still the greatest bargain in the world.

For those who have never considered the bus as an alternative to freeway congestion, I should mention that my normal route is No. 43, a main route from Newport Beach to Brea, which I take up Harbor Boulevard to Disneyland.

I share the bus with some professionals who have smartened up to the bus bargain. However, it is the sole method of transportation for men and women heading to the Disneyland area for jobs in the hotels in this tourist center. Their average rate of pay will be the minimum wage, and during this downturn, they may have to work a shortened workweek. And they pay full fare, while I’m subsidized with a fare costing less than a couple of cigarettes. This is senior pampering at its worst.

Because some object to the term “senior,” we are increasingly being called “mature.” To be mature, it would seem that we also have to face up to the backlash against our group, and give more thought to others in our society.

Many of my younger friends now being taxed to pay my Social Security are facing more problems during this recession than those of us who have a cushion in Social Security and Medicare. The very least we can do is not whine about paying another nickel, at most 50 cents a week for the best bus bargain in the nation.

I can’t discount my embarrassment, and hope the proposed increase will be approved.