You’ve probably heard the line: “Nobody wants to work anymore.” Usually tossed out at younger workers and usually with a sigh.
But here’s the twist. Georgia is one of the easiest states in America to retire in, which means a whole lot of older workers here are lining up to stop working as soon as humanly possible.
According to a new study from retirement expert John Stevenson:
- Retirement savings needed: $813,559
- Average annual wage: $64,210
- Average annual expenses: $34,180
That combo means the average Georgian can retire in just 27 working years. Compare that to most states, where retirement looks more like a 40-year marathon, and suddenly the “don’t want to work” crowd starts sounding less like a complaint and more like a life goal.
Zoom out to the national picture:
- 63% of Americans say the cost of living makes it nearly impossible to save.
- 14% dipped into retirement accounts just to pay everyday bills this year.
- 1 in 5 workers at the tail end of their careers haven’t saved a dime for retirement.
So yes—nobody wants to work anymore. And if Georgia is any indication, that’s not a problem. That’s the dream.
Read the full study here.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
