From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

A medical miracle with conflicting consequences.

Hello again, I'm Warren Olney, and this is a Labor Day edition of To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues Americans

care about most. Baby boomers will live almost twice as long as previous generations. Older Americans

are going to outnumber the young. There's already competition for jobs and young people who find

work will pay for the rising costs of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. On the bright side, there's a new force of reliable workers with experience as well as good health,

and the wisdom defined fulfillment in social improvement.

We'll look at the pros and cons of an aging America.

On reporter's notebook later on, a status report on the labor movement in 2009.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, dedicated to the idea that all

people deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. Information at gatesfoundation.org.

Hello again. I'm Mormon-Aulny. Back with To the Point on this Labor Day. 80 million baby boomers

are reaching their late 50s.

Will an aging population burden the young or use the wisdom that comes from experience to create a better society?

On reporter's notebook for decades, union membership has been declining as a percentage of America's workforce.

We'll get a progress report on organized labor.

First, this news update, Congress will be back

in Washington tomorrow. After in August recess, some members will never forget. What's next for

health care reform? Asra Klein reports for the Washington Post. Ezra, good to have you back on our

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