Man 69, sues to be 49

People of this world just seem to get crazier and crazier. Remember my column on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals declaring milk racist?

Well this is another good one.

A Dutch man, Emile Ratelband age 69, is suing his local government to be declared twenty years younger, age 49. Part of his argument is that his doctor says he has a body of a 45 year old.

Another argument is that if people can change their genders, he can change his age. The difference there is that a person that changes their gender has an operation. There is no operation to be made younger. If there was it would be a very popular surgery.

The reason why Mr. Ratelband wants this is for better work prospects and to have better luck picking up women on Tinder.

There we go, the main reason, and it ain’t about work.

"When I'm on Tinder and it say I'm 69, I don't get an answer. When I'm 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position.” He says if he was 49 instead of 69 he will be able to get a newer car, get a new house and take up more work.

He was born March 11, 1949 and wants it changed to March 11, 1969.

Maybe if he lived in a less socialist nation with anti-age discrimination laws he wouldn’t have to worry about this.

This also brings up some questions, like who did his parents raise from 1949 to 1969? Or if a person can sue to be declared older so he can get retirement benefits at a younger age?

If he wins, does Mr. Ratelband have to wait until he is actually 89 (real age) to get his pension back?

To his credit he did say that he will give up his pension until he reaches retirement age, again. Some, mostly on the left, think this is a good idea and he should win. The realist in me thinks he has a good case for age discrimination, if the Netherlands has that sort of thing.

We should find out soon, the court will decide in the next few weeks.

Jim has been a contributor to the Telegram for over the last five years. You can contact Jim at [email protected]