I think the point is being missed that when you sign a contract, you sign it voluntarily. If you signed a contract that says you retire at 55, you are basically saying you want to retire at 55. No age discrimination laws will force you to work until you are 65. All it does is make your employer offer it to you. You don’t have to accept it but if you go on a base or are employed after 1/1/08 you won’t have a choice. The way I see it it’s age discrimination but in reverse.