It's pretty well-known that far too many baby boomers are ill-prepared for retirement, but rising gas prices and a weak economy are exacerbating that problem. Here are some of the scary statistics from a new survey released by the AARP:

• Nearly 40% of people 45 and older have helped a child with expenses, including one-third of retirees.
• 8% have helped a parent keep up with bills.
• 1/3rd have stopped funding their 401(k) and 14% have cut back on medication.
• 60% have cut back on entertainment expenses like eating out.
• More than 25% are having difficulty making mortgage or rent payments.

If nothing else, these statistics are indicative of the perhaps ill-advised generosity of many baby boomers. 40% are helping children with expenses, and 1/3rd have stopped putting money aside for retirement. I wonder how much overlap there is there.

I know that people want to help their children. But underfunding your retirement to help out a younger person who has a lifetime of work ahead of them isn't noble: it's silly.

Just like they tell you on the airplane: Secure your own oxygen mask before you attempt to assist your child: you'll be more helpful to them that way.

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox thinks that the internet should be a great place for investors to have access to broader information about the companies they're considering investing in than ever before.

According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "Mr. Cox also is expected to put up for final vote Wednesday a proposed rule that would enable companies to create online shareholder forums where investors and management could exchange thoughts, establishing a kind of chat room to improve communication. Opposing that model is the AARP, the lobby group for adults 50 and older, which said its studies show that doing so would result in fewer of its members participating in shareholder elections."

Huh? Why would being allowed to interact with management online make people less likely to vote in corporate elections? Isn't that kind of like saying the YouTube presidential debates would reduce voter turnout?

An online forum for shareholders and managers is a fabulous idea. One of the biggest corporate governance concerns in America is that executives are isolated from the owners of their companies. With notable exceptions, it's hard for investors to get the ear of a corporate executive to ask questions or provide ideas for boosting shareholder value.

Online forums would be a way to facilitate that, and it's something that should be cheered.