With it, the automakers will stay the course the suicidal course of declining market shares, insurmountable labor and retiree burdens, technology atrophy, product inferiority and never-ending job losses.

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There was no individual market for them and few employers offered retiree coverage.

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The gap likely closed some in 2010, thanks to strong market returns, but the gains could be offset by further swelling in the retiree ranks.

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But with life expectancies, retiree medical costs and the age for full receipt of Social Security benefits all rising--and stock market returns lagging--boomers would be well advised to wait until they're at least 59.5 to start phasing down.

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