Seven years ago this month, The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board peered into the nation’s retirement future and wrote:

“There are three economic eruptions we can be sure of in the next 10 years: 1) retiring boomers will begin withdrawing their investment income, buffeting high-flying markets; 2) boomers will become eligible for Medicare; and 3) boomers will begin receiving Social Security checks, and the ratio of workers supporting those payments will change for the worse.”

Those were hardly unique insights; in fact, they were entirely predictable. But our nation’s leaders chose to ignore them, and now the future of retirement in American is headed for a crisis.

Seven years ago, a budget surplus loomed. It was the perfect time to start setting aside money to shore up Medicare, Social Security and other weak spots in our social safety net. Instead, the nation went on a shopping spree.

As was shown in Sunday’s series of articles, households are getting squeezed by higher prices and stagnant wage growth. Not everyone is struggling, but everyone will probably be affected in the long run.

That’s because the retirement crisis is likely to heap even more burdens on American workers in the form of higher taxes and reduced benefits. Plus, it could delay their own retirement. It’s a topic so bleak that relatively few people are facing up to it.

According to experts, half to three-fourths of the coming generations’ retirees will struggle to make ends meet or will slide into poverty. Pensions are being phased out, with many companies shutting them off to newer workers. For many, the promise of 401(k) accounts is not being fulfilled. The nation has a negative savings rate, which means far too many people are not taking responsibility for their retirement. About one-third of workers have no personal savings. The median retirement savings account holds a mere $10,000.

As for government programs for retirees, Medicare is in the most immediate danger. Premiums are rising rapidly. The hospitalization component is projected to be insolvent by 2018. That same year, Social Security will begin paying out more than it takes in, which means it will have to start tapping trust funds.

Does this mean the nation will deny hospital care for Medicare patients or stop sending out retirement checks? Doubtful. But at the same time, Congress and the president are not actively working on solutions, even though the number of 65-year-olds is projected to double by 2030.

The price tag for shoring up retirement in America will be staggering. The more years we have to spread out the payments, the less painful it will be. Our nation’s leaders need to get to work on this.

Since this is an election year, be sure to ask congressional candidates for their views on the nation’s dismal retirement future. It may not be on their agenda, but make it clear to them that it is on yours.