But consulting using your work experience of 10, 20 or 30 years is something that can happen and everyone in the economic rung could rise up 1 spot.
Also, your work experience in 1960s/70s isn't so relevant to most anything today. Especially in a technologically driven environment.
Besides most of these "consulting" work are government, union or private company jobs where nepotism or corruption plays a big role.
I know HN userbase skews very old, but old people "consulting" is just in everyone's way. Like I said, if you want to consult, then don't retire and keeping working. So exploit the system by collecting social security/pensions/etc and screwing over a tons of younger people.