In your mind opportunity and effort are irrelevant to personal outcomes and perception is detached from reality? That my friend is propaganda most vile. 
In order to have shelter one must pay for it. Rational human beings expend effort for monetary reward and exchange money for food and shelter among other things. If you wish to produce meaningful output your should base your observations on reality rather than idealistic fantasies created simply to stir sympathy. 
One can understand your status in the twilight of a mediocre career. A journalistic version of Gresham's Law, unwilling or unable to grasp new technology and the changing economic and political environment retirement into gentile poverty beckoned. 
Best of luck with  your plans work to on a book or two in your down time. The vanity press beckons.