State Pension Increases

[paulchapo]

The first sentence of your post applies to any generation in human history.

And yes, they had their struggles, don’t we all; that is an inherent part of the human condition.

I simply think they could have done more with their good fortune to make our society a better and more equal place to live. And they haven’t.

Does anyone actually think that our society works better than it did 40 years ago? To suggest the main beneficiaries over that period haven’t contributed to that decay simply doesn’t hold water.

Maybe my view is somewhat skewed because I live where I do, but someone in their 70s and 80s does not need to live in a massive house, and I include my parents in that equation. There needs to be a big rethink about wealth distribution in this country.

The problem is human nature. People don’t want to give up what they feel they’ve earned. So they need to be compelled

It does, including them.

So why are they demonised then?

What could they have done? Were they in a position of power? In government? No, as stated they were just people going to work, making ends meet and feeding their kids.

How have they contributed to the decay?? You're talking bollocks mate and it pains me to say that as I respect you as a poster.Blame successive governments over the decades who's fucked things up with their selfish mismanagement of the economy, this government being the worst in my memory.

Why should they give up their house they worked bloody hard for years to buy and all their memories are in and they love living there? They earned it and can live in it until they die. That's their right. So should they go and live in a one bedroom flat somewhere and gift the house to a poor family with four kids?

You're seriously suggesting forcing people people to hand over their homes and money to the state to redistribute??? Really??

 

[Blue Maverick]

The triple lock is a complicated debate but I’m more than happy to state that ‘Boomers’, the spawn of the most remarkable and selfless generation this country has produced, are (overall) probably the most selfish.

My dad worked his arse off to provide for my mum and three kids, he certainly wasn’t selfish growing up and doing that, providing us with a decent living standard on not a lot. Now he reaps the benefits in his old age, but you say he’s selfish, yet he’s of a generation that has to be pushed to go to the doctors or even apply for a blue badge because he thinks hes a burden! Dont worry though because the generations that have followed who think they are entitled to everything arent selfish are they, my parents made do without, the current crop want everything and if the can’t it’s someone else’s fault, do me a fucking favour.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

How would you compel them?
How many acquired resources are too many?

That’s an interesting question which I haven’t applied my mind to.

Off the top of my head:

1. A tax on assets that would ordinarily compel people over 70 to dispose of them at a certain point

2. Reducing the state pension linked to those assets on a sliding scale.

3. Massively taxing second homes.

4. Banning people over a certain age from driving so they will need to move to more accessible by public transport, smaller homes.

5. Taxing pension income higher above a certain threshold

Thing is, whatever you do with society, and the tax structure within it, it will be held as unfair by some, because life is unfair, as anyone sleeping rough tonight will attest. It’s surely got to be about a structure that is fair to the most people.

Any the current system plainly isn’t.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

The first sentence of your post applies to any generation in human history.

And yes, they had their struggles, don’t we all; that is an inherent part of the human condition.

I simply think they could have done more with their good fortune to make our society a better and more equal place to live. And they haven’t.

Does anyone actually think that our society works better than it did 40 years ago? To suggest the main beneficiaries over that period haven’t contributed to that decay simply doesn’t hold water.

Maybe my view is somewhat skewed because I live where I do, but someone in their 70s and 80s does not need to live in a massive house, and I include my parents in that equation. There needs to be a big rethink about wealth distribution in this country.

The problem is human nature. People don’t want to give up what they feel they’ve earned. So they need to be compelled

Sorry but if people have worked for something meeting all the requirements and expectations, why should they be expected to give it up ?

It doesn't mean that they do not appreciate the situations that others find themselves in, or indeed do not contribute in a number of ways to help others who are less fortunate ?

If I have correctly read but misunderstood your comment, I apologise, but that is a very broad brush comment

I don't believe that you actually mean that, so perhaps coming late to the thread and having only read your latest post, I have got the wrong end of things.

 

[mexico1970]

That’s an interesting question which I haven’t applied my mind to.

Off the top of my head:

1. A tax on assets that would ordinarily compel people over 70 to dispose of them at a certain point

2. Reducing the state pension linked to those assets on a sliding scale.

3. Massively taxing second homes.

4. Banning people over a certain age from driving so they will need to move to more accessible by public transport, smaller homes.

5. Taxing pension income higher above a certain threshold

Thing is, whatever you do with society, and the tax structure within it, it will be held as unfair by some, because life is unfair, as anyone sleeping rough tonight will attest. It’s surely got to be about a structure that is fair to the most people.

Any the current system plainly isn’t.

Number 4 would be a problem for me but the other recommendations don't appear to be severe.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

My dad worked his arse off to provide for my mum and three kids, he certainly wasn’t selfish growing up and doing that, providing us with a decent living standard on not a lot. Now he reaps the benefits in his old age, but you say he’s selfish, yet he’s of a generation that has to be pushed to go to the doctors or even apply for a blue badge because he thinks hes a burden! Dont worry though because the generations that have followed who think they are entitled to everything arent selfish are they, my parents made do without, the current crop want everything and if the can’t it’s someone else’s fault, do me a fucking favour.

If we’re going to get the working class hero violin out, my My dad came from absolute poverty in Hulme and Moss Side to now live in a house that is currently worth about 1.5 million quid.

Do I think the state should take more of my inheritance from me to make this a better society for the young who can’t afford to buy a house? Yes, I absolutely do.

My dad should have sold that house years ago, and put the proceeds back into the economy, but he won’t. Because he wants to hold what he has acquired, even though the house is too big for them.

Is that selfish? It absolutely is.

They don’t need to live in that house, but they continue to, because my dad wants to ‘reap the benefits’ of his toil, while others don’t reap any discernible benefit of theirs. How is that fair?

Like I said, to make our society fairer overall, some people will have to be treated in a way that they see as unfair.

That’s just the way it is, but it’s the only answer.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Sorry but if people have worked for something meeting all the requirements and expectations, why should they be expected to give it up ?

Because life isn’t fair. Do you actually think it is, or ever can be?

To make any society better, some people have to be treated unfairly.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Number 4 would be a problem for me but the other recommendations don't appear to be severe.

It was off the top of my head!

 

[BrianW]

Unfortunately, this country went down the wrong path with Thatcherism and its bastard spawn Blairism.

This turned us from an 'us' society to a 'me, me, me!' society. Competing with one another, resenting anyone else having anything, and undervaluing the collective.

It will not be easy to reverse this and become more - communal. for want of a better word.

First, we have a shit electoral system where all power goes to the largest minority.

Second, we have a vile media that encourages hatred. They may hate 'X' today, but tomorrow they'll be encouraging you to hate 'Y'. The very last thing they want is anything encouraging social unity.

Third, people are scared. The whole concept of social security has been abolished and replaced by 'welfare'. The choice of words is deliberate - welfare is something you are invited to despise. So people go on the defensive. They cling to stuff they don't really need because it's all they've got. When people are scared it's easy to make them hate and that suits the boss class very well.

Fourth - there is no concept of community, or very little. People don't even take pride in their own city or town because we have been encouraged to think of ourselves as consumers, not citizens.

Fifth, back in the 50s and 60s - and even the 70s to a point - this country was visibly getting more prosperous by the year, and that prosperity was shared, not all kept back by the 1% at the top. Now, at best, we are stagnant. Some people reckon things will get a bit better, but no one seriously thinks there will be significant growth. In short, we live in pessimistic times. Appropriately, because conservatism is a philosophy of pessimism. It assumes everyone is a thieving, lazy scrote who will not work unless more or less compelled.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

The first sentence of your post applies to any generation in human history.

And yes, they had their struggles, don’t we all; that is an inherent part of the human condition.

I simply think they could have done more with their good fortune to make our society a better and more equal place to live. And they haven’t.

Does anyone actually think that our society works better than it did 40 years ago? To suggest the main beneficiaries over that period haven’t contributed to that decay simply doesn’t hold water.

Maybe my view is somewhat skewed because I live where I do, but someone in their 70s and 80s does not need to live in a massive house, and I include my parents in that equation. There needs to be a big rethink about wealth distribution in this country.

The problem is human nature. People don’t want to give up what they feel they’ve earned. So they need to be compelled

And what are you doing to save the world then Ghandi?