Do we, as future pensioners need to start fighting for our rights now?

Question

People are living longer, and yet pensions are being reduced, standards of care for the elderly in residential homes are poor, and the over 60's are one of the most vulnerable groups in society and also one the most ignored and abused. Maybe we have 30, 40 or 50 years before we reach that age, but shouldn't we start now to make sure that in our latter years, we have a decent standard of life? After all, the powers that be have already secured their future, its the working Man and Woman that's at risk (like always) and to get "them" to do anything that benefits us has always been a long hard struggle. Don't we as the younger generation need to start fighting now to safeguard our future, and also make sure that our children have a good life when they get old?

Answer 1

At least you know what you are getting into- you are not entitled to anything- If you want to ensure yourself a decent pension- have as many children as you can- because it is not fair to expect a few young people to foot the bill for a bunch of unproductive old people- As pensions were based on the belief hat there would always be allot more young people then old, and that people would not live as many unproductive years as they do now.

Answer 2

Better to start a savings plan instead.

The state can only pay out a share of what it collects.
If it has to pay out more it will have to collect more. The cost of collection will rise as more resources will be involved and more used(not just people who will be the biggest long term cost).

With the population an average living 10 years longer it is not just pension provision but health provision that absorbs the money paid in.

Add in the fact that for years our NI contributions have been used to cross subsidise other tax payers demands(some good some bad) and we have a massive black hole in the future funding required.
One of the reasons this is not clear is because the government is not sowing in stark terms the long range expectations to fund pensions.

Answer 3

What's this 'over 60s' stuff? 60 is the new 50, so you might have said, the 'over 70s'. Even so, people should be in charge of their own destiny, not relying on the state to provide a pension. Start your own pension scheme, though I do concede that the government could help with tax concessions to enable you to do this. Since G.Brown is the culprit behind the current pensions problem, you'll have to wait for a change of government before that's likely to happen.

Answer 4

Where did you get that the "over 60s" are the most vulnerable and the most ignored and abused? We devote over 30% of all of the federal money spent to that group, in the form of Social Security and Medicare, such that those programs will most likely not be around when the "future pensioners" get there.

Spare me. If you want to safeguard your own future, max out your 401k. Then you don't have to worry about what happens in Washington.

Answer 5

I'm retired and wonder at the sort of lifestyle my children will have if Social Security and Medicare lose funding. But that is not where the real dangers are.
Each worker today needs to do his/her best to provide for their own future.
The real danger today is countries like China. Look at what happened to the stock market today 2-27-07. The balance of payments (trade with China) is so lopsided that it is draining our country's resources now and for many decades to come. Each time the U.S. Government borrows money we become more indebted to China who is not our friend and could pull the rug out from under us at any time.

Answer 6

yes i agree with your forward thinking but i have been around a long time and i can say without doubt when you reach the age when you become vulnerable to all and sundry the position will be the same as it is now as the guys in power are just taking care of their own position and wont give a fig about the less fortunate and its always been the same as I can remember the 30s they were terrible years and i didn't see much help infact no help coming to the men who had fought in wwi and were destitute and their families as i was only a kid but it will always live with me

Answer 7

I think that you should be responsible for your own destiny. Granted we pay in NI contibutions and income tax but there are a lot of people out there that have never worked a day in their life. Why should I pay for these people.

To be quite honest the majority of people just don't think that far ahead.

If everyone had to sort out their own pensions then the powers at be would be in the same predicament as everyone else.

Answer 8

Not only do you need to fight for it but you also need a cast iron, copper bottomed guarantee like the M.P.s have got that it is safe. The people in power should hang their heads in shame at what is happening to hard working people of this country who have lost out with their pensions. But then again their is no shame. All they want is bigger troughs to get their snouts in.

Answer 9

international conflict II led to 1945 that's sixty one years in the past. with a view to have extremely fought in the conflict that Pensioner might now's a minimum of 80 years previous. even nonetheless a robust most of the 'previous squaddies' are nonetheless around, no longer too many would be waiting to shuttle on public delivery which so needless to say annoys you and your babies. maximum human beings of the present Pensioners have been babies throughout the time of the era 1939 to 1945 and have been extra in all threat to have lived throughout the time of the phobia of the wartime bombing and snoozing many nights in chilly dark air raid shelters. they does no longer have had the luxurious of shuttle on what public delivery there become and in maximum situations might could walk to college. childrens then have been continually taught to be polite with the help of their mothers and fathers,- generally the mum by using fact the father become far off from living house serving in the army, and the youngsters have been lots respected for doing so. The become NO toddler allowance advantages in those days to assist the mothers and fathers, who might could walk with the youngsters for long distances to save money for notwithstanding foodstuff become available - - ON RATION. you're able to no longer generalise and ***** approximately ALL pensioners by using fact according to threat the unusual one might have disenchanted you . . .it incredibly is unquestionably no longer placing a robust properly-known on your guy or woman babies to witness. The elderly individual or persons who brought about you this disenchanted could be ill, or stricken by some kind of age senility. they could be lonely having had their better half die. we are able to all be in that project sooner or later - "Have a coronary heart" solid success

Answer 10

What YOU need to do, and what everybody needs to do, is start planning for your retirement now, so that anything you get from the State will be aditional to what you have built up. And then, yes, start doing something to get the government to pull it finger out and do something positive!