Rift grows between young and old

RenovationMan

olly300 wrote: »

Sorry who allowed the "must have it now" generation to develop this attitude?

Their parents who are baby boomers that's who.

If you spoil your children then don't be surprised if they grow up into adults with a great sense of entitlement.

I'll bear that in mind. They're still at school and don't have baby boomers as parents - but otherwise your point is valid.

A._Badger

olly300 wrote: »

I know why governments do that as it's a way to ensure lots of people feel they are benefiting from the welfare state and so maintain the social contract.

You're being far too charitable. It's actually about buying votes - the last gummint made it into a fine art.

Jimmy_31

thorsoak wrote: »

But one day, you will be!

I doubt it.

ruggedtoast

ash28 wrote: »

I'm a boomer - early retired - OH and I are both 56 and took retirement at the end of 2010.

We both still pay income tax and it's a not insignificant amount but neither of us pay NI now. So we will both contribute to the state coffers until we croak.

I fully expect the state pension to be means tested by the time we are eligible for it in 10 years time. And I certainly don't expect to be given winter fuel allowances or a bus pass - it would be a waste of time for us anyway - we've gone rural and there are no buses at all. So if the time comes when we can't drive we'll have to sell up and move to a more urban area.

I have been well looked after by the state - I got a decent education which allowed me to get a decent job. I've had medical care when I've needed it (not very often, but who knows what lies ahead) and had very expensive dental and optical care for quite a number of years. I had child benefit for my children and it wasn't a deciding factor when we were planning a family. We've never had anything else. Except for 2 weeks dole in 1977 for OH when he was between job - he had started his new job by the time it came through!

Coming from poor backgrounds OH and I were fairly driven in wanting a better life than our parents and worked hard to get it. Poverty is big driver - or it was for us. On the other hand my children weren't brought up in poverty and aren't driven in the same way - they aren't very ambitious at all - I'm not saying they have a sense of entitlement or anything because I don't think they do. They just don't have the same drive that we did - but they are happy and as a parent that's all you can ask. And of course mum and dad are there to lend a hand if it's needed which is something we didn't have - the hand went the other way as we helped our parents not the other way round.

I don't think our kids will do as well as we did (if you count doing well meaning financially) and I really don't think that's lack of opportunity (they're bright people) on their part, they really don't seem as interested - I'm sure I've put that badly - but hey ho.

Good post.

PaulF81

My resentment isnt that they didnt pay in - its that they didnt pay in enough. State old age benefit is the majority of the DWP budget, a budget that gobbles up more than is generated in income tax alone.

Thats before we get into the planning restrictions faced by the younger generations preventing self-build that didnt exist "Back in the Day".

pqrdef

PaulF81 wrote: »

My resentment isnt that they didnt pay in - its that they didnt pay in enough.

People have never paid in for their own state pensions.

We pay into the welfare system so that those currently not earning, or not earning enough, can be supported to the level that we would want if we were in their shoes.

PaulF81 wrote: »

State old age benefit is the majority of the DWP budget, a budget that gobbles up more than is generated in income tax alone.

Well that cuts both ways. We used to pay much higher rates of income tax.

PaulF81

i would prefer we didnt pay them. it doesnt stop other nations being sucessful. why should the weak and the lazy hold back the economy?

ILW

Why is it assumed that any generation is entitled to a higher standard of living than their parents? Never understood that one.

PaulF81

why should other generations prevent the same sort of development opportunities they had?

Graham_Devon

ILW wrote: »

Why is it assumed that any generation is entitled to a higher standard of living than their parents? Never understood that one.

Serious question - do you have kids?