UK faces " Randontimeinthefuturethatnobodyknows BOMB" from ageing population

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Forecasts are one thing.

Reality is another.

Why worry about the predictions of doom and gloom then?

A selective acceptance of forecasts - probably some sort of bias.

Graham_Devon

Oh, and Immigration is now the biggest political factor for voters...over and above the NHS.

Just been released on BBC radio 5.

Thrugelmir

Joeskeppi wrote: »

Given that "cutting current spending by a quarter" isn't possible it's almost as if the only way to fix it is allow immigration to continue to pay for the oldies while the issue is tackled gradually.

Can't think where I've heard that before.

Do a deal with Spain. Plenty of empty property and under employed people. At the age of 75 send people to Spain to see out their retirement years.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Oh, and Immigration is now the biggest political factor for voters...over and above the NHS.
.

And just watch how fast that would change if we threatened to remove free access to the NHS because we don't have enough young people to pay for it.....:cool:

Chrysalis

The problem is its political suicide to cut services/pensions for "existing" pensioners, no government dares do it.

The govenrment makes a lot of noise about how JSA claimants are bankrupting the company, the so callled rampant fraud on ESA etc. which both are a drop in the ocean compared to the massive pension's budget, the constant freebies given to pensioners etc. e.g. this year the heating allowance is been extended. Pensioners are also excluded on council tax benefit changes and the bedroom tax. All for political reasons to keep their votes. But these policies are causing a uneven burden towards working age people.

Thrugelmir

Chrysalis wrote: »

The problem is its political suicide to cut services/pensions for "existing" pensioners, no government dares do it.

The coming changes in 2016 will cut pensions for many.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

The reality is we haven't built the infrastructure required (or even come close) over the last 12 years of increased immigration.

Better get building then.

As there is no other workable solution.

This reality was being talked about at PM's questions just an hour ago with Education in the South East showing dire issues due to populations the system simply cannot cope with.

And yet the population of children remains lower today than it was several decades ago.

There is no need for a shortage of school places, seems local politicians may have failed to grasp the reality that after decades of falling numbers of children, numbers would need to one day rise again for sustainable and balanced population structures.

Chrysalis

Thrugelmir wrote: »

The coming changes in 2016 will cut pensions for many.

what such changes?

Its my view that pension rates should be tied to the same rates as ESA, if one is frozen the other should be as both benefits are for people who are deemed not required to work yet one is different to the other.

carefullycautious

lukeh23 wrote: »

Cull the boomers.

That is a ridiculous statement as the 'Boomers' as you like to call them should have enough money to pay for themselves as regards care and private healthcare.

vivatifosi

Thrugelmir wrote: »

The coming changes in 2016 will cut pensions for many.

It's astonishing isn't it Thrug? That change is just round the corner yet so few people know about it or know it is coming. Still, according to Back to the Future II, we're getting hoverboards and Jaws 19 first.