Re: Pensioner Poverty
I would first like to say that pensioners of today are the people who were working in the 60s 70s & 80s because there were still plenty of jobs. They had the chance to buy houses & if they went to work they could have contributed to a pension fund. I appreciate that some didn't do that, but always ask myself if it was their bad planning that makes them now short of money?
Benefits are provided, by those who do go to work and pay NI, so it is only fair that they should be used for those who have fallen on bad times..... but when many people are now unable to find a job who is going to provide the benefits for them in the future?
The main reasons for the current lack of jobs are
1) People who don't want to work so find a way to claim benefits!
2) Computers..... we all want to enjoy the benefits of them, but they are putting many people out of work &, unless you are well educated in technology, the only jobs available are the ones that people often don't want to do!
Back in the 80's when banking became very much dependent on Computers, the staff asked if this would mean losing jobs. We were told " Of course not, we will always need people in banking" The people they were speaking to are now on good pensions, but the staff that came after them are now being disposed of or put into less qualified jobs that pay less!
There certainly isn't a bank on every corner where you can discuss things with the manager & the computer decides if the bank can help.....so if you make any mistakes with your finances they will only help if it gives them a chance to charge you more for doing so.
UJ, this is nothing to do with the Tory party, all governments will suffer the same problems.
The Guardian, who said that Pensioners were living in poverty, should be ashamed of what was written at the end, where they were begging these poverty stricken people to give them money, so they could continue the fight!
What they were really saying was " please make sure you keep us in a job"
They wrote " For as little as £1, you can support the Guardian – and it only takes a minute. Thank you." If they really cared, that £1 may have kept these poverty ridden pensioners' fires lit for a little longer