School closures due to crumbling concrete

[HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond]

JFC you are kidding me?!

https://amp.theguardian.com/education/2023/aug/31/english-schools-told-to-close-buildings-made-with-crumble-risk-concrete]

@TheThinkingGoblin Lol I am young but OK.

There's something really not quite right about you (well, apart from the relentless ageism and frequent xenophobia).

Three degrees mate. BA (First), MSc (Distinction) and PhD (with no corrections). Oh, and the postdocs.

@christonnabike

"Oh here we go, any bloody opportunity"

"Three degrees mate. BA (First), MSc (Distinction) and PhD (with no corrections). Oh, and the postdocs"

+++

Given your impressive academic achievements perhaps you could enlighten us all on how the state pension and NI contributions work and whether there is indeed a ring fenced state pension pot.

Or is it as @wonderstuff explains

"That isn’t how state pension works, it’s always been working people paying for those currently retired. It’s a state benefit just like any other, there’s never been a state pension pot that was invested, NI goes into general taxation."

@1dayatatime Do you know how to use an internet search engine?

@christonnabike

Well @wonderstuff kindly explained how the state pension and NI system works. @TheThinkingGoblin (and myself) are of the view that this is now unsustainable given demographics and the current and deteriorating economic state

Your counter argument consists of
"Oh here we go, any bloody opportunity". Given your impressive academic achievements I was rather hoping for a more detailed and fact based counter argument which can then discuss.

Throwing out one liners is not a counter argument.

She doesn't understand because she does not have any experience in financial and economic modelling.

I see this a lot in the UK

People with degrees in English, Geography etc. thinking that "education" applies to pensions and actuarial valuations.

Do notice how the individual in question has not actually stated what her degrees were in.

I have four STEM related degrees and decades of experience in the actuarial field, which is precisely why I call these people out.

Its very important to do this now because the UK is teetering on the edge of a permanent drop in living standards due to an imbalanced tax system that favours the retired vs working folks.

I do understand the basis for your posts @TheThinkingGoblin . I worked for a huge US pension company, in marketing, for several years, so I read the papers and grasp the business dynamics.

Out of interest, why did you acquire four STEM related degrees? Presuming that's an undergraduate one, poss two, followed by a masters and a PhD... Most actuaries just have maths and actuarial science or law, from my knowledge. Or were you undecided on a career?

Undecided mostly. I ended up with a whole collection of degrees (Math, Econ, Physics, Act Sci). 2 UG + 2 PG.

Wanted initially to be a research scientist in the US, but saw academia changing for the worse in the long run (this is arguably what has happened in the last 20 years). Ended up leaving before starting a Ph.D because the I felt the sunk (opportunity) cost was just too big.

Definitely don't recommend my "path" to younger folks these days though as University has become far too expensive.