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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think the biggest threat to this country is war between generations

155 replies

suziepra · 03/08/2014 10:38

In modern UK the young have to look forward to a backbreaking amount of debt as even to be a pa you need a degree. Then once they graduate they will be lucky to get a decent wage and only a tiny amount of people under 30 (3% of homes win last six months were purchased by under 30s) will be able to buy a houses. They will probably have a miserable time stuck at home during their 20s and 30s finding it difficult to start a family. Then they will have to work for the rest of their lives. Whereby watching their parents who bought cheep homes, retire in their 60s and enjoy 20 years of retirement. Yes I know there are exceptions to what I said, but this does seem to be the norm in the south east. I can see things going nasty.

OP posts:
SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 15:09

Every year, the bulk of my generation hand over more or less half their incomes to fund pensions that will never be available to them, while the pensioners in question live, mortgage-free in houses that my generation will never be able to afford.

That's fair how, exactly?

alemci · 03/08/2014 15:17

who says life is fair Steelye.

Orangeanddemons · 03/08/2014 15:23

I'm in the generation in between. We also had to pay NI etc to fund the older generation. It never bothered me. Better to have Ni than nothing

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 15:30

Alemci So whenever you see inequality and social injustice you just shrug it off with that rather worn old cliche? You sound delightful.

I'm very comfortable financially, but I still feel outraged on the behalf of most people of my age who will never own a home, and will still be working into their 70s.

grumblepuss · 03/08/2014 15:33

Steeleye - what do you propose to solve the problem?

alemci · 03/08/2014 15:36

you don't really know me Steelye or anything about me.

The older generation had to put up with war and poverty.

what has caused this situation to arise?

alemci · 03/08/2014 15:39

I mean today's situation?

Sicaq · 03/08/2014 15:41

What form would this "war" take?

I sympathise; like a PP I have done everything you are supposed to do to better your situation (came from a deprived area, worked three jobs to pay through my PhD; lived in houseshares and studios to save money, moved around several times for work) and I am still struggling into my 40's. I blame structural failures for this, though, not any particular generation. They could not help being born when they were, any more than we could.

Orangeanddemons · 03/08/2014 15:43
Isitmylibrarybook · 03/08/2014 15:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SirNoel · 03/08/2014 15:44

I'm not worried, I could easy kick my nans arse I reckon

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 15:47

Actually, I believe we should follow the Australian model, and enforce compulsory voting for everyone entitled to do so.

The current problem, IMO, is caused by the skew of voting figures towards older people.

The government (of any hue) knows that they need to appeal to older people, because that is where their support lies. Hence the gold-plated pensions, WFA and general pandering to the NIMBY brigade (Countryside Alliance et al)

If governments knew that they had to also appeal to the younger generations, then they would have to calibrate their policies in a fairer and more balanced way.

I also think that politics and basic law should form part of the national curriculum. Young people today seem too distracted by X Factor and just twaddle in general to concentrate on things that actually matter.

alemci · 03/08/2014 15:47

exactly and they didn't have the freedom. often they left school at 14 to do menial jobs., didn't run cars, go abroad.

no fridges and washing machines in the 50s.

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 15:48

alemci All I have to go on is what you posted, which says a lot about you. If you don't want people to judge you harshly, think more carefully about what you post.

alemci · 03/08/2014 15:51

ok Steelye but I couldn't resistSmile

why do you think it has become so expensive and ridiculous. my dc will experience this issue

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 15:51

What I mean is that the age at which the State Pension is available is being pushed back at every available opportunity.

I live in a community of people who retired at 60 and can look forward to 20-30 years of fully funded (by the likes of me) retirement.

They will probably also enjoy that retirement in excellent health, thanks to the NHS (also funded by muggins here)

Its not right.

Isitmylibrarybook · 03/08/2014 16:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 16:10

I agree with much of what you've said, but I have to disagree with you that none of it is the fault of the older generation. It very much is.

As the BabyBoomers are so influential, their pressure groups (The Countryside alliance in particular) maintain an almost constant pressure on the government of the day to pursue their own agenda, at the expense of the younger generation.

The vast majority of government spending is on pensions, and this is on the rise, hence the government has to wring every penny it can out of the younger generations to pay for it. Hence zero hour contracts are largely tolerated by the government despite the awful effect they have on the (often younger and disenfranchised) workers who have no choice but to accept them.

One of the things that really gives me the rage is the older generation, who themselves benefitted hugely from rising houseprices are now, on the whole, very vehemently against building of new homes which would serve to open up the market for the next generation of homebuyers.

Furthermore, if the NIMBYS would stop their opposition to wind farms, fracking etc, then we would face a much more certain future wrt energy supply.

Isitmylibrarybook · 03/08/2014 16:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 16:14

Show me a political party who has ever reversed a controversial revenue raising policy. Go on, just one...

Even Ed Miliband has confirmed that Labour would not reverse the bedroom tax, nor reinstate child benefit for higher earners, nor allow the transfer of personal tax allowances between married couples.

So go on, name me one example of when such a reversal has occurred?

SteeleyeSpanx · 03/08/2014 16:16

Also, the trouble with the pushing back of the pension age is that the Treasury benefits on both ends - not only do they save the pension that they are not paying you for those years, they are also taking income tax from you in what are often the highest earning years of your life.

...and you really think any of the other political parties will reverse this, really?

crje · 03/08/2014 16:26

Yanbu
We are experiencing this senario now.
Parents have always enjoyed a better standard of living/work life balance & its hard not to begrudge them their new cars&holidays when we are struggling.

JenniferJo · 03/08/2014 16:27

As the BabyBoomers are so influential, their pressure groups (The Countryside alliance in particular) maintain an almost constant pressure on the government of the day to pursue their own agenda, at the expense of the younger generation.

Utter bollocks. I'm a baby boomer and fought long and hard for the abolition of hunting for 40 years as did many others of my generation.

One of the things that really gives me the rage is the older generation, who themselves benefitted hugely from rising houseprices are now, on the whole, very vehemently against building of new homes which would serve to open up the market for the next generation of homebuyers.

Yet more piffle. Many of us were against Thatcher selling off social housing but the me, me, me generation (younger than us) were all voting Tory and were all for it. That's why there's a housing shortage and why houses cost so much. More social housing is needed but Thatcher wouldn't let councils use the money from council house sales to build them.

Furthermore, if the NIMBYS would stop their opposition to wind farms, fracking etc, then we would face a much more certain future wrt energy supply.

Get a grip for fuck's sake. It's my "hippy" generation who have been advocating renewable resources and wind farms since the 60s.

Not all boomers are out to make you poor. What a pathetic and vile generalisation. Yes, we vote because we know it's the right thing to do, whichever party we vote for. Not our fault other generations can't be arsed. If you want change vote for it and campaign for it but be very careful not to alienate people who would have supported if your argument had been less adolescent and petulant.

Isitmylibrarybook · 03/08/2014 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DidoTheDodo · 03/08/2014 16:31

Oh for goodness sake. Let's not talk about interest rates of 15% on mortgages shall we? Or rates (Council Tax) going up by 15% in one year. And no tax credits and very poor maternity benefits (if any) etc etc....

Every generation has had its hardships which are rarely understood by those following on.