To get annoyed when the media tells us we're all living longer.

[BumpNGrind]

I know that statistically people in Britain do live longer now, but I think the way it's reported is often really ignorant to the real picture or used to justify things that shouldn't be justified.

I live in the South Wales valleys where there is a 10 year age expectancy difference from one end of the valley to the other. I know that similar life expectancy differences exist in parts of London and elsewhere because of poverty, so clearly we aren't all living longer, yet the media never report this side of the story.

Also, although some people do live longer, many of them live longer with debilitating, painful conditions that need careful management and a huge fuss is always made about how much this costs, but it seems that the Governments answer for this is to increase the retirement age, rather than employ more young people. I want to see more older people able to work, but not forced to!

I also feel like members of parliament have altered ideas of how old a person can reasonably be expected to work for because they see lots of older, capable people managing just fine in the House of Commons, that simply isn't the case if you are a fireman, electrician, carpet fitter etc.

Anyone else find this annoying or is it just me?

YANBU. I am from the Valleys and my Dad was a sick old man when he died at 72. Even sadder, he was the last to go from his large group of friends. I think it is quite relevant that they were all working down the mine from 15 and then spent their later years smoking, drinking and eating crap.

My FiL has never really worked hard in his life and is hale and hearty. I reckon he'll easily see 90.

it is sad that working class people near me will die on average a year before future retirement age while people elsewhere will live twenty extra years
state pension? what the point if you have no chance of claiming it

i personally think my generation will live shorter lives than their parents and grandparents