Fuck it - the government will look me

[Phonicshaskilledmeoff]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the way our country is run. I love my country, but what on earth can I do to fix it? the Rachel reeves pension and stamp duty rumours have tipped me over the edge.

I believe 90% of our lives is the summation of our own choices. Bar (some of) our own (and families) health and tragic life events, there is very little we can’t choose in this country.

I’m not saying that the playing field is fair - I absolutely acknowledge that some groups face structural barriers that make good choices harder. Others are unaware those choices even exist. That’s where government should step in—not to equalise outcomes, but to equalise access to meaningful choice.

I think we all acknowledge that bad governments are ones that take away choices. This government, however is also taking away choice by incentivising bad choices. Policies should nudge people toward self-sufficiency, not make state reliance easier than self-reliance, or rewarding short-term decisions over long-term

Our Government should be working towards equitable availability of choice (not equal - see below) to make sure those choices are as easy and available to everyone. Policies should be in place to make sure people are encouraged to make the right choices.

I increasingly feel like I make the right choices and think what was the bloody point!

I’m going to wish I never paid into my pension soon and went on holiday instead! Should I just spend my money, move into a smaller house and quit my job. At this point I think I’d be better off.

Jargon Buster - EQUALITY - It’s assumed there is a level playing field and everyone gets the same resources. EQUITY - Everyone gets what they need to succeed, which may mean different levels of support.

100%. In many countries seen as ‘progressive’ you get piss all if you’ve never worked. Great benefits are reserved for those with a working history. That’s how they fund excellent public services - by ensuring those too lazy to work get so little that they’re forced to rethink their plans.

think it’s the sheer quantity of disabled people, currently only to be surpassed by the generations below.

@EvangelicalAboutButteredToast

When the pension age increases more working age people fall into the disabled/ill category as we haven't seen any improvement in healthy life expectancy. Covid has likely made it worse.

Not, it doesn’t. That’s just tax paid vs state benefits received.

A very real possibility and one that will cause serious civil unrest I think. M already seeing security lids on Red Bull cans and had to explain why to my kids. My youngest asked if food would end up behind glass cases in the end. Lovely. What a conversation to have had yesterday whilst in the Co-OP.

They could force the pension age to be raised significantly. And yes, they can and will cut benefits.

@WildLimePoet what would you class as a significant increase? It's already 68! We are nowhere near an IMF bailout.

They think they're immune. So did I, that worked out well for me 🤣

Don't worry, I understand your point. I just don't agree with it.

How much of an outlier are we on this?

Others have time limited and contribution based benefits.

Wondering if we’re the only ones with the system we have

People who voted Labour only have themselves to blame for the public sentiment and if I were reliant on the state, I’d be worried. We don’t have the money to pay the exponentially rising welfare bill. The net contributors are already changing behaviour and are heavily taxed compared to other western counterparts.

Working people are fed up with having seemingly everything taken and taxed at every turn whilst Labour go out of their way to expand the public sector and the welfare bill.

Workers in general, even if not net contributors are turning heavily against the welfare bill right now. You only need to look at opinion polls and other publications outside of the MN state largesse echo chamber .

When they start messing with those funding the bill and nothing is done to address it. You’re all going to have an issue. Taxes are reliant on people being productive, they’ve already hit tipping point with that. Let’s not even get on to their ridiculous definition of a worker. However Labour supporters swallow it whole. There is no comparison between money you earned yourself and that provided to you by the state. The latter can be taken away and the you are at the mercy of the productivity of those funding it.

I’d be expecting people’s opinions on this to get even more divisive after the budget. You only have yourselves to blame. Labour are literally doing the divide and conquer politics all by themselves.

I was a FSM kid in the 80s (before universal FSM). I had to line up in the FSM line and we went in last so had the “left overs”. It’s left me with long life shame of my roots.

Despite my experience I still feel we need to find a way to navigate the benefits trap. My family claimed benefits and they paid for my parent’s alcohol. To claim these families don’t exist is disingenuous.

Again, let me consult my IMF distressed economy bailout calculator to answer that question…..

You or I don’t get to tell the IMF what conditions they impose when our debt to GDP ratio keeps soaring above 100% and our gilt yields keep getting higher, and the tax take keeps reducing because the number of net contributors is reducing.

@Swiftie1878 which bit are you disagreeing with?

fullfact.org/economy/are-half-british-households-burden-state/

This is from 2012 & references education & healthcare, funnily enough no one seems particularly bothered about net recipients back then!

@WildLimePoet I asked what you classed as a significant increase? We aren't near an IMF bailout as I said.

I will pay £50 to the charity of your choice if there is an IMF bail out. Deal?

I don’t know what you’re trying to get at. Your original point was that you simply did not accept that anyone else can intervene and cut state largesse, and that those claiming other peoples money as their own have nothing to worry about. Your wrong.

And as for IMF bailout. Rachel from Accounts is making Dennis Healey look like a raging success right now. It’s beyond delusional to think that that IMF bailout is not on the cards.

@Legolava but lots of workers are reliant on welfare eg housing, childcare, education, healthcare

Workers in general, even if not net contributors are turning heavily against the welfare bill right now. You only need to look at opinion polls and other publications outside of the MN state largesse echo chamber .

I agree people are unhappy but I am confused as to what it is they want tbh. I'm a worker who is a net contributor but I do believe in welfare.

Were the only country in Europe that gives such a paltry amount to people who lose their jobs through redundancy.

I think if they’re being given enough money to afford a car, and decide they don’t need a car, they’re being given too much money!

How do you know? Do they have no free choice over how it’s spent?

But others have a time limit on benefits and it’s contribution based is that right?

We have the opposite, the less you have contributed the longer you can get benefits. There’s no time limit?

@WildLimePoet I never said that? Why do you keep confusing what posters are writing? I said an IMF bailout is not close. It isn't.

I don’t know what you’re trying to get at

I asked you what you meant by a significant increase to pension age, I didn't think that was a hard question to answer, do you mean 75, 80?

* We're* the only country in Europe that gives such a paltry amount to people who lose their jobs through redundancy.

Most countries base what you get out by what you paid in.

Mm. Well. Guess what? My husband didn't want injuries from military service and to have to become disabled but hey ho. And if you're going to start a rather goady thread at least examine your grammar.

It isn't enough money to afford to buy a car. It's money to lease a car or the same money in cash because not everyone wants to use the money to lease a car and not everyone is able to drive.