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.

@YoureNotGoingOutLikeThatI don’t agree. I know someone who owns a house his father lives in. The private rent is paid by the council, the father gets PC and has a very nice life. I don’t begrudge anyone benefits where there is an absolute need but no-one should be better off on benefits.

In my view if you’ve worked all your life and saved then your retirement (often by forgoing things) should be of a much better quality with more choices. That isn’t what’s happening. There are people on state pension getting less/not much better off (when you factor in all the additional benefits that come with PC) than those on PC. Plus if you have to go into care your house gets taken whilst the person next to you is in there for free.

sorry about that.

i want to government to support positive choices - ie saving for retirement, finding employment, buying a house, having children when you can afford them.

I believe 90% of our lives is the summation of our own choices

hard disagree with that one.

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.

So you believe in a safety net?

That was the North's point, in the 80's when all the opportunities were redirected down south and abroad. As well as the wealth being directed to the minority of people. Then the industries went. They took our choices away. Austerity didn't work and was never going to. That and the bedroom tax were popular on here. Now we wonder why families can't take granny in to recuperate when the doctors want to discharge. We are too far gone to go back.

We have many problems that have been ignored and exacerbated for years. There is no easy fix.

I think OP has a point, enjoy your life, spend your money, work until you’re 70 then go on pension credit with housing paid and all the other benefits that come with that.

This will not be an option for younger generations though

it will be means tested, its very obvious that decision is coming our way.

The ageing population and the fact that current pensioners have not paid anywhere near enough tax for pension & free healthcare means it's inevitable.

i want to government to support positive choices - ie saving for retirement, finding employment, buying a house, having children when you can afford them.

Housing is unaffordable for many young people & they are often choosing not to even have dc now due to cost so how should the government support them?

We are too far gone to go back.

@Ponoka7 yes, so much short term thinking.

and to make it clear, what do you want the government to do about disabled people who can't work or carers of disabled children who can't work?

You don’t think the majority of most peoples lives is a result of our own choices? I’m not saying there aren’t barriers - I’m saying the government should be removing those barriers rather than perpetuating them.

I thought I believed in a safety net. I’ve been financial prudent my whole life. I honestly worry that the safety net is being eroded and we are being encouraged not to have one. Particularly for middle earners, I think there will be very little difference between having saved a pension and having saved nothing - the government will pay the difference.

Most people I know unless working

in public sector or industries like financial services aren’t saving or are saving a pittance. These people aren’t living in poverty.

What do they do around the globe?

Countries can only do what they can afford.

It is true that private landlords have their BTL mortgages paid by the state but the housing element of UC is unlikely to cover the entire rent. But then I'm in the South East and the experience in other parts of the country where the going rate for private rent is not so bloody extortionate may be different. I don't know if the someone you know has set the rent at the amount he knows will be covered by the housing element (which is fixed according to income).

I'm not sure I'm following your second para. If you have worked and saved all your life (assume 40+ years here) you will be far better off than anyone on PC and/or only state pension with no savings. I am assuming that by working all your life you will have paid into some form of private pension scheme or have other assets (house) or savings as you say they have "saved". But maybe I've missed your point?

If you are unfortunate enough to have to go into residential care and own a home that no spouse or dependent is living in, then yes, this is sold to pay for your care. This will usually mean a choice of care home provider. If the state is the provider you have no choice and could end up anywhere within the county (and possibly far away from any non dependent family). Sadly, my vamily have had first hand experience of this outcome on both sides and can say that being able to pay for your own care is a far better outcome than not being able to.

TLDR: hello I'm a Tory and even this centre-right version of the Labour party is too left wing for me.

Shame they were democratically elected op. I always think these sorts of 'you are your choices' posts should come with a CV showing which choices you made and which were made for intergenerationally/by your family trust.

You can't claim money towards rent for a house owned by a family member. If your going to make up a benefit bashing story at least make sure it is believable.

I would challenge this also. My mum did
not work much in her life, she had to
many children that she could not afford. She is now living in a brand new-build and living
very comfortably on the state pension. And she has a moan every now and then that it’s not enough. And my mum is not unique.

I ask her where does she think it comes from and why she feels so entitled.

No one is saying that she should be put out on the street or left to starve to death. But her needs are provided for, whilst others that make better life choices, and I did despite my mum, are not being considered.

OP feels punished for making responsible choices, a sentiment many feel now. We work, save, make sensible choices, while the system ignores this.

Why bother doing it properly if it no longer counts?

I feel much the same. It’s exhausting trying to do the right things and then watch policy after policy, such as OP mentions, chip away at any sense of reward or stability.

That’s absolutely not what I’m trying to say at all so apologies if that’s how it comes across.

Im saying that I don’t think our government is enabling choice. I don’t think the ‘choices’ that many groups could make to get out of poverty are available to them.

You have put it much more eloquently than I have. But yes - that’s exactly how I feel.

I'd go for it I was you. You won't look back - too many people seem think the UK is the still the centre of the world, when really it sliding further and further down the scales on almost every measure. As long as you haven't build a life where dependant on the generousity of the state, other countries offer far better opportunities.

@Phonicshaskilledmeoff I don't disagree that successive governments have fucked up, they have taken from the younger generations to protect the older ones which is a big factor impacting productivity. But many people don't have an issue with that & think they "earned it" whatever "it" is but this just makes us all poorer.

"In 2018-19, the government spent roughly £14,655 for each child in Britain, £10,178 for each working age adult, and £20,789 for each pensioner. Spending on the last group has risen even as spending on other groups has fallen. Similarly, NHS spending on the over-65s has hovered around two fifths over the past decade, with spending on this group set to rise as its numbers swell."

@Phonicshaskilledmeoff i'm amazed how many people are missing your point

I don't agree with everything you say, (that's life) but I totally understand your point.

You mentioned that you might be better off spending it. Actually, I think that is one of the things they would rather you do. Because then they think that money is going to be back in the economy.

I think disincentives for saving are mad. I do think they are making an assumption that people will choose not to save and put that money into the economy. However, I would be even more inclined to save it and not spend it because nobody knows what's coming

Well, nobody ever knows what's coming, but when you feel as uncertain as some of us do now there's no incentive to spend

I will say I'm the kind of person who can't spend money on a £3 coffee to make the day better - actually scratch that, I presume it's four or £5 now because I don't go into coffee shops so I wouldn't know.

regardless, I understand.

If you think you'd be better off, go for it and report back from a life dependent on the benefits system. At least then we'd have a first hand account of how it's so much easier for people who 'don't try' compared with people who do, instead of all this speculation that other people are living the life of Riley while you do all the hard graft.

Can I ask if her whole rent is covered by benefits? She is otherwise living on a state pension of less than £1k per month for all bills?

I don’t think you’re after a response, but I’ll give you one anyway because you aren’t correct. Unfortunately I don’t think I support any political party. They are all very disappointing. Liberal at heart I think.

Both my parents went to university- first generation to do so. Did public sector jobs.

I’m very principals based and probably naive. I’m very solution based in life. I just can’t see anything our government is doing will do anything other than perpetuate the ongoing problem. Perhaps others are right, it’s too late.

yeah, this wasn’t intended to be poor bashing or saying people don’t try hard. Apologies if that’s how it reads.

I think we will be in a position where middle earners that save for retirement their whole life will be in the same position as those that have chosen not to save. The government will look after them.

I don’t think that people that have found themselves in a difficult financial position are given many choices by our government to get out of that position.