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.

Why the obsession with Reform - they are at least three years away.

If you want lies, look at this government - it was/is all bullshit.

I agree, but when they look like the best option to many people, it's a sign of how out of touch the opposing parties are.

If Labour hit people over £45 or £50k it’s been determined that a whole raft of teachers, train drivers etc are in that group

@EasternStandard my point was they have already been hit by fiscal drag

Yes but they’re still broadly pro Labour. Actually being in the group defined as not working will be very hard for Labour MPs to defend.

Why don't they just do the wealth tax as everyone seems to want it?

So are we now classing train drivers, police officers and teachers as ‘middle class’? 😳

Oh the muddled voice of privilege.

Oh yes ‘privilege’. That has t been used enough in this Race to the Bottom thread.

Privileged for having a house and a job?

Idk Labour seems to think they can lump them outside the working people line.

It’s not going to work at all. How can an MP answer the question is a teacher / police / train driver a working person and not say yes?

They’ll have to say yes and break the manifesto

If you swap the word privilege for achievement in every Labour supporter’s post, it summarises their core ideology and why it has had a detrimental affect on the U.K. in such a short space of time.

No, privileged for thinking that they have made good choices and that it's that which has landed them where they are. Privileged for being able to say that bar essentially any catastrophic event, we should all be climbing to a better place.

Of course you think that if you are one of the people who is not in that category.

Thank you. And I'm sorry about the challenges you've had to face. You are right though in the fact we mustn't let ourselves be passengers in our own lives. We must try and have the strength to make decisions that will improve our lives in the long run. Life can be very cruel and hard for many people though sadly.

So are we now classing train drivers, police officers and teachers as ‘middle class’? 😳

I thought teachers & police were classed as middle class occupations?

Why don’t you think we should be making good choices bar health/ catastrophic events. By choices I mean like paying into a pension and building financial resilience. Or when younger trying hard in school, finding a profession and not getting pregnant before we we afford them.

I started from an easier position than many with a supportive family. BUT my point is that the government should be getting everyone to the same starting point. When I think of a labour government and a conservative one actually, they should be removing social economic barriers.

This is what I believe in as well

Yes but they’re still broadly pro Labour.

@EasternStandard are they? I haven't read that teachers & police tend to vote labour, can you link to something? Even if they do it also doesn't mean they are against tax rises does it?

When I think of a labour government and a conservative one actually, they should be removing social economic barriers.

@Phonicshaskilledmeoff so how can they achieve this?

Or when younger trying hard in school, finding a profession and not getting pregnant before we we afford them.

Older generations did this not the current young, lots aren't even having dc.

I think teachers are classed as ‘working people’ unless they teach at an independent school in which case it’s ’people with broadest shoulders’. Police are classed as ‘working people’ unless they earn over £45k at which point they are ‘people who have to start paying their fair share’. I don’t know why people get confused with Labour’s identity boxing, it’s quite easy to understand and not divisive rubbish at all.

Actually being in the group defined as not working will be very hard for Labour MPs to defend.

I also don't understand this point @EasternStandard? Who has said police and teachers are not workers?

Young people who aren’t currently saving into a private pension are mad. The reality is that those in their 20s or 30s are going to be working until at least 70, possibly longer, before getting a state pension.

@BionicWomansAnkle so is that something labour has said rather than actual recognised definitions?

I typed labour and working people into google but it brings up 2024 links

@Livelovebehappy I deal with pensions through my job, many young opt out due to housing costs. It is crazy because it's a good scheme but they need it to live now.

There’s talk that earning over £45k pa means you aren’t an ordinary working person - you are in the group that needs to pay more.

I don’t think people are sufficiently educated about it all unless they have a decent work pension. I knew nothing about pensions until they did a session about it at work.
How we had to learn about Pythagoras theorem in school but not basic financial products is beyond me.
Perhaps it’s better now - I hope so.