To think we shouldn’t have to contribute to soch if we don’t intend to use it?

[slozenger]

For example, I don’t want a state pension - so I should surely be able to opt out of soch based contributions percentage. And just pay a lesser amount to cover anything I do take advantage of.

It literally happens every day. People don't actively seek it out.

That is the whole point of the way our society works though. How would the system work if all high earners decided to opt out of the NHS and pensions. There wouldn't be enough left in the pot for those who have chosen to use it.

You would then end up in a situation where other taxes are increased to cover the short fall.

Ultimately all it would do is create a bureauocratic mess that costs more to administer.

Nope, we would be getting into pick and mix individual systems which would be a nightmare to administer -

It’s not earn more than £17k, it’s pay more than £17k in tax annually. Which not a lot of people do.

You misunderstand. Boomer is about a specific generation with specific expectations and attitudes - not about the age of the people. A Millennial can't age into Boomerism, as they haven't grown up with their advantages.

How does that make a difference? It’s still unlikely you’ve paid as much as you’ve cost, unless you’ve been a higher rate taxpayer you’re entire working life?

Did you miss all the articles written about us millennials in the early 2000s? Work shy, financially irresponsible, eat too much avocado on toast... and those views are still held by many today. Same goes for gen z now. Theres been loads of posts on here about how entitled they are, terrible to work with etc. We are used to it so I'm sure this poster won't be bothered in the slightest.

Oh, is it a hive mind thing? Or more like fungi? I wasn't aware all people born in the same 15 years at any given time all thought and experienced and lived the same way.

Funny of you to imagine your stupid advertising demographic will be treated well when you age.

I think OP has been on the Scotch.

Or as we used to call it around here, The Broo.

I think you understand the concept perfectly well and know it doesn't refer to every individual. But yes - generational attitudes are indeed shaped by a shared economic and social environment.

The second world war would be a good (albeit extreme) example. Did every individual have the same wartime experience? No. Was the generation still shaped overall by it, leading to attitudes that made the creation of the NHS possible? Yes.

Similarly - has every boomer enjoyed the benefits free access to higher education and a housing market that rewarded them with decades of appreciation - unearned wealth that they attribute to "sensible choices"? No. But enough of them have experienced this overall that it shapes the general attitudes and voting patterns of their generation - leading to a situation in which the NHS has been allowed to crumble.

Hope that clears it up.

This is like people who don't have kids, moaning that women get Mat leave and SMP, and free education for their kids, and how that's "not fair" because they don't get those things, as they are childless.

They conveniently forget that women with children usually take career breaks or go part time, meaning a huge loss of earnings and a much depleted pension. They raise the next generation, so that when said complainers (who never had kids) hits old age, there will be a good supply of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ambulance drivers, carers etc - because the women who had kids supplied the next generation of people!! And at great financial sacrifice, not to mention the physical sacrifice of numerous pregnancies and births!! And all without any bloody thanks.

Well I don't think its fair for childless people to have to contribute to other people having children they can't afford but that's the way it is. You can't pick and choose. Get over it

I am in the UK for a week but live elsewhere and dont pay tax. I doubt i will live here again unless access to decent private healthcare becomes easier. I have just been for a manicure, there were 4 other women in there and a stream coming in and out for the sunbed and I am fairly certain none of them would be using money other than benefits to pay. I dont really object because I think the social services and education system seem to just perpetuate damaged and neglected children having child having children and there's no point in forcing people to work. I would happily contribute any amount to supporting families and funding sure start type things and the creation of a strategic, apolotical plan to break these destructive cycles and abusive authorities but thats not going to happen so I am glad I dont pay tax.

I thought they already did.

If only they could raise more tax revenue. Like, taxing corporations for example. But they can’t do that can they?

But when you are elderly, you need to access lots of services. My 84 year old Dad has carers in 4 times a day, he takes loads of medication every day (needs a pharmacist and a GP for that), he regularly calls an ambulance (need someone manning the 999 calls, need an ambulance driver, see a Doctor at the hospital) etc, etc.

If women stopped having children, then when you are 85, there won't be anyone to care for you.

When you are 85, and you are needing significant help to survive, the people helping you will be the people that were born, say 25-50 years ago, whose mothers took pay cuts, lost pensions etc to raise that generation. You ought to be thankful that they did that, not resentful that you helped (in a much smaller way) to pay for that generation existing.

That’s such a shame.

This person has an accident. Private health care doesn't have a and e. They're fucked.

did op say why would i get hit by a car

do you live in venice?

You come from a wealthy country where you pay no tax but chose to have your manicure somewhere frequented by benefits claimants?

Acronyms are only self explanatory if you use the correct form.

I thought you'd misspelled "such" but with this reply I assume you mean SoCH (Social Care and Health) - which isn't exactly an acronym that is in everyday parlance!

Some people won’t be having children either. They might not to pay for child based things.

what a heartwarming fairy story, about the power of trickle-down economics and the many mani-pedi-curists who are being kept in business thanks solely to the Great British benefits system...

HTF can you be so smugly certain that all these women are using 'benefits' to pay for their treatments? As you don't live in the UK, perhaps you are unaware of (a) how low the payments are & (b) the fact that between a third and half of those claiming Universal Credit payments are in work, just paid incredibly badly.

---
In other news, I've just been investigating the TCP Shortage mentioned by the OP. It's rumoured to still be available online/ in certain shops in Northern Ireland. And may be back in the shops in April....

This argument is always being trotted out. Because, OF COURSE, the reason you had kids was to contribute to the future of our society 🙄. Are you going to be encouraging your kids to do those jobs? Become a carer for example?

No. Thought not.

And “ambulance driver” is not a job.

That's quite an assumption to make isn't it? If I go to the salon, it'll be a week day. This is because I'm self employed, I can pick and choose when I work, and I prefer the salon on a quiet week day, rather than on a busy Saturday. I don't claim any benefits because my business pays me well.