Child Benefit cut

[oafc0000]

That's my point. Why should I cut down on the full life Im living now so I can have a tiny fractionally better life when Im 80? The cost of one is not worth the benefit of the other - especially given that I can guarantee what i do now, whereas I cant even remotely guarantee living til Im 69

[llcoolphil]

I reckon the odds are in my favour

[oafc0000]

Aye but if my odds come up, I will spend the rest of my life pointing out how poor you are and no matter how much you save and invest, you will never have as much money as me

[llcoolphil]

because it needs paying for ?

I am getting the feeling it will be down to other people to fund your existence if you survive long enough

[oafc0000]

It will be time for me to claim on the National Insurance contributions I currently make for that very purpose

[llcoolphil]

You sure that is going to cover everything ?

[oafc0000]

Everything like what?

[llcoolphil]

Its like talking to Pogo

[oafc0000]

When you're walking the streets, do you see great big piles of dead pensioners lying about the place? Or do you think there are already millions who live off just state provision?

Edited October 5, 2010 by oafc0000

[llcoolphil]

It sounds like you are happy for the burden to fall on the future tax payer rather than you actually take charge of your life now

[dakyras]

In France your pension is supported by the people who are working when you are receiving your pension; everyone is supported by the next generation, because their tax system is fair and not run for the interests of selfish people.

[eFestivals]

Personally trying to retire at 55

it's c**ts like you who've been doing that since the eighties that has f**ked pensions for everyone.

Your pension might allow you to afford to retire at 55. The simple fact is that you've nowhere near contributed enough to pay for what a person gets back on average.

The difference is being picked up by today's earners - which is why today's earners can't afford to make decent pension provision themselves.

[eFestivals]

In France your pension is supported by the people who are working when you are receiving your pension; everyone is supported by the next generation, because their tax system is fair and not run for the interests of selfish people.

actually, the state pension in the UK is worked in exactly the same way - there is no pension fund that your NI contributions go into. Today's earners are paying their NI to pay for today's pensioners.

[dakyras]

actually, the state pension in the UK is worked in exactly the same way - there is no pension fund that your NI contributions go into. Today's earners are paying their NI to pay for today's pensioners.

Edited October 6, 2010 by dakyras

[eFestivals]

I meant that in France the amount of pension you receive is directly proportional to the amount of NI being paid by current workers and doesn't matter how much you've contributed, whereas in the UK, anything you receive above your minimum State Pension depends on your NI record.

ahh, right - yep, that's different.

Mind you, isn't that the case with the basic pension here? And then there's extra bits related to how much you've contributed?

[dakyras]

ahh, right - yep, that's different.

Mind you, isn't that the case with the basic pension here? And then there's extra bits related to how much you've contributed?

[gratedenini]

I know I keep harpin on about it... but Twatcher killed any feelings of socialism. Her I`m Alright Jack policies put it into the heads of people that to "get on" you had to be ruthless and think of nobody else but yourself.

After the war the country all tried to pull together,mostly singing the same tune, but since the 80s... communities,families,societies have all became so fractured.

I hate it.

I`m not a political person as such... but I hate unfairness--and I am a sharing person. I`d willingly pay more income tax to enable services to continue,for hospitals to function bettter and provide those on their arses,help and assistance.

What has cultured now, is than me me me thing where lots of people dont give a f**k.

Money, greed and need. Thats it now.

And-- I cant blame people who now have huge mortgages,loads of chucky on,swimming lessons to pay for etc... they have got to be single-minded when it comes to brass...cos they have got to keep up with it all.

Gone are the days when you went into your neighbours for a cup of sugar etc.

I despair me.

[Josie's Cat]

I don't think you can blame one person (Thatcher)much as you would like to for the downfall of society. people must have wanted in some dim and distant recess fo their brain, for her to stay in power and implement her policies. She was a consumate politicain who was able to search out people's weaknesses and exploit them.

People ARE inherently selfish, manipulative, egotistical bastards. That's why there are so many of us and why we have screwed up this planet and everything in it so royally.

[llcoolphil]

I don't think you can blame one person (Thatcher)much as you would like to for the downfall of society.

[eFestivals]

Or she was able to use her position to manipulate people into a position of weakness and then exploit them.

Spot on - divide and rule was the basis of her 'success'.

[lost]

its so nice to see the Guardian and Telegraph so united on this issue,the article in the guardian is tragic..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/05/child-benefit-cut-nappy-valley-reaction

Akshay Bhatnagar and his wife Manisha, who live in Liverpool, were having lunch with their young son. They will be affected by the change as Manisha is a part-time GP and now has no incentive to increase her hours as it means she will lose child benefit. "I would think twice about increasing the hours I work, especially if I was going to lose £2,000 a year in child benefit.

Edited October 6, 2010 by lost

[oafc0000]

its so nice to see the Guardian and Telegraph so united on this issue,the article in the guardian is tragic..

http://www.guardian....valley-reaction

families with probably six figure salaries, words fail me they really do, it would be nice to think the first woman would take on the extra hours because she became a doctor to help people.

[feral chile]

It does all lead on to another interesting debate all this...

What is best for a child... mum at work or mum at home...

[gratedenini]

Depends on lots of other things. Quality of the carer whoever that may be. Type of personality the child has. Whether the mother wants to be at home, or feels trapped and resentful.

It's not a simple question and doesn't have a straightforward answer.

[oafc0000]

Its the most simplest and straightforward of questions as far as I`m concerned.

No doubt in my mind whatsoever.

It is a far better scenario if a child has its Mother (or Father) at homeduring the 1st five years.

I really do feel so strongly about this and its a shame imo that the way things are now... usually both parents have to go out to work in order to keep to the standards they feel necessary.

My Mam never worked and although we didnt have much money... I do recall my childhood with so much fondness.

Coming home from school, fire on,smell of food,a cuddle etc etc.

Y`know..all that adds up. Its difficult to have that now...and as a result..society has changed. Into a less caring society...cos its the norm now.

With my 1st kids.. we both made a conscious,deliberate decision that Mam wouldn`t go back to work till the kids were at school. I`m rackin me brains trying to remember how it was financially... and as it doesn`t seem to hold a bad memory for me-- I think it was tough,but we got through it. Those kids are now 26 and 24..suppose it is different now although we`ve been fortunate with this latest tribe in that we`ve been able to spend whatever time we want with them.

We deliberately have sent King Lar and Hendrix to nurseries though... to enable more interaction with other mites.

I`d see mothers/fathers drop the bairns at 7am and come back for em at 6pm... probably get the kids home... quick bite to eat,bath maybe...then bed.

Horrendous imo... but totally understandable.

Flippin heck... its not as if this is going to manufacture the kids into murderers or mass rapists or owt of course... but I really do feel that it somehow is taking away a big element of The Family as I like to think of it.

aaaaaargh.... soap box collapse!!!

den