QatzelOk wrote:For most of human history and pre-history, elders received a lot of respect because of their acquired wisdom (and physical longevity) and were a great source for decision-making and problem-solving.
But most of our current seniors are boomers or Gen Xers.
These last few generations aren't wise at all. They spent most of their "wisdom-developing time" interacting with commercial mass media and became wisdom-less fools whose pseudo-common-sense was programmed in their heads by years of car ads and sitcom situations.
The elders of the last few generations are as wise as the Flintstones. As thoughtful as Gilligan's Island. As useful as Three's Company.
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I think that what you really mean is, it's NOT the seniors fault, it's the inability of younger generations to even recognise the accomplishments of their elders.
I was born in the early 1940's,post war Britain, with it's welfare state, failed to rid our nation of it's class bias towards the rich or better-off, which persist under every 'Tory' & 'Labour' government.
The 'Tories' perpetuate division so that they keep the poor in their 'allotted' place at the bottom of the money pile & 'Labour' keep them there in order that they are always in hoc to them, cap-in-hand & Benefit begging 'don't bite the hand that feeds you' mentality.
Your elders have created the world you inhabit & 'you' will never know the sacrifices that they made for 'you'.
You know what, the 'appreciation' that these younger politicians give to pensioners like me is an 'OLD' Basic State Pension of £119.30 per week or £122.30 in April, that's £98.85 per week LESS THAN THE 'TAX FREE PAY' ANNUAL allowances for a single person, that equates to £11,500 tax free pay per annum or £221.15 per week.
By comparison to the UK Basic State Pension, the National Living Wage from April is annualised at £12,500,whereas an 'OLD' BSP pensioner who has worked-paid for his state pension for 50 years gets just £6359.30 per annum from April.
Before this 'TORY' government came in, ALL 'benefits' & Basic State Pensions were above the Tax Free Pay levels. The difference was, 'Labour' never raised the Tax Free Pay levels, the effect is that 'Labour' do NOT 'care' about those on the 'Old' Basic State Pension.
To add insult to injury, I worked 50 years, yet anyone that has never, ever worked, can claim Pension Credit of £155.60 per week & receive additional 'benefits' that makes the better-off than a BSP pensioner that's worked 50 years, how is that 'dignified' or 'social justice'?
For someone receiving this 'OLD' Basic State Pension, try living on that.
The TORY Manifesto promised that these seniors like myself would live in 'dignity', you try living in 'dignity' on the above amount.
The so-called 'triple-lock' is a 'CON', of that amount 1.16% of the 2.5%BSP increase goes straight back to the Treasury arising from the 2010-11 'TORY' budget increases in V.A.T from 15-20%, with that 1.16% representing the 'inflationary' effect of that V.A.T increases & that's before the many 'stealth' taxes since then by the 'Tory' government's.
Just remember this, your standard of living is a result of our past efforts, you are riding virtually 'free' on those past efforts.
We paid for your benefits, such as education, parental benefits, health, housing etc, compare the amounts your parents received with our pensions or your benefits, you will see the complete lack of respect accorded to our generation that enslaved our existence to making a better world in which our descendants can live.
Just look at the almighty mess that these 'younger' generations have made of this country, it beggars belief, believe you me.