Work 'til you drop
Published Date:
05 September 2008
THE economic reality of an ageing population is that more people will have to work for longer – especially if policies that benefit older people, like pensions and healthcare, are to be maintained at existing levels. This reality is already recognised in the broad cross-party support for the Government's plans to raise the state pension age to 68 over time.
It is, nevertheless, an understandably difficult pill to swallow for people who already pay substantial amounts in taxes, particularly the generation for whom the welfare state promised so much and now delivers
so little.
David Blunkett's suggestion that people should continue working as long as they are physically capable risks adding insult to injury. It is particularly insensitive coming from a man who, as an MP and former Minister, will enjoy pension benefits that most people can only dream about.
If Mr Blunkett is seriously arguing that the role of the state in supporting pensioners should be reduced in such a radical fashion, taxpayers are likely to respond by asking when the Government will start returning their money.
A wealthy country should be aspiring to do more for the elderly than
forcing them to work until they drop.
The full article contains 202 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
05 September 2008 8:36 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Yorkshire
