What the hell is this shit? Instead of pushing for the return to traditional pensions, capitalism is celebrating the idea that Millennials and Gen Z may simply never be able to stop working. ( www.cnbc.com )

qyron , 8 months ago

That makes no sense.

Speaking for myself, I plan to remain active for as long as I can manage because I’ve seen what retirement causes to people. Vegetating on a sofa in front of a TV is not a good way to spend your last stretch on this planet. But neither is working.

And even when I no longer have interest in working for a salary, I want to remain active. Hopefully I’ll have grandchildren to help with, my dogs to train and a garden to tend. But I do want to retire and expect everyone to do the same.

The way the system is being “overhauled” is bonkers. I was listening to a podcast the other day where it was calculated that for the EU, by 2050, pensions would be around 45% of the final salary earned, with some exceptions reaching 95%.

I don’t expect for my (hopefully) pension to cover for luxuries but I do expect it to aid me maintaining a decent, even if frugal, standard of living. I do not want a millionaire pension, like many paid today, over tens of thousands of Euros.

Be brave and set maximum values for pensions. I’ve known people with pensions over €5000; minimum wage in my country is €765x14: that’s €10.710, yearly, before taxes. Do rest of the math in your head. A few years back, it was outed the highest pension paid in the country was around €120.000, per month. That is insane. Meanwhile, many receive pensions below €200.

CosmicCleric , 8 months ago

Vegetating on a sofa in front of a TV is not a good way to spend your last stretch on this planet. But neither is working.

Just as an FYI, older people do such things not because want to, but because their bodies’ current condition won’t let them do otherwise.

You really do start going downhill quickly in your late 50s, healthwise.

qyron , 8 months ago

Regardless every person being different from the next, spending days on end watching brainrot television is not a good way to spend your life.

Even with reduced mobility, a person can enjoy other things. Reading, writing, listen to music, solve puzzles, etc. There are numerous activities to persue.

CosmicCleric , 8 months ago

Regardless every person being different from the next, spending days on end watching brainrot television is not a good way to spend your life.

Of course, I wasn’t suggesting otherwise.

Even with reduced mobility, a person can enjoy other things. Reading, writing, listen to music, solve puzzles, etc. There are numerous activities to persue.

My point is when you see Grandma sitting in the rocker on the porch she may be doing that not be because she’s there to enjoy herself, but because she’s incapable of doing other things, and even movement is problematic.

In essence we don’t get old, we just break down, and when we do, the lack of mobility and pain are your constant companions.