The state pension

[Aptis]

Am I the only one that thinks that Pensioners are treated abysmally by our MPs? Why is it that MPs can blatantly commit fraud, vote themselves inflated expenses and cry poverty. Why is it that those in that old folks home known as the House of Lords complain about their attendance fee and think they are hard done by? And yet when it comes to the state pension, for those who have worked all their lives for this country they receive (as was the case recently) from the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a miserable rise of £2 38p per week. What exactly do these people think you can buy these days with £2 38? Did we hear an outcry from MPs when they heard of that paltry pensioners pay rise? Did we hear any of them say this was a feeble sum to give to those who worked all their lives for this country and was more of an insult than a pay rise? They care not one jot for the pensioner; they care only for their own greed. Why should we, the pensioner have any faith in what these MPs promise us? I think the time has come to get the pensioners to band together to cast a vote for the pensioner. All other groups / factions seek only to further their own goals without a thought for others; so why not the pensioner? The really sad thing is we do we not hear the pensioners complain? Is it only me that feels anger about this? There is a department of government called UKaid who have a budget of 7.8 BILLION pounds to give to other countries. This government would sooner give over seven billion pounds to people in other countries rather than aid their own pensioners! The British pensioner comes second to the citizens of other countries.

[John]

This government also buried Bus Passes and Prescription Tax changing from 60 to 65 years
in the recent Budget Report (among other hidden matters).

No big announcements there.

One thing is obvious is that this Government have never listened to anyone.

We have seen the largest protest that this Country has ever see (against the Iraq War).

What did this government do, make up lies to get their way and ignored everyone.

The MP's so weak in character (too busy fiddling expenses?) that they did not question anything.

Bush had his pocket poodle Tony backed up by Gordon.

Look at the life and money wasted, lets not talk about green issues.

Unfortunately pensioners are not able to band together. Those that do
make no noise or allow themselves to be soft soaped at every turn.

[Ivanhoe]

Aptis, Im completely on your side here, but let's not think that the low state pension is about cost, oh dear no.

The state pension is low because it's being phased out in favour of the private pension.

Means testing pensioners costs more than 15 times the cost of an uprate in the state pension and the earnings link restored.

Plus this government are sitting on a national insurance surplus of £60 billion.
 

[Aptis]

    Well there may be no network to make a cohesive body of pensioners, but I would suggest that if those who are now retired wish to make these people sit up a little and listen; there are enough of us to show our feelings by giving a protest vote. For I care nothing for the major parties because they care nothing for me. I have every intention to use my vote in the next election to protest against those who would give money to other countries rather than give it to the people in this country. We have seen this very day that this government and the opposition are prepared to give money away to other nations, this is money that we have borrowed and money that the tax payer will have to pay interest on.
     No I intend to vote for some minor party. I care not one jot if it is the Raving Loony Party, the Green Party, The BNP or an Old folks Christmas party. But my vote will not go to those who are in power now, or those who use tax payers money to build bell towers and certainly not those who are the ex public school types who already have enough money to choke a donkey. These people have no idea what it is like to live on a state pension! And let us not forget that when these MPs retire they will receive a pension that is greater than the average wage, and who foots the bill for their pensions --- the tax payer. These are the people that will not return the tax payers money even though they have been ordered to.   

[Ivanhoe]

Yes, I agree with that.

[John]

MP's only have to complete 18 years to gain a pension.

Is it really a protest vote to cast it for a minority candidate?

I will be studying the candidates - but not voting Labour whatever
that outcome. (More new taxes, More misery and More surveillance
and harassment of the innocent).

Being an MP was once based on having money, then as parties
grew, it was a mixture of money and education.

We are now at the stage of some money, some education but
most of all having verbal ability and sycophantic tendencies.

Voting for a candidate who sees themselves as your genuine
representative is a start...

[Papaumau]

Hi Aptis....nice to read your stuff !

I also agree that the pensioners of this country have been badly treated by successive governments in the past.

Our Ivanhoe gets castigated here by going on and on about this point but I think that it is high time that we stopped bickering amongst ourselves and in solidarity gave at least this government a punch in the nose.

If the Tories get in next time round I cannot see this situation getting any better as by following standard Tory dogma they will show very quickly that they do not care about the pensioners or the low paid.

( See my new posting today entitled "Tories plan to hit pensioners and the low paid" ).

[Aptis]

    I as a pensioner now have a limited time on this earth and have a great sense of my own mortality. I have worked for all my life and paid my taxes without fail; I have worked and lived my life as an honourable, fair and honest man. In my naivety I now realise that I have been a fool. For those that I would look up to; those who would show the moral example that we should all follow, have turned out to be self seeking, greedy money grabbing leeches that care nothing for the citizenry of this country and even less for those who are now pensioners.
     I therefore now take the selfish view and strive to take care of me and those in my position. My miserable, one protest vote is as nothing, except to me. I will know that I have made my protest against those who think more of people in other countries and nothing of those who worked and built this country.
     Only recently we have heard of immigrants being given two and a half million pound houses to live in; and yet pensioners only warrant a rise that can be measured in pence. A vote for the main parties is a vote for the status quo, a vote for the main parties is a vote against the pensioner, and is a vote to allow them to treat us like the sheep we are. We are only a hindrance to them, we have outlived our usefulness; we are past our tax bearing years and as such they do not want us.
     This being the case and as I can count my time here in only decades, I will use my vote to protest against the unfairness directed towards the pensioner of this country, and would call on all others in this position to do the same. It may be that it is a futile gesture, but I protest not just for me but all those that come after. I would call on all other pensioners to do the same, remember the pensioners vote can now be counted in millions.

[John]

Yes - The UK is a happy place now for those wanting a free benefit fed life.

Did you feel the same 13 years ago??

[Ivanhoe]

John , if you have ever had to suffer the indignity of having to rely on benefits because we are a market lead country, you would not have made that remark.

You see, you make the same old tired mistake that millions of British people make, you fall into the devisery trap, and politicians love it.

Our politicians have devided the old from the young, the old from the old, and "you" refere to "sheep".

Think about it.

[Aptis]

I know not to whom that particular remark was aimed. But it is obvious that the statement comes from a person that has never had to endure the indignity of claiming a benefit. No doubt John you think that we should work a lifetime and receive nothing in return after paying NI and tax for 35 years. After my lifetime spent in full employment on the railway I had to retire on ill health with three killer diseases. I was made to jump through hoop after hoop, fill in a 30 page book of forms and live on my savings for two years, as there was no one to inform me as to what to do and what to claim for. So after paying my dues all my life are you saying that I am seeking a free benefit fed life. Or are you speaking from the point of view of ignorance. Just who are you pointing the finger at here, when I had an interview with the DHSS doctor his words top me were, “Why have you waited so long?” The only reply I could give was “Pride and denial.” Since you think that we are all free loaders and living off your hard won taxes I only hope that you HAVE to seek assistance, and join those you would look down upon. I am in no doubt that there are those that abuse the system. But if our MPs are anything to go by; then we have some fine examples in the House of Corruption have we not, and is it any wonder that you have an element that think fraud is the right line to take. Corruption permeates down from the highest in the land and is perpetrated by those who are in less need than some!       

[Ivanhoe]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

/////I know not to whom that particular remark was aimed. But it is obvious that the statement comes from a person that has never had to endure the indignity of claiming a benefit. No doubt John you think that we should work a lifetime and receive nothing in return after paying NI and tax for 35 years. After my lifetime spent in full employment on the railway I had to retire on ill health with three killer diseases. I was made to jump through hoop after hoop, fill in a 30 page book of forms and live on my savings for two years, as there was no one to inform me as to what to do and what to claim for. So after paying my dues all my life are you saying that I am seeking a free benefit fed life. Or are you speaking from the point of view of ignorance. Just who are you pointing the finger at here, when I had an interview with the DHSS doctor his words top me were, “Why have you waited so long?” The only reply I could give was “Pride and denial.” Since you think that we are all free loaders and living off your hard won taxes I only hope that you HAVE to seek assistance, and join those you would look down upon. I am in no doubt that there are those that abuse the system. But if our MPs are anything to go by; then we have some fine examples in the House of Corruption have we not, and is it any wonder that you have an element that think fraud is the right line to take. Corruption permeates down from the highest in the land and is perpetrated by those who are in less need than some!  /////

Absolutely brilliant, I could not have put that better myself.

Unfortunately there are those in society that simply "have" to look down on others, these people have judgemental mindsets, they do not "think" for themselves, they are putting blunty, "THICK"     
 
 
 

[John]

You take my remark out of context.

The UK is a happy place for anyone who wants a free benefit life.

That is anyone who wants to be a career benefit claimer or
comes to the UK to do the same.

This also applies to the able bodied who can't be bothered to get
out of bed via choice.

A State Pension is not a benefit. If anything it has been derided as such.

The original idea devalued by providing much of the same to the
career benefit claimants.

DHSS, DSS - Yes I know these, bullet proofed glass, bolted down
tables and chairs - security guards.  

Please ask me to clarify anything before going on the attack.

[Ivanhoe]

///////////This also applies to the able bodied who can't be bothered to get
out of bed via choice///////

How many people do you think are like this ?

Provide statistics

Prove it.

[David G]

I think you're all being a bit hard on John, I think he is referring to those who regard benefits as a career option and there are certainly many of them about who are only too happy to tell you you're lucky to have a job mate, but offer them one and the bad back / depression syndrome kicks in.
A lot of them are the same people who father children to a number of different women and pay nothing toward any of their childrens upkeep, resulting in more benefits paid to the mothers.
The next group are immigrants who have never paid into the system, get put into a luxury house paid for by the State and when there is an uproar they ask the question do you want me and my children out on the street? well frankly......
The State pension is a completely separate issue, if you have paid in all or most of your life it is a right not a benefit, because that is what we were told we were paying in for. Most benefits were intended as a safety net not a way of life.