Ha! Ha! Haaaaaaaaa! An OBE in exchange for the State Pension?

It must be the heat..

I wondered if Crumbly was feeling ok a few strange posts this morning 😂

Some think tank has suggested that wealthy pensioners give up their pensions for 3yrs in exchange for an OBE.

Goodness. That just indicates the worth of an OBE! Bit of an insult to those for whom it was a genuine accolade.

I don’t know how that one leaked to the press unless it has prior publication. It's part of work done by the think tank Compass called:

100 Ideas for 100 Days of the Burnham Government.

Last month, we called on Compass Members and our friends in the civil society space to combine and suggest a whole range of policies and ideas that this Government should undertake quickly to drag Britain out of the difficult political situation it finds itself in.

The Compass website shows the ideas are being published over three weeks. The first 33 ideas are:

Week 1: How Britain is governed (democratic reform, accountability, devolution, immigration, foreign policy & defence)

Then:

Week 2: Week 2: Shaping Britain’s economy, technology, and environment (Tax, inequality, ownership, technology, AI, sustainability etc) (Coming 21st August)

Week 3: What does a good society provide? (housing, public services, health, education, community etc) (Coming 28th August)

There are some good ideas in Week 1, ideas on PR, Citizens’ Assemblies, political donations, restrictions on appointments to the House of Lords etc:

www.compassonline.org.uk/100-ideas-for-100-days-of-the-burnham-government/

A lot in there to stimulate some interesting discussion.

Trust the media to focus on something that sounds daft but without seeing the details of the proposal, it’s hard to comment. As it’s been reported it sounds like cash for honours.

Please call me Dame. I will still receive my state pension but I doubt if I would be classed as rich.

Does anyone else remember "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again" when they had an ongoing thing about OBEs? Can't remember the details, but I know they kept awarding them to each other. Perhaps they were just before their time!

monk08

Some think tank has suggested that wealthy pensioners give up their pensions for 3yrs in exchange for an OBE.

A think-tank called AI?

I,ve never believed that an empire medal was worth anything ,it’s the equivalent of an old employer of mine who “ couldn,t afford to pay more BUT would give me a new job title”
Designed to cause division and given to people to keep them sweet
Look at the post office scandal,the guy who fought for justice gets a gong …the rest get if they,re lucky a fraction of what they are owne and NO real compensation!
Then there is the continuing list of victim of the post office who die before getting anything
People will still think well that guy who fought for them got a gong…so it’s all fine .
!
NO it’s not ,nor is it right to make failed politicians Lords .

I thought buying and selling honours was illegal.

What sort of mind thinks that just because someone has a comfortable pension that they would want to buy an honour.

Actually, I cannot think of anyone I know who would want to buy an honour, Where is the 'honour' in an honour you have paid for and what do you say when people ask you what it was awarded for? because people will ask. A friend of ours was awarded one and he said people were always interested in what it was awarded for.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if wealthy pensioners who didn’t need the State Pension could choose to waive their right to it on an annual basis with some sort of reward but not an OBE. A special medal for community help or something.It would save a great deal of taxpayer money after all.

You mean Virtue Signalling?

How long before this became the latest version of keeping up with the Jones? With those who cannot afford it feeling they were being shamed.

Exactly what Monica said, Honours are only worthwhile if they're awarded for something you've done without the ulterior motive of getting hounoured. (not that I'll ever be long-listed for one).

Not such an honour if it's giving up your pension in order to get one.

It's a ridiculous notion.
Although, presumably, the very wealthy have paid in for their pensions and are entitled to them, it's not a noble gesture worthy of an OBE to forgo them as they would hardly miss them.

Absolutely, M0nica!

"NO it’s not ,nor is it right to make failed politicians Lords"

I think those who have worked selflessly to help others deserve their awards but agree about failed politicians becoming Lords then being entitled to carry on voting on matters that affect us all.
It really is time we had an elected Upper Chamber in a democratic country.

I’m giving up nowt.

You can have an MBE instead.
🏅
Not quite as impressive but ok for the hoi polloi like us.

M0nica

You mean Virtue Signalling?

How long before this became the latest version of keeping up with the Jones? With those who cannot afford it feeling they were being shamed.

Nobody need know who has waived their pension.Only wealthy people would do it and it wouldn’t be virtue signalling if it were just small change to them.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I’m giving up nowt.

😂
Me neither but I would if I didn’t need it.

Oreo what is the point of swapping pension for an award if no one knows you have it. A bit like buying an expensive handbag and never using it in case anyone realises how much you paid for it.

Pensions are not benefits, no matter what the government says. We contribute to them and the pension we get is based on how long we contributed and how much, and the same with non-state pensions.

The award could be a simple medal or letter or anything thanking you and not everyone is a show off there are modest people about.It could be put in a drawer, the upside is that you’re doing something to help.I would certainly do it if I were well off and didn’t need it.
It was just some blue sky thinking by a group but not a bad idea if the wealthy voluntarily gave it up.

Nearing my 80th year (much to my surprise) I have finally realised the value of being in a Union! NU-OAPs. United we stand - divided we fall!

For services to the DWP, congratulations Sir/Madam!

Crumbly159 What are you on?!

My dad used to call them :
Other
Buggers
Efforts