Do we expect too much as a right in Great Britain?

I just googled the Australian state pension scheme out of interest, but a few minutes reading through the rules and regs started to bring on a headache! It seems it is means tested, and by use of a very fine tooth comb - even the value of your household contents and your car is taken into consideration (though not the house you live in).

www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/assets

However generous it may be, administration of the scheme must be very costly.

ROSE, enjoy your weekend break, whever you are going !

I will have to leave you all to it as I am off for the weekend to somewhere which probably doesn't have wifi.

Yes, I think that's what I read, rose, that the system which Osborne wants us to adopt is already happening in Australia, and there are many people who regret it over there.
I think the government here is having a compulsory second pension, asking employers to take out pensions for employees, like a compulsory superannuation, unless employees opt out. I do not think that will help the employment figures.

I did have an interrogation last time I was over there from someone approaching retirement, who told me that the basic state pension is means tested. She was surprised to hear that our basic state pension is paid to everyone regardless of other income.
However, the means-tested full Age Pension in Australia is reasonably generous, but on a sliding scale.

Anyone still working pays into a compulsory superannuation scheme to provide them with a pension and many people would top that up with private schemes. However, it has been possible to draw out a pension fund and invest elsewhere, with some disastrous results.

Just like to say thanks to those who saw my posts for what they were and for supporting me, and to rose for trying to get the thread on track again. After all it began as her thread, so she must know what it was intended to be about.
If you want to know more about the Belgians of Birtley, I think it will be on the Who Do You Think You Are website; I'm sure it was that magazine I read it in, although I buy so many family history magazines and books.

Interesting final paragraph there, rose. I think I read somewhere that Australians get 52% of the average salary as their pension, whether from the state or private. In the UK it's more like 25% as state pension, and going down, which is probably why we need to rely on the state more than they do in Australia.
I know my brother-in-law refers to his state pension as pocket money. It's more than that to me, but he retired when annuities were good.

I just had visions of this posse of Gransnetters headed by a Company Sergeant Major demanding at 2am. Help yourselves, I will be asleep, I have a busy weekend coming up!

I am interested in everyone's opinion; don't have time at the moment to read all lengthy posts or follow all the links on many threads, but there have been some interesting and thought-provoking views on this thread.

It is very difficult for the State to provide help for those who do need it without giving to those who may not without means-testing, which is demeaning imo. Those who do not necessarily need the help (for instance prescriptions, bus passes, winter fuel allowances and the proposed school meals) should be covering the cost of these in the tax they pay - but of course not everyone pays the tax that they should.

I'm sorry you've been made to feel like that Ninny

"Smiling", golly gosh hope the thread police, don"t come chasing.

Oh dear, just realised we've gone way off the point of this thread. Sorry!

'Screaming'?

Got it wrong girls, should have been CSS .

Iit must be the excitement of seeing Russell Crowe in "NOAH" this afternoon.

I am all of a flutter. !!

CSS.

It must stand for Can't Stop something - but what?
Moaning?

Nonu. I have the corkscrew ready.
(although I don't know what CSM means, sorry, DGS is not here to ask. Apart from Company Sergeant Major or Conspicuous Service Medal!)

ROSE
CSM

That WOULD be scary, a posse of Gransnetters knocking on the door at 2am. I would have to open my last two bottles of

Freedom of the press without state interference.

So what else do we expect as a right in Great Britain? The right to have an opinion and not have a knock at the door at 2 am because we express it out loud?

(I am talking here of the uniformed or plain-clothes police force, not an audience of our peers)

Yes Ana! And another GN thread that started as an interesting discussion bites the dust in a flurry of personal squabbling. End of!

Not all G/Ns are left wing ninny, please don"t be put off from posting.

You are entitled to post just as much as any one else.

Good Karma to you.

x

I don't see anyone "ganging up" together or muscling in on any side, here. I see a difference of opinion, freely expressed on both sides.

Time to call a halt and get on with DISCUSSING.

As for a different set 'muscling in' - I don't see that happening on this thread. I would say it's time to let it rest, but of course that's bound to make it carry on...

17.55.34 Is this the sort of post you mean? Surely it's clear now that it was an unfortunate choice of words that caused the kerfuffle and not any element of bullying or conspiracy. As I said earlier let's get a grip, eh?

Well there we are! That's another good thing about this country - freedom of speech.

And then a different set muscles, attacking the ones who had posted to defend the first lot and it becomes a free-for-all.

Like the Irishman's question "Is this a private fight or can anyone join in?"

"bullying" - wrong!

"ganging up - wrong!

Give it up ninny