Why are French 20odd year olds rioting on the streets over pension that won’t effect them for 40yrs?

I'm absolutely 100% for the welfare state but there's also an onus to look after your own future too.[/QUOTE]

That's why the French are rioting they are looking after their future and some folk are knocking them for it

 

Compare average salary with average house price over the years. I know people with good and necessary jobs who will never own their own home. My Nan’s bungalow with a nice garden in Wombwell for example - adjusting for inflation she bought it for £30,000 in 2023 money. It’s now worth £200k+.

My generation have been completely and utterly shafted.

 

That's why the French are rioting they are looking after their future and some folk are knocking them for it[/QUOTE]

That wasn't my point.

 

The French people aren't prepared to be shafted by their government the British sadly are far too eager to be shafted by theirs especially if the ones doing the shafting have a posh accent, plenty of money and talk bullsh1t everytime they open their mouths.

 

It's far too easy and profitable to go down the buy to rent route. My wife's friend has three properties on buy to let mortgages. That's three families paying her rent that is over and above the mortgage she pays on those properties. It's also three houses removed from the market meaning the market value of other homes is higher as a result.

I'd fully support making the council tax on second homes (bought to let or otherwise) being charged at twice the normal rate.

 

That would just be passed on as additional cost to the renters. The only cure for this is a massive campaign of house building exclusively for first time buyers.

 

Wages to average house price ratio:

1980 = 3:1.

2023 = 10:1.

 

Landlords don't make much money from rent, the takings are very small after taxes, fees and mortgages - which are no longer tax deductable are taken into account. The money comes from the increase in the value of the property, you can then release equity to fund other investments.

We need a strong rental market as rental housing is important for students, young professionals etc and steps have been taken recently to make the sector less desirable, but agree more could be done and the balance isn't quite right at the moment.

 

My dad died before he retired, he was so looking forward to it, had loads of plans. Worked everyday of his life as soon as his National Service ended.

I'm not letting that happen to me.

 

They get their mortgage paid which is more than enough, and them buying properties reduces housing stock and drives up prices, making it less affordable to buy and leaving people with no option but to rent. It's a vicious cycle.

 

It's a lie told by government that we can't afford decent pensions, that people are living too long etc etc.

Look at the Norwegian government, they took their North Sea Oil and Gas and used it to provide for themselves in retirement.

What did we do - we used it to make rich people richer.

 

This.

There isn’t a lack of money to support the old and infirm. This country had enough natural resource but gave it away to allow a minority to profit; it has the ability to generate enough income to double the funding to the nhs and welfare state solely by enforcing a proper taxation policy, as well as a fair and efficient distribution of funds.

We don’t need a magic money tree or a bottomless pit. We just need a fair thinking, progressive government brave enough to sort that.

We won’t get that even if we vote for the red rosette for the next forty years, but that might help more than the other choice that the selfish and self harmers keep electing.

 

Because they've not been brain washed into believing only in hyper-individualism and still want a society in more then name? Unlike in this country where we are increasingly told not to look beyond ourselves and our own immediate wants.

 

Maybe it is. As I say, I haven't seen actual figures either way.
I'm absolutely all for taxing the rich until the pips squeak. I saw Bernie Sanders the other day saying there shouldn't be any billionaires. They should be taxed out of that bracket.
My point is, even if that is done will there be enough money to:-
Fund a top notch NHS
A police force that is staffed and funded sufficiently to be effective.
An education service that is world class and turns out rounded individuals capable of independent thought.
An ecologically sound energy policy.
The highest levels of health and safety standards, sick pay, unemployment benefit, prison rehabilitation programmes, retirement at maximum 60 etc, etc, etc.
I want all of that. If taxing the rich achieves it, brilliant. If some politician lays out a plan where it can be achieved I'll vote for them in a heartbeat. Otherwise some things will have to be prioritised.

 

Yes.

With plenty to spare too.

 

Next step 72 for retirement age.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11902677/amp/Pension-age-rise-72-2050s.html

 

Then where is the detailed analysis of it? I'm not saying you're wrong but I am saying I've never seen a politician or party lay out how it would permanently fund what we want. Surely anyone that could would wipe the floor with any opposition regardless of the right/wealthy grip on the majority of the media.
I don't want your answer to be wrong by the way.

 

That wasn't my point.[/QUOTE]
I wasn't having a dig sorry if you got that impression

 

I wasn't having a dig sorry if you got that impression[/QUOTE]

Sorry for the short reply. I was too touchy.

 

Sorry but this thread has really p*ssed me off.
Firstly, mass peaceful protest is one thing -Mass strikes, tens of thousands marching in protest included.
Rioting on the other hand - setting fire to cars, burning buildings looting, attacking police throwing petrol bombs etc. Really? There appear to be one or two feckwits (and yes I do mean that) on this BB who appear to not only condone the violence but advocate that it is the right course of action and consider that complete anarchy is totally acceptable in a civilised society to get what they want regardless of how many innocent people are caught up in it.
There are many injustices in the World and many of those in power abuse their position but those using violence to achieve their aims, are just plain wrong. Violence achieves nothing and just hardens attitudes of those they oppose.