Today, David Blunkett the Sheffield Brightside MP seems to have announced the begininging of the end of the welfare state. He has resumed his on message role of testing the water for New Labours future policies but this time it is serious.

No retirement.
Work while ever you have strength in your body.
Pay for your own care until you draw your last breath.
No state financial support.
No inheritance for your children.


From The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/sep/04/longtermcare.davidblunkett)
Blunkett said that as the number of older Britons continues to rise, it was wrong to assume that the government should have "prime responsibility" for elderly care.

Delivering charity Counsel and Care's annual Graham Lecture on the future of long-term care for the elderly, the former work and pensions secretary said: "My presumption is this. That all of us, every one of us who is capable of doing so, should aspire to continue with some meaningful activity to the point of our incapacity over taking us."

He added: "Preferably work, of course, increasingly part-time, flexible and in many cases, very different to the work undertaken in our earlier lives."

As well as paid employment, older people should consider volunteering, Blunkett said, and he called for a "merging" of the adult population of working age with those who are older.

"In simple terms, that full or part-time, we should seek work activity for those who can, as part of the social care agenda for the future," he added.

I wonder if his constituents are proud of him?

"My presumption is this. That all of us, every one of us who is capable of doing so, should aspire to continue with some meaningful activity to the point of our incapacity over taking us."

He added: "Preferably work, of course, increasingly part-time, flexible and in many cases, very different to the work undertaken in our earlier lives." [/I][/B]

:rant: Don't even get me started. How dare the government tell us what our aspirations should be? And what the hell is wrong with aspiring to relax, take holidays, do some gardening and spend time with the grandkids? That's what pensions are for.

Work till you drop. Great. Well done, Blunkett.

Work 'til you drop, unless you're an MP when the state will continue to look after you after you retire.

Just my luck this will be in by the time I get to retiring age :(

if people of this country will stand for it the politicians will impose it

Work 'til you drop, unless you're an MP when the state will continue to look after you after you retire.

You beat me to it! And, of course, MPs' pensions are considerably higher than a lot of people's salaries.

Don't you mean the politicians will impose it and the people will stand for it.

If ' work ' equals ' meaningful or useful activity ' ' Blunders ' Blunkett ought to have stopped work a long, long time ago-----or preferably, never got started.

Don't you mean the politicians will impose it and the people will stand for it.

The position remains what it always is - if the politicians are doing stuff we don't like, we can remove them.

hahahaha this ties in with a post im thinking of "imposing" on you all

maybe tommorow its bedtime, ive got a "meaningful activity" tommorow

The position remains what it always is - if the politicians are doing stuff we don't like, we can remove them.

Really, when will that be exactly, 2010?

Really, when will that be exactly, 2010?

I forget, to be honest ... something like that.

The people will decide, as they always do. (An awful lot of them decide they can't be arsed with what laws are going to be imposed on them, but that ain't the politicians' fault.)

What a disgrace. Cradle to Grave Slavehood to the state. Wheres Robin Hood when you need him

Clearly his mind has started to rot under the influence of too many booze soaked dinners hosted by pressure groups. :rolleyes:

Time for a genuinely new Labour I think ;)

Time for Labour to pack up and retire if you ask me.

I saw an interesting lecture by a demographic scientist working at the Max Planck institute.

He proposed that as lifespans are getting much longer, on average, in the Western world, the current retirement age is too early.

One of the reasons that taxes have been increasing lately in the West is because those at work are paying for those who aren't. This includes retired people, children and welfare. The proportion of the retired to the working has been increasing, because people are living longer.

Raising the retirement age would reduce the burden on workers by adding to the working proportion and reducing the non-working proportion. From his calculations, this seemed to mean that we would all be able to work 5-10 hours a week less, so long as we worked until an older age (say 70-75).

Not sure if I've got that 100% right but that's the gist of it. I'll look up his name from my notes, it was a really interesting idea.

to be honest labour is on it's knees facing its lowest opinion polls in years, it now has a leader with no personality or electoral appeal at all. Who in his previous roll has managed to bring the country to the brink of recession and imposed higher and higher taxes on those who can't really afford it. In all fairness can you see them taking another term after the next election.

Don't get me wrong I'm not an avid follower of polotics and not a follower of a party, the above is just the way I see things holding one of, if not the most important govermental positions.....


The VOTER

perhaps we should look at employing a govmental system to that of France. They do somthing the people don't agree with, the country stops, en mass.

blunkett if he had not got on the gravy train would have been selling matche,s which come to think of it is all he,s good for,and as for the politicians of this country i think most are not qualified for the jobs they hold down ,they cock one job up (well paid job that is )& get moved to another well paid job ,and if god forbid they lose their job they get a good back hander to soften the blow,while the workers of this country who are the back bone of britain get treated with contempt by people who are not fit to lace their boots

What he really means is Brown squandered all our pension money and soon it will come to light.
But of course the companies will take the rap,its already happening.

You all vote for these idiots. Time to take your red flags down and get a grip Sheffield!

You all vote for these idiots. Time to take your red flags down and get a grip Sheffield!

It really dos'nt matter who you vote for the agender wont change,politicians are little more than puppets nowadays,and Parliments days are numbered,soon we will be ruled by unelected people,not that were not now.

Well, far be it from me to support a Blunkett idea but this is something that has to happen.

It is only in the last couple of decades that the difference between retirement age and life expectancy has grown so large. When I was growing up, men had a life expectancy of 70 and a retirement age of 65, 5 years of enjoying the proceeds of 45-50 years of work. Recently men have been expecting to retire in their mid fifties and live until their late 70s, 20+ years of retirement for 30-40 years of working. It's unworkable. And it's only been made viable by the recent massive and unsustainable increases in liquidity and the way in which demographic bulges have fed through.

The demographics say that more and more people in the 65+ bracket will have to be financed by fewer and fewer of working age. The only solution is to raise the retirement age to redress the balance.

or stop spending billions on wars ,oh dont forget put a padlock on the dover chunnel with a sign saying sorry full up!

or stop spending billions on wars ,oh dont forget put a padlock on the dover chunnel with a sign saying sorry full up!

And take the sign down at the NHS 'open to everybody so long as your not british'.

I saw an interesting lecture by a demographic scientist working at the Max Planck institute.

He proposed that as lifespans are getting much longer, on average, in the Western world, the current retirement age is too early.

One of the reasons that taxes have been increasing lately in the West is because those at work are paying for those who aren't. This includes retired people, children and welfare. The proportion of the retired to the working has been increasing, because people are living longer.

Raising the retirement age would reduce the burden on workers by adding to the working proportion and reducing the non-working proportion. From his calculations, this seemed to mean that we would all be able to work 5-10 hours a week less, so long as we worked until an older age (say 70-75).

Not sure if I've got that 100% right but that's the gist of it. I'll look up his name from my notes, it was a really interesting idea.

I think the state retirement age does need to increase in line with life expectancy to be honest. I also think the policy of increasing the age in which people start work is also damaging, but accept that this may not be as bad as it seems since many more people work during their education these days.

it would seem that the only alternative, and the strategy that has been implemented, is ever increasing immigration.

my opinion is that we should be aiming for a stable self-sufficient population, with education, employment, retirement and welfare policies to meet that idea. but what we have is spiralling population growth with increasing demands on resources.

some research was predicting a UK population of 100m in 50 years recently. what a nice place we are going to be leaving for our grandchildren.

so increased retirement ages in line with increased life expectancy yes, but as for everything else Blunkett thinks nooooo.

It's not a govt. idea or even a Nulabour idea.

It's David Blunkett trying to get noticed 'cos everyone's forgotten about him.

The position remains what it always is - if the politicians are doing stuff we don't like, we can remove them.

Not if they're all offering essentially the same package, Heyesey, just presented slightly differently. Because that's what we've got. We actually have little to no choice nowadays in the policies the government will follow. General Elections are purely for show, to give the illusion of democracy.

It's been obvious for a good few years now that the country can't afford to go on providing state pensions for people. It's just been a matter of time before the situation is desperate enough for the politicians to admit it. Looks like things are getting pretty bad...

StarSparkle

Looks like things are getting pretty bad...We know things are bad. Its just that the government are basically admitting they're bad makes things seem worse. The next 12-18 months are going to be the time when we'll see what people are made of. Did they make good decisions when times were good? Did they borrow what they could afford or what they were offered? Are peoples homes being repossessed because they were greedy or because they are unfortunate. Its far too easy (and tempting) to blame the government for everything.

That said this government has been pretty hopeless.

Get this labour out !!! they come up with stupid ideas !!!

We know things are bad. Its just that the government are basically admitting they're bad makes things seem worse. The next 12-18 months are going to be the time when we'll see what people are made of. Did they make good decisions when times were good? Did they borrow what they could afford or what they were offered? Are peoples homes being repossessed because they were greedy or because they are unfortunate. Its far too easy (and tempting) to blame the government for everything.

That said this government has been pretty hopeless.


It's not just our government though - although they have done pretty spectacularly badly.

The energy crisis and climate change is affecting the whole world - this is a global economic crisis, which means we will be hit that much harder.

Our government are totally helpless in the face of it all - it's about time they admitted it, and stopped trying to *ull**** us.

StarSparkle

It's not just our government though - although they have done pretty spectacularly badly.

The energy crisis and climate change is affecting the whole world - this is a global economic crisis, which means we will be hit that much harder.

Our government are totally helpless in the face of it all - it's about time they admitted it, and stopped trying to *ull**** us.Therein lies the problem. If its global no government can do anything. We're just going to have to ride it out. Its another one of those situations where we brits don't make any positive moves in resolving the situation untill we establish exactly who is to blame and why.

The energy crisis could be solved but won't be because things take a long time to happen. We need more nuclear fuel, more solar, more wind, more wave but even if we started to build tonight it would be years before it was finished and even longer before it had any effect

Too true, and the longer they wait the more it will cost.

I saw an interesting lecture by a demographic scientist working at the Max Planck institute.

He proposed that as lifespans are getting much longer, on average, in the Western world, the current retirement age is too early.

One of the reasons that taxes have been increasing lately in the West is because those at work are paying for those who aren't. This includes retired people, children and welfare. The proportion of the retired to the working has been increasing, because people are living longer.

Raising the retirement age would reduce the burden on workers by adding to the working proportion and reducing the non-working proportion. From his calculations, this seemed to mean that we would all be able to work 5-10 hours a week less, so long as we worked until an older age (say 70-75).

Not sure if I've got that 100% right but that's the gist of it. I'll look up his name from my notes, it was a really interesting idea.


Well, to be fair then, why stop at the old uns? There's plenty of little uns around, playing on our street, got plenty of time on their hands. Time they went out and got themselves proper jobs, the ungrateful little scrotes, instead of swapping Pokemon cards. At the very least, can't we hook their trampolines up to the national grid?

I'm liking the idea of these groups you mention, "reducing the burden" of the workers, especially Blunkett's idea of voluntary work. Do you think my neighbour might come and clean my house whilst I'm at work? That'd be a help.

The bit I liked was that it'd allow a reduction of weekly working hours and a better work/life balance, while increasing national productivity. As 75 is the new 65, I wouldn't mind retiring at this age.

Another aspect of his talk was putting the gains in western mean life expectancy over time. It works out that through the efforts of science/medicine/health awareness etc., we're gaining around 6 hours of lifespan every 24 hours we live, with a trend towards an increasing rate of progress.

Now we need to bring that up to 24 hours in 24 hours and we're immortal. Won't be as easy as that of course for a number of reasons.

If Labour (is it still called New Labour) adopted Blunket's idea I don't think there would be much chance of the Tories reversing it if and when they were the next government!

I like it how they can tell you how long they EXPECT you to live.

Guy fawkes had the reyt idea imo ;)

shhh don't say that, its inciting terrorism.

I just feel sorry for the young people today, getting on the housing ladder with jobs that arent all that secure They dont have a chance of a normal life i.e. starting a fami;y etc cos the wife most likely has to work as well as hubby to keep their heads above water. Years ago we never worried unduly about fuel bills and food bills .

It will only last so long yasmin before they ALL start working out, it is easier to steal what you want.

And if the government gets away with it, why can't they.

Then the tables will be turned, you'll have 75 year old muggers.

Guy fawkes had the reyt idea imo ;)


"The only honest man to ever enter Parliament" and all that.

The older I get, the truer I think that is :(

StarSparkle

I like it how they can tell you how long they EXPECT you to live.

Not you personally, but a population average; which is what should be considered in policy decisions concerning populations.

I recon that euthanasia will be in for all people who reach a certain age (to be decided by the government) soon that should cure the problem of pensioners claiming too much he he '

I recon that euthanasia will be in for all people who reach a certain age (to be decided by the government) soon that should cure the problem of pensioners claiming too much he he '

Hey, if YOU were told you were expected to work at Tesco until the end of your days, you'd do the job for them! Perhaps that's the idea.

Diva..yeah you are right ..But there is no stigma in working at Tesco.. as long as the money is right and you are given a decent wage.. Look at the polititions they are first to award them selves a rise..more that most earn in a year. my daughter is nurse training placements and at uni. the workload is tremendous and pay awful.but she is dedicated to the job as most nurses.not many go in for it for the pay alone/ I was only being facecious about euthanasis.. sorry.