[trishalishous]

a comment on social media got me thinking.
in response to cutting parenting payments and family tax, since having children is a choice, a person posted : 'by the same logic we should cut the age pension (not disability or carers) as its a choice to retire, people should save enough money before they chose to retire, so that they aren't a drain on society'
I thought that it was a really good point. If having children is a choice, and something that shouldn't be supported by our tax dollars, is retirement also a choice that should be self funded?
after all, children are future tax payers, whereas retirees won't be contributing to govt funds again.

(disclaimer: I'm a commie and don't support any cuts to social welfare)

[cira]

Has the magical elixir of youth been found?

Aged people will always reach a point when they are unable to work.

[Chedasha]

Ridiculous and anyone who thinks it is a good idea is a halfwit.

[TurtleTamer]

No, it's not always a choice. Sometimes you just can't manage anymore when you get older without necessarily being 'disabled'.

And the reality is that as people get older it is increasingly difficult to find work. If you're going to have a huge portion of older people on the dole you are going to face huge issues with housing and various other things. As it is the pension is low, and they expect you to own a house by pension age. Not everyone does and this is also going to get worse as the cost of living is forcing so many out of the housing market. It would cost the government more to deal with the consequences of cutting it than it would to leave it there.

And I don't think it's fair that someone who was lucky enough to land a cushy high paying job can retire at 55 while the person who slaved it day in and day out has to work until he dies at 85. Yeah this still happens but to a much smaller degree.

[Wigglemama]

It's an awful idea. And if you came to visit any geriatric, medical or orthopaedic ward of any hospital, you would see why retiring as you get older is not always "a choice". We will get old too one day.

[Oriental lily]

I think it should just morph in to the disability pension.

To old and infirm to work?

Well it's a disability then.

However I know many fit and healthy 65 year old plus people who are very capable of working.

So why shouldn't they?

[Chedasha]

I think it should just morph in to the disability pension.

To old and infirm to work?

Well it's a disability then.

However I know many fit and healthy 65 year old plus people who are very capable of working.

So why shouldn't they?

They can if they want. But seriously you think all the elderly should be forced to keep working till they what die?

You are obviously young.

[Jemstar]

What a stupid idea.

Everyone gets to a point where they can no longer work.
People in low paid jobs can't simply 'save for their future.' All their money is tied up in, you know, living day to day.
These days the aged pension is often a supplement to people's compulsory superannuation, and there are many self-funded retirees out there already, but I would never, ever want to see the aged pension go. It is a safety net. It is also a freaking pittance and people struggle to survive on it, but if they didn't have that where would they be? Living on the street?

Short sighted and narrow minded and totally lacking in compassion.

It is a far cry from deciding to bring another life into the world and then expect someone else to pay for it, as opposed to getting to the end of your life and needing help (probably for most people after being a productive member of society).

[Oriental lily]

I am 36, hardly young lol.

No modern medicine and technology has evolved so that many people can work to some capacity way pass the tradtional age of retirement.

So why shoudint they?

Age is not a disability! It's only a number.

If you have an age related illness then you will go on disability.
Simple as that.

[jojonbeanie]

I think it should just morph in to the disability pension.

To old and infirm to work?

Well it's a disability then.

However I know many fit and healthy 65 year old plus people who are very capable of working.

So why shouldn't they?

Too old and infirm for what kind of work? Digging ditches like my father did or sitting in an air-conditioned office at home talking to students via email like myself?