Well, maybe the answer is for all pensions to be made illegal - yes even those for MPs and senior business types (company CEx etc). That way everyone can be equally as badly off. Which appears to be what the TPTB and many in private sector want. As is usual, the argument has been carefully manipulated by Govt towards the "why should some have it good when others don't" line of reasoning. And some are latching on to it with relish.

Let people just save what they can in the bank or under the mattress. Nice and fair.

Of course, most people will have to work until they die. But it'll be nice and fair.

I chose to start my pension when I was 18. Was missold a private plan but got it back in to the Local Govt Pension Scheme. So whilst others of my age were spending their money, some of mine was going to my pension. Now, more than 20 years later, and because successive Govts have allowed private sector companies to screw their staff whilst Govt itself messed up pension investment (i.e. they didn't invest), I face people telling me I shouldn't get what was promised, and what I signed up for in good faith. So, perhaps I should have just that money up the wall over all those years instead?

I'm a member of a fully funded, healthy pension scheme. I don't mind paying a bit more in to make sure it stays healthy and I don't mind having to work a bit longer too (well, I do but I'm realistic enough to know it's going to have to happen). What I object to is being told that my pension scheme has to be flushed down the pan because the much-vaunted private sector up theirs over the years. And I most certainly object to paying a "tax" to the Treasury to help pay off the debts incurred in sorting out the banks.

One little irony that tickled me recently was the idea that Govt were going to ask pension funds to invest in infrastructure projects. So, that'll basically be the pension funds of the LGPS, some other bits of public sector and the banks (many of whoms till have lovely pension schemes by the way) then. And you want to effectively get rid of at least one of those funds whilst also asking it for money? Hmmm, can't help but see a slight flaw in the plan there guys... 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
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codfather wrote:

Get a life

ok fair points, x5pea, i dont want to pay any more tax either, and some of the public services are sub standard, we all know that!!, i am still reeling with the NHS and crosshouse hospital and their foreign (cheaper??) doctors for not diagnosing a simple virus which eventually killed my mother last month.
but you still seem to be missing my point. the guys at ground level need all the support they can get, nurses/classroom teachers/infantry/bobbys on the beat, these are the guys that make up 90% of the workforce but only see probably 50% of the pension pot! get rid of govenment quangos and lose some of the middle management and the goverment would save a fortune. the public sector needs to be employing more people on the ground rather than having some guy in a suit on 100k telling the workforce they need to shed jobs to save money!
cheers
dave MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

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RRSTDV8 you hit the nail on the head

My dad was a plumber who worked 7 days a week and evenings most of my childhood to pay his bills but we still could not afford holidays, going out, etc, but eh life is tough now - we are in a recession

I left school at 17 with gcse and a levels and ended up on a yts scheme earning £30 pw as an apprentice plumber. £10 went on travel, £10 board and £10 to spend. Because I had spent holidays working with my dad instead of going on holidays I knew loads so ended up doing the same job as the time served men for peanuts - welcome to the private sector. My dad convinced me to go to college and get one of those cushy jobs at the council

I spent 2 years at college, got married and started working for a council at 19 on £5k pa and was forced to pay into the pension - I took the only job I could get so had to move from the north east to Sussex. I lived in a caravan for 12 months as I could not afford rent or a mortgage. Meanwhile as you say people my age were living at home and clubbing without any thought about a pension

My grandad was a hat maker before the war but after being away 5 years fighting a war so we could be free to protest without being shot ended up a road sweeper being made fun of by kids living in luxury thanks to people like him. He had a council pension and he earned 50p over the means test limit because of it he only got a basic state pension. This meant he had to do gardening work to make ends meet until he had a heart attack and died. At that point my gran was given loads of money as she was single and could not spend it

This history is what drives me to succeed and provide for my family but the next generation have had it so good they are soft and lazy. I do not live in a wealthy area but when I see kids with iPhones and laptops I find it hard to accept things are as bad as we are led to believe

I realised I was a "public servant" with the emphasis on servant and I was only there for job security and a good pension and they were fading fast so I had started a company for my wife during my holidays, weekends and evenings and bought a new 4x4 which we shared but when I got called in by my manager to advise me it was inappropriate for my position I got out

I have worked in private and public sector and seen similarities in both - managers are paid way more than workers for extra responsibility but when it goes wrong the worker is the scapegoat, many workers are lazy and carried by others, pension schemes are raided by cronies at the top taking early retirement and buddies who do the same a few years later

I think many of the comments against the strike are opinions from reading papers who manipulate facts not based on experience

Incidentally I worked for local government for 14 years and we never had a strike so it's not like they do it regularly  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

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codfather wrote:

get rid of govenment quangos and lose some of the middle management and the goverment would save a fortune.

Zilch wrote:

codfather wrote:

get rid of govenment quangos and lose some of the middle management and the goverment would save a fortune.

Where would all the old Etonians go, surely this is why it was invented to find middle and senior management roles for those who know sweet FA about the service they are suppose to be running and would not make it in the private sector

Exactly!! well said!! MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

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i forgot, the rest of them would work in the Square Mile and loiter around the wine bars of Canary Wharf and possibly that job up as well. oh to late they already have... hence why everyone pensions are totally even more so after Gordon's raids Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

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