I don't know about you, but I am proud of my parents. Both are still going strong at 90 years old. Last year we celebrated and a large part of the extended family got together in a swimming pool for an hour. A cherished moment. Their parents however died somewhat earlier. On my father's side that was something over the age of 70. So in my family is anything to go by life expectancy has grown by what can my children expect? And how long might their children live?
If Aubrey de Grey has any say in the matter we might live to the ripe old age of 150 sooner than you think. He argues in fact that beyond that we might live considerably older. To watch and listen to his arguments visit TED. Whether his claims are right or wrong previous assumptions about old age are categorically wrong. The pensions fiasco of recent years proves that.
Saturday 3 May 2008
Thursday 1 May 2008
Sorry, but what a load on b**t
Welcome to the Silver Economy blog. The focus is on promoting the welfare of people who are just that bit older than everyone else. Let me start by criticizing Armin Laschet's statement on the Silver Economy Europe website. What he has written is a very patronizing load of rubbish. Before I explain that let me explain why I think this blog might be valuable.
The core question is who knows best what "older" people want? The only possible answer is older people themselves. Since the second world war many lived in an age when we had steady jobs followed by steady pensions. The concept of a job for life disappeared for the majority of the working population some time ago, and the next nail in the coffin is the pensions fiasco.
At the heart of the pension fiasco is the total inability for actuaries to do their job properly. The job on a pensions actuary is to predict the future. Even my small brain knows that we had a baby boom, in the UK at least. The natural conclusion of a baby boom is more older people. Add to this the obvious improvements in health status due to the onslaught of medical improvements around the globe and what is the conclusion?
I deduce that the actuaries did not do their job at all well. They significantly failed society at large. My guess is that they failed to do their job because the powerful people at the top of pensions companies wanted to line their own pockets, and that is not done by saying "this business is built on lies".
Add to that changes in government policy and the pensions debacle is a natural and predictable conclusion.
Now nobody trusts the pensions industry. Now nobody trusts the governments opinions on pensions. Pension plans are being closed to new employees and replacement plans are pale images of what was promised before. That is a dire state of circumstances.
So lots of elderly people are going to have rough rides through their latter years. Instead of providing comfortable pensions for employees some companies have abused the pension funds to bolster the company or even directors' personal financial positions.
The question for this blog is how do senior citizens get themselves out of this hole. They cannot rely on governments of whatever flavour. That cannot rely on European government. What? Yes, let me now come back to that statement.
Well it isn't.
It is the contention of this blog that the more mature person who has have a wit about them has to take matters into their own hands whilst they have their marbles together. This will be an uphill struggle. There are considerable challenges. For instance there is tremendous age discrimination against the older worker. For example, in the UK any person over 65 loses all employment rights, and I mean all.
Another challenge is that none of know for how long we will have our faculties, be they physical, mental or emotional. Yet another challenge is how to understand and improve our own lot.
This blog's core assertion is that if our lot is going to be better than it is then we need to do it ourselves. That means sharing good ideas. It means helping those in difficulties with motivation and ideas. It possibly means working together to put pressure on governments.
I know none of the answers. But the answers are out there. If this rings a bell and you are interested then welcome to the Silver Economy.
The core question is who knows best what "older" people want? The only possible answer is older people themselves. Since the second world war many lived in an age when we had steady jobs followed by steady pensions. The concept of a job for life disappeared for the majority of the working population some time ago, and the next nail in the coffin is the pensions fiasco.
At the heart of the pension fiasco is the total inability for actuaries to do their job properly. The job on a pensions actuary is to predict the future. Even my small brain knows that we had a baby boom, in the UK at least. The natural conclusion of a baby boom is more older people. Add to this the obvious improvements in health status due to the onslaught of medical improvements around the globe and what is the conclusion?
I deduce that the actuaries did not do their job at all well. They significantly failed society at large. My guess is that they failed to do their job because the powerful people at the top of pensions companies wanted to line their own pockets, and that is not done by saying "this business is built on lies".
Add to that changes in government policy and the pensions debacle is a natural and predictable conclusion.
Now nobody trusts the pensions industry. Now nobody trusts the governments opinions on pensions. Pension plans are being closed to new employees and replacement plans are pale images of what was promised before. That is a dire state of circumstances.
So lots of elderly people are going to have rough rides through their latter years. Instead of providing comfortable pensions for employees some companies have abused the pension funds to bolster the company or even directors' personal financial positions.
The question for this blog is how do senior citizens get themselves out of this hole. They cannot rely on governments of whatever flavour. That cannot rely on European government. What? Yes, let me now come back to that statement.
In any political debate, demographic change and ageing are commonly regarded as a threat. What is required, however, is a shift in both, focus and approach: We need to consider demographic change and the ageing of our society as a challenge and as an opportunity for both, economic growth and improving Europe's competitiveness. In the "Silver Economy Network of European Regions", we emphasise the economic opportunities inherent in this demographic change. Today, senior citizens across Europe enjoy a far greater choice when spending their money on products and services."What is this saying? It is expending a lot of words to say nothing, that is for sure. Instead of getting to the heart of the matter it is lauding it up as if our increasingly aging society was a land of bounty for all.
Well it isn't.
It is the contention of this blog that the more mature person who has have a wit about them has to take matters into their own hands whilst they have their marbles together. This will be an uphill struggle. There are considerable challenges. For instance there is tremendous age discrimination against the older worker. For example, in the UK any person over 65 loses all employment rights, and I mean all.
Another challenge is that none of know for how long we will have our faculties, be they physical, mental or emotional. Yet another challenge is how to understand and improve our own lot.
This blog's core assertion is that if our lot is going to be better than it is then we need to do it ourselves. That means sharing good ideas. It means helping those in difficulties with motivation and ideas. It possibly means working together to put pressure on governments.
I know none of the answers. But the answers are out there. If this rings a bell and you are interested then welcome to the Silver Economy.
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