Geoffrey Settle Posted April 25, 2011 Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Some people think that the current generation have never had it so good, they expect/demand so much and get a it on a plate . What do you think has it got easier over the years or has time clouded our judgement and given us a tinted view on the way we were Any examples of why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 25, 2011 Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Geoff, it's generally acknowledged that this generation is the first in history, that will be worse off than it's parents - however, some may be lucky if their parents don't spend their inheritance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted April 25, 2011 Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 I'd say that many of the 60 to 80 year olds have it the best. Retired (often early) on index linked final salary pensions, rode the property boom all the way up then cashed in when the children moved out and they downsized, life expectancy and good health in later life far better than they expected it to be when they were growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Difficult to say without more critique. Those over 60 have had it the best for lots of reasons. Using the example of the me, me lot, (current generation), they have it good now, but will have no idea of what the real world is about or the fact that they will be paying for there countries governance until they die, as they won't be able to retire. It's a fantasy world fuelled by stupid reality programs and millionaire footballers. Hard graft and ambition is a thing of the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 I'd say that many of the 60 to 80 year olds have it the best. Retired (often early) on index linked final salary pensions, rode the property boom all the way up then cashed in when the children moved out and they downsized, life expectancy and good health in later life far better than they expected it to be when they were growing up. In your opinion some of us wrinklies may be having it reasonably well at the moment, but what you neglected to say is that most of us had very little when we were children during and just after the war years. Oh! bugger I forgot we had free milk at school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Why isn't there an option for over 60's ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Grafters doesn't come into it. Geoff, are you doing another thesis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 26, 2011 Report Share Posted April 26, 2011 Think it was the "baby boomers" that came into the world not knowing about the hardships suffered by their parents, and by the time they went to Nursery School (Sure Start ain't a new idea!), and received their cod liver oil, milk, free health care and their vaccinations, rationing was ending and life was picking up. They went to school, and many to Grammar Schools and on to a "free" place at University (sons of miners becoming politicians - then forgetting where they started!). And for the dross that went to Secondary Moderns, there were jobs - lots of them - in factories (actually making things) - so many jobs, that you could finish at one place on the Friday and walk into another on the Monday. So many jobs - that the Gov invited our Commonwealth cousins over from the West Indies, to drive the buses and clean our hospitals. Then amidst all this material gratification - cars, foreign holidays etc - we had the birth of irreverance and disrespect for authority, which was handed down to the sprogs. And the indulgence in all things material continued, with new ways to have what you want -NOW, and pay for it later. A game that Governments began to play , until the factories closed due to cheaper foreign imports, and all our eggs were placed in the (financial) service sector - until one day it all crashed. Luckily, most of the baby boomers had escaped the work place by then, so it was left to their kids and grand kids to pay for their trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted April 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 Why isn't there an option for over 60's ? Apologies Dizzy - I did go back in to add a fourth category it wouldn't let me because people had already started to add comments. Pete - this isn't another of my Thesis - well not yet anyway - purely for fun. I do think that the 40's to 60's have until perhaps recently have had it the best for the reasons given by Obs and the fact that they have lived through so much change. The 60+ had it tough from the start and never let go of being careful, working hard and saving as a consequence of their early experiences when young. The 20 - 40's - maybe a generation that benefitted from a more prosperous time from the bank of mum and dad but at what cost - is this now starting to bite and are the bites ending up on the waist line Under 20's could be the I want I get generation but are they going to be in for a shock as the Bank collapse continues to have an impact and the bank of mum and dad runs out of cash:?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 But the bank of Mum and Dad has taken a drop too - with below inflation interest rates robbing their savings and house sales depressed by reduced buyers - so they've got to get it spent PDQ - so they can become a burden on their kids and the State! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 Depending on who you ask it could be all of the above. Each generation seems to issue the same proclamation. "You've never ad it so good" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 Think it was the "baby boomers" that came into the world not knowing about the hardships suffered by their parents, and by the time they went to Nursery School (Sure Start ain't a new idea!), and received their cod liver oil, milk, free health care and their vaccinations, rationing was ending and life was picking up. They went to school, and many to Grammar Schools and on to a "free" place at University (sons of miners becoming politicians - then forgetting where they started!). And for the dross that went to Secondary Moderns, there were jobs - lots of them - in factories (actually making things) - so many jobs, that you could finish at one place on the Friday and walk into another on the Monday. So many jobs - that the Gov invited our Commonwealth cousins over from the West Indies, to drive the buses and clean our hospitals. Then amidst all this material gratification - cars, foreign holidays etc - we had the birth of irreverance and disrespect for authority, which was handed down to the sprogs. And the indulgence in all things material continued, with new ways to have what you want -NOW, and pay for it later. A game that Governments began to play , until the factories closed due to cheaper foreign imports, and all our eggs were placed in the (financial) service sector - until one day it all crashed. Luckily, most of the baby boomers had escaped the work place by then, so it was left to their kids and grand kids to pay for their trip! Good summary obs. And yours too Geoff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted April 27, 2011 Report Share Posted April 27, 2011 I agree with Sid - every generation has its good and bad points. Each older generation thinks they are making it better for their kids in one way or another, instead they screw something else up. Continuous circle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted April 28, 2011 Report Share Posted April 28, 2011 Every generation has to respond to and is conditioned by it's economic enviroment - which is now comparatively bleak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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