patrick.net

There has always been a divide between young and old. It is not a new phenomena as the article implies. I think the bit about retiring and touring spain has to do more with rich vs poor rather than young vs old. Were things ever easy for young working class people ?

That's a great article -- the same thing is happening in Japan too, and even more blatantly. Births are at an all-time low, and the government, while claiming to want to alleviate this, does everything in its power to squeeze the young so that the the Baby Boomers and everyone older than them can continue to live well.

* Dismantling the well-respected system of lifetime employment in favor of unsteady part-time contract employment

* Increased inhabitant's taxes, which are paid by workers (not pensioners) and are a fixed percentage of your income

* Doubling the consumption tax to 10% (there are no exceptions for food and essentials)

* Eliminating child deductions on taxes and replacing them with (lower) cash payments so that the masses "feel" like they're getting money, and, of course:

* Rock-bottom interest rates to prop up housing values, with loans being harder to get

They're circling the wagons around those born before about 1965, and leaving everyone else out in the cold. The Boomers inherited a peaceful world from their predecessors, and now they're burning the candle at both ends and throwing their juniors under the bus. Think those circa-2025 invading Chinese soldiers will treat you so well, Boomers? Think the young that you impoverished will take up arms to defend you?

I can vouch for the above. I wouldn't mind the consumption tax being raised if food were exempt or if food imports were tariffed less/quotas raised.

Most aren't fooled by the cash handouts...