No, it is not simply "their money to spend".
They were given tax relief on their pension contributions.
In return for not, therefore, becoming dependent on state benefits in old age.
Taking it all out and spending it is breaking the deal, and ought never to have been allowed.
""No, it is not simply "their money to spend".
ReplyDeleteThey were given tax relief on their pension contributions.""
Yes, it is.
Tax relief means the state taking less of what was already their money to start with.
The people's money doesn't belong to the Government.
You'll be delighted to pay them Income Support or whatever when they have spent all their pensions, then? No? That was the deal. This is breaking the deal.
DeleteWhy do you assume pensioners are all irresponsible and undisciplined and can't be trusted with their own money?
ReplyDeleteThey're usually far more self disciplined and responsible than the younger generation.
But not always.
DeleteAnd certainly not the ones who plan on blowing their entire pension pots in the knowledge that the benefit system would then look after them.
The tax relief on their pension contributions was on the understanding that that would not be necessary.
Laissez-faire, mon ami. And then the IDS Memorial Workhouse.
ReplyDelete