Peter Garstin wrote:We work hard to nurture our children for 20 years then they go off and do their own thing. When we get old they work hard to help us look after ourselves until the end. Then we leave them our assets to enable the next generation to do the same thing. That's how it works in civilised countries like India, Pakistan, China, most of Africa and the Middle East, and the third world in general.
Here we expect the state to shoulder our responsibilities. It seems to me that there is a close correlation between financial affluence and moral bankruptcy.
Well Peter, when I saw the title of this thread my thoughts were much the same as yours except, in my experience, your children tend to need and use you a lot longer than 20 years!
There's the 'bank of Mum and Dad to get them through University and also when they have a family of their own there is help with the Grandchildren time and financial wise, which I hasten to add is a pleasure.
Having worked hard all their lives many elderly people have earned the right to a decent self financed retirement and do not expect the State to be responsible for them. This modern phenomenon, that we should all expect to be kept in our old age has reared it's ugly head, I would suggest due to the benefit culture that this country has allowed itself to slip into.
There will always be the odd needy case, through no fault of their own that needs help, but we should not encourage a 'Nanny State' culture to be accepted as the norm.
Yes life is hard but that has always been the case! We should all try to be responsible for our own lives and make an effort to plan our own destiny as we age.
I'll put on my tin helmet and wait for the flack!
