Renton

You COULDN'T do that today, is the point. Back then, you could afford a mortgage, kids, depending on your circumstances holidays etc. With the mother not working she could raise the kids, no need for childcare, plenty of time for home cooking, house work etc. It's just not an option any more. And Im not fucking blaming you either. People are fundamentally the same, clearly. I'm picking you up on your refusal to accept the economic realities of today and it's role in childcare today.

Maybe it's read your mind and you are in denial?

If that ever becomes reality because of the triple lock it shows the state pension is too high imo.

An not slagging off the entire cohort, ut was a specific response to the the misconceptions of this particular person. I sincerely hope that, being just behind him age wise, I never think like this. TP, back in the day you could raise a family on just the father's wage, maybe supplemented by the mum being part time. You didn't even need childcare or maternity leave. This just isn't the case now, you must know this surely. Housing costs are astronomical compared with what they used to be, and without a settled home, people aren't going to choose to have kids in general. As for child mortality rates? We're not talking about the victorian ages ffs. I'm top quintile and am really struggling with the costs of children. One car, one holiday a year, hardly ever go out anymore. Both stressed at work despite giving up more highly paid jobs for this reason. You're gonna say that's what it was like for your generation. But for the top 20% with both parents working? It just wasn't. I don't know why you don't recognise this. And thats before we talk about the horrors social media has inflicted on our kids. I'll await for the bad parenting riposte but the fact is it's fucking relentless the shit these companies put them through. I recognise my parents had it easier (on one teachers salary) and I had a better childhood in most ways. I also recognise that my pension, though much worse than my parents, will be much better than my kids.

Worst string of results since 1953.

MotD saying its cos of Jota. Jesus Christ man.

Ahh, you're mates with Toonpack outside of here? You're mate is wrong on so many things. First, the state pension is not paid by his NI contributions, it's paid from current tax payers, mainly PAYE. Those current tax payers will have to wait even longer for their pension which will be less, if they receive it at all. I had an endowment mortgage which never paid out, whats his point? There were never any guarantees, it wasn't hidden in the small print. Maternity pay, fuck off man. Never been harder to raise a child than now, which is one reason for the declining birth rates. He probably won't need to pay tax on his state pension unless private pensions or other income takes him over. He does sound like a typical entitled boomer to me. Tell him he's a tax dodging scrounger who can get fucked.

Nobody had heard of fiscal drag when the tories introduced it. Now Labour continue it, well. Endless weeks of news on Raynors mortgage arrangements. Russian stooge and Farage friend Nathan Gill? Nada.

Well fair enough. Either Labour are right, or the Greens are. I think most economists, by no means all, but most, would be more supportive of Labour's approach. I'm more inclined to trust experts over hypnotherapists. We've got two huge issues, wealth inequality and a looming demographic crisis. We all I think want the same thing. If we're honest, none of us no how to solve it.

Not really a stealth tax when Labour are upfront it's a tax rise, introduced by the tories of course. Where's this from? Labour claim it will only make the top 10% worse off. On the BBC news today, they got tax specialists to see how the budget affected some low income families and singles. After everything was taken into account, they were better off. Not hugely but definitely net beneficiaries. I think it's a hugely populist policy. Why don't Labour do it? Do you think it's because they are backed by the super wealthy, or do you think they think it just won't work when these people can offshore their wealth with ease?

Haven't seen the new one but we're definitely in "I'd buy that for a dollar" territory already. The World seems surreal with Trump as POTUS.

I really dislike quack practitioners Spongebob, I'm no right winger though. It underlines his non serious (at best) credentials. He's a popularist, plain and simple.

So says the man who can hypnotise lasses to grow bigger tits.

I stopped listening to it regularly, but Oh God What Now is worth a listen this week about how the tech bros are screwing us over and creating a complete shitocracy. Only solution I can think of if for Europe to somehow get uts act together and become self sufficient from the US and China. UK is far too small to go this alone. More likely is we are heading for a new era of dystopia and servitude imo.

I mean aye, funny and all that, but he's an obvious charlatan. But welcome to 2025.

I'd like to hear how. I also think if this government thought it could be done, they'd do it. I just think globalism fucks this notion.

They've literally increased minimum wage and wages for younger people. There's a strong argument that all of us should contribute to society by paying tax. Some people over the next few years will lose some of their personal allowance and perhaps pay tax for the first time. I can live with that. After all the hype this more strikes me as a does fuck all budget tbh, but that was pretty much on the ticket. If we finally get some growth, we'll be okay. If not, we'll get Farage. Hurray.

Its not like fiscal drag is something new. It's shit, but the amount of times I've heard people on here say they'd be happy to pay more tax if it went on services, and then they actually get taxed and moan like fuck. Basically it comes down to whether you believe fiscal responsibility (balancing the books) is important or not. As we as a country spend more now on debt interest than education, I'd say it was quite important whatever Polanski has us believe.

Scrapped cap on child benefit, "mansion tax", tax on rental properties, minimum wage and younger people's wages increased? On balance I'd say yes, but she really can't win.

Was going to answer this with an alternative Dibnah gif. Did a search, first page was this, from our own forum (fuck knows but summit to do with you I reckon...).

You'll be sticking a bottle of Bollinger up your arse next.

You okay mate? Honestly, never done a European trip before but think this would be low on my list....

Am just a thick match payer, but surely Barnes would be a better option? Just swap them.

Too harsh on him. All he ever wanted to be was an outfield player. 😭