Who Wants To Live Forever?
55Planning For Your 100th Birthday?
They were at it again yesterday - telling us we’re going to live until we’re 100. So now, of course, we’ll have to work until we’re 80. There is no other conceivable way - you know. Anyway, the great unwashed can't be trusted with too much spare time. They might start taking too much interest in what's really going on. They might even start voting for a better sort of society!
Longer Living - Longer Working
Like love and marriage; like peaches and cream; like rights and RESPONSIBILITIES, longer living and longer working are always juxtaposed these days, like a ubiquitous pair of Siamese twins. Longer working sounds about right, but any outrageous thoughts we might have of eking a few more years of geriatric freedom-from-the-yoke are met with a surcharge: Shwwoo! It’ll cost ya' mate - up front, of course.
Now, there are two main things that might make people agree to work on into their dotage: one is the threat of destitution, and the other is happiness-at-work.
Threat of Destitution
So let’s take a look at the threat of destitution. Well, there’s the credit crunch. And, of course pensions have halved in the last few years, many totally disappearing into a black hole. These days you have to go to college (hence initiation to a life of debt) just to get a job emptying buckets (trash cans - US). The Tories (UK - a bit like Republicans but their ducks live in houses) will be back into government next year…Oh Gawd!
That’s enough cheerful thoughts.
Happy At Your Work?
Let’s take a look at our chances of being happy at work: Small government: another euphemism for ‘deal with it and keep paying your taxes’ - but not too conducive to decent working conditions; deregulation: a euphemism for ‘might is right’; the free movement of capitol, now compounded with the ‘free’ movement of cheap, vulnerable labour (EU) - not too helpful either; asset stripping and relocation of plant; the sacking of skilled workers in favour of cheaper unprotected overseas workers; the destruction of trade unions; multinational corporations much more powerful than most nation states; unelected EU commissioners making the laws while elected officials are sidelined and muzzled…
Ah well, as Freddie Mercury once sang, “Who Wants to Live Forever?”
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Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your comment. I was having a grumpy old man moment with this hub. As for the coming election, I doubt if we'll be having an Obama moment.
you nailed it amiller, you are expressing the fears of millions of us who don't have trust funds! I am one that thinks I will be working until I'm 80. But, isn't Scotland one of the most beautiful places on the planet!?
Hi Kartika, I’m not sure what a trust fund is; it sounds a bit oxymoronic these days. I’m such an old cynic these days that nothing people do surprises me anymore, and it’s the surprise of others, that surprises me most.
Thank you for your kind comment about Bonny Scotland. (The truth is it’s only beautiful and unspoiled because it’s cold, and wet, and no sane person wants to live here.)
amillar, lol! You are being modest about your native land, I'm sure!
Hi Kartika,
“He is a modest little man who has a lot to be modest about.” That’s what Winston Churchill once said about Clement Attlee (under whose premiership we Brits acquired our National Health Service). Some remember Winston for his wit, and his war premiership; some remember Clement (not nearly enough of us) for the NHS - but in terms of the weather, at this time of year, Scotland is a modest little country that has a lot to be modest about.
I know what you mean, I use to look forward to long life and now I wonder how I will make it, I would in no way live with my daughter and well with a son, it's not really his home is it and he would make me the cook, cleaner...well I'd be better off just getting a job, but now here in America..get a job? Hm. I'd be much better off if I had swam over, I'd be set for life, free health care, a check, how fair is that? That is not a form of prejudice against the citizens who live here? Well I am working on setting up an "at home" my own business, really that is what I did most of my career life before I had to stop to care for my parents(not at home) but that was hard work I could not do now. Sometimes an early exit does not look too bad.
Oh heck Pollyannalana, don’t talk of exiting yet, I still look forward to reading your hubs and sharing your taste in music.
I don't want to live forever! Let me repeat that - I don't even want to live to anything 100! Had a great aunt who died just before her 101st birthday, and she was a right card! And only got more cardy as the years went by. Nutty as a fruitcake and not quite as much fun, really, so no, why would I want to do that to myself and the people around me?
But I do want to stick around a while longer and give a few people hell! Like crooked politicians (I guess that's practically all of them) and some businesses that cheat and exploit (or is that what they're meant to do - I can't quite remember?) See the old age is getting to me already. I always said I wanted to be a grumpy old man and now I'm just a grumpy old fart! But I still enjoy a good laugh and poking a bit of fun!
Thanks for a great read, as always.
Love and peace
Tony
Hi Tony,
That's a good strategy. I intend to stick around and make a nuisance of myself; in fact, I've been convinced for some time now that that's the reason the establishment (The New World Order) is trying to rip our pensions away - because they're petrified at the prospect of millions of baby boomers with time to spend exposing their shenanigans. (Of course we’d all have to learn how to work together - for once.) It's nothing to do with a shortage of money; they print that at will when it suits them, and we know that, because we've just witnessed them do so, recently.
Yes I think that’s an honourable ambition Tony, to live long enough to make a nuisance of ourselves. Love and peace, and lang may yar lum reek.
Thanks for visiting.
Lord I don't even remember writing that. I must be getting old. I thought I only had gotten mean mouthed in the last couple of months. If I keep it up maybe someone will murder me and I won't have to commit suicide. Dang, now I sound just like you!
I have heard Scotland was very beautiful too, why not do a hub and let us see? I hope you are calling me Polly by now, maybe I will hear from you more often. (ha ha)
Hi Polly,
I'm not often right, but I was wrong again on this hub; we didn't get a Tory government, it’s a coalition, but it won't make any difference, they're slashing and burning to appease the corporations anyway.
I've never been to America, but I've seen many pictures and films, and there are some beautiful parts of America. I might do a hub about Scotland one day - if I ever get warm enough to be inspired. Why don't you do a hub about your part of the USA? I'll look forward to that.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by. (Dang, I'm startin' ta sound like you now.)
Just had to come by this Hub again - to enjoy your barbs against the establishment! Great stuff and keep 'em coming, my friend. Love that "deregulation: a euphemism for ‘might is right’" etc. Growing old disgracefully is my aim - and I might even some some fun at it!
Love and peace
Tony
Come by my hubs as often as you like Tony; you know you're always welcome - especially if you're willing to listen to my rants at the establishment. Moaning is what I do best, and as they say, ‘if you’ve got it - flaunt it’.
I moved south because of wet and cold up north and I fell in love with it here when I was 13 coming through with my brother I was spending the summer with when he was in the air force. I would never go back. We have had one tiny snow and it could be spring before February is over so I really kind of miss the big pots of soup and chili and baked loaves of bread, but who knows, I may get snowed in yet. I can take a couple weeks of it. You look so tan for someone with no sun.
Hi Polly,
You're a lucky lass living under a southern sun - life is good for some.
I've never had a tan, since maybe, I was young - but we do get plenty of sun. In fact the further north you go the longer the days last in summer. When I was in the Shetland Isles on the most Northerly top of the UK, when I was in the RAF, they had an annual game of golf at 12 o'clock on midsummer's night (the land of the midnight sun). So I suppose it’s possible to sunbath 24 hours a day up there.
Amanda Severn Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
Just what I needed on a wet and windy Monday morning! We're living in interesting times, are we not? Personally, I'm looking forward to the next election with the same kind of anticipation that my 14 year old reserves for the X factor live shows. There's nothing quite like the spectacle of our politicians gearing up for an election. Peter Snow is probably dusting off the swing-o-meter as we speak! Meanwhile, as you say, with old age stretching into infinity, and the prospect of postponing retirement indefinitely, I'm busy counting my blessings, and hoping that a change of government might remedy at least some of the recent disasters.