Post AbzSdSd59kPwwPiIiW by redflag@mindly.social
(DIR) More posts by redflag@mindly.social
(DIR) Post #AbvI0E03q0T86LH3Ym by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-18T06:50:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Does it really make sense to have a fixed age, above which everyone gets a UBI? That creates massive inequalities in how much of their potential UBI payments different people actually get to spend.People with white collar jobs tend to live longer than people who physical work. Pākeha tend to live longer than Māori. Women tend to live line than men. The more we push the retirement age up, the more stark these inequalities become.
(DIR) Post #AbvIKLIyO5XgY6iGfI by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-18T06:54:20Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
It's true that all else remaining the same, NZ can't afford to keep paying everyone over 64 a UBI. So maybe we need to give *everyone* a UBI, and increase taxes on the accumulation of wealth to pay for it? #PolicyNZ #tax #UBI #superannuation
(DIR) Post #AbvJSjEFQIm71C47Au by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-18T07:06:59Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
The only other solution that would be even vaguely equitable would be to drop the retirement age back to 60, and means test superannuation (and the Gold Card) just like we do any other social welfare benefit.If we don't care about being equitable, why are we paying everyone over 65 a benefit, even if they're independently wealthy?
(DIR) Post #AbvJsvVmNXkcdql2y8 by redflag@mindly.social
2023-11-18T07:11:28Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Do you consider the retirement pension a benefit?
(DIR) Post #AbvL3L6WBHQKrjTGxk by CarolynStirling@mastodon.nz
2023-11-18T07:24:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey I don’t consider it a benefit as almost all my working life I paid a higher tax rate than people on the same salary band do today.
(DIR) Post #AbwlO170UwrMuPBEdU by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-18T23:54:40Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag > Do you consider the retirement pension a benefit?I'm not sure what you're asking. On the face of it, the answer seems obvious.
(DIR) Post #Abwlwhk0VjY4xxxjv6 by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-19T00:00:55Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@KneeNeart > I remember coming across some studies when I was a student that showed a strong correlation between having universal pension and low(er) rates of elder abuseDon't get me wrong, I'm all for universal benefits. Among other things, they're much easier (and thus cheaper) to administer than means-testing is. But the current settings are neither equitable nor sustainable.
(DIR) Post #Abwyj6VUvwXD7u1McS by mu@mastodon.nz
2023-11-19T02:24:04Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey I'm not sure that's true?I think we can probably shoulder the burden while the boom works it's way through.Don't forget, after the boomer bump, the population will rebalance towards a younger populace.
(DIR) Post #AbyCAoDS1fif4I5452 by redflag@mindly.social
2023-11-19T16:29:28Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey Well it’s not obvious. If you work and pay into a scheme it clearly isn’t a benefit.
(DIR) Post #AbzG2Y6mcidplmErY0 by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T04:47:18Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@KneeNeart > Between completely inequitable and inequitable for those under 60, I'd still pick the latterSure, but as I said, continuing with the current system isn't an option either. Hence, neither equitable *nor* sustainable.The question is what change we make;* Gradually lifting the age of entitlement for the UBI until it might as well not exist* dropping the age, and means-testing* dropping the age to zero, and taxing appropriatelyI'm for the latter.
(DIR) Post #AbzGbFLMNnO7hsbNOy by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T04:53:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mu > I'm not sure that's true?Find an economist who agrees with you, and I'll consider it.> after the boomer bump, the population will rebalance towards a younger populace... until the Millennial bump comes through.Anyway, this is all beside the point. Why should only the elderly be protected from poverty in a relatively rich country? Why not everyone? Even the Greens are advocating for a Guaranteed Minimum Income now.
(DIR) Post #AbzIC4jIuK65SPvVrc by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T05:11:41Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag > If you work and pay into a scheme it clearly isn’t... universal superannuation. So not really relevant to the topic.
(DIR) Post #AbzSdSd59kPwwPiIiW by redflag@mindly.social
2023-11-20T07:07:56Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey In the NHS ambulance service before it became so, I paid into a superannuated pension which continued throughout my service. The government is clearly inept at managing money because the superannuated pension paid out more than the state pension for half the time required to earn it.
(DIR) Post #AbzTUVggW6Z7m1h7Sa by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T07:18:17Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag> I paid into a superannuated pension which continued throughout my service. The government is clearly inept at managing money because the superannuated pension paid out more than the state pension for half the time required to earn itSounds like a frustrating situation. I'd still call it a contribution-funded pension a benefit though, for reasons explained here;https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/@strypey/111434266448720087
(DIR) Post #AbzkWHfDKHO450RE12 by redflag@mindly.social
2023-11-20T10:29:01Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey I find it difficult to accept a pension that I worked for for 50 years is a benefit. Of course I didn’t pay for my own pension, younger people did, just as my contributions paid for my parents pensions, which were infinitely better, before this Tory government.
(DIR) Post #Abzo6VBqoQXuJofK76 by mu@mastodon.nz
2023-11-20T11:09:13Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@strypey it's not perfect, but we do have a welfare state for those below the retirement age.A guaranteed minimum income would make things simpler though.
(DIR) Post #Ac0qTehI1dkRWzUzQW by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T23:10:29Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag > I find it difficult to accept a pension that I worked for for 50 years is a benefitThen perhaps you've bought into the negative neoliberal propaganda definition of "benefit", rather than the original sense discussed in the linked post?
(DIR) Post #Ac0qdousswxQ7ahk5A by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T23:12:22Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag > I find it difficult to accept a pension that I worked for for 50 years is a benefitThen perhaps you've bought into the negative neoliberal propaganda definition of "benefit", rather than the original sense discussed in the linked post?In Aotearoa, benefits have been rebranded as "allowances", in line with the neoliberal idea that keeping people out of avoidable poverty is an act of charity by the government, rather than something we have a right to as citizens of a wealthy state.
(DIR) Post #Ac0qgqJU9GkRK2eWtE by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T23:12:34Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@redflag > I find it difficult to accept a pension that I worked for for 50 years is a benefitThen perhaps you've bought into the negative neoliberal propaganda definition of "benefit", rather than the original sense discussed in the linked post?In Aotearoa, benefits have been rebranded as "allowances", in line with the neoliberal idea that keeping people out of avoidable poverty is an act of charity by the government, rather than something we have a right to as citizens.
(DIR) Post #Ac0r38G46vAlLdgJQe by strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz
2023-11-20T23:16:58Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@mu > we do have a welfare state for those below the retirement age... and thanks to the last government, benefits can no longer be cut off by computers with no human oversight, something we'll probably need to defend.But as long as benefits can be cut off, they're not a guaranteed preventer of avoidable poverty, and they're much expensive to administrate than a 'reverse income tax' paid by the IRD.