Gimme gimme gimme

My conclusion today is that society is greedy. I don't know if it's always been that way, I'm only 31 years old and Homo Sapiens has been around considerably longer than that. I also don't know if it'll ever change, but frankly I doubt it. Why am I saying this? Well, aside from the ever-present assault on our benefits system, there have been 2 things that have caught my eye this week.

Number 1: the introduction of the Times paywall and the furore about it. God forbid people should have to pay for news. Y'know.... as people have been doing for years and years without quibbling. Now The Times is my favourite paper. It's expensive (£1 during the week, £1.50 on Saturday and a staggering £2 on Sunday) but it's informative, un-sensationalist (if that's a word) and the sports page are excellent. I like the personal finance section on a Saturday as, so far at least, I've not seen any glaring errors or ommissions. And the Sunday Times helpfully doubles as a doorstop. So have I paid for it? Yes of course I have, because I enjoy it and I don't expect to be given a quality service for nothing.

Number 2: This article on the Beeb saying that 59% of people surveyed for the ONS Social Trends Survey think that the Government's responsibility to ensure that pensioners have enough money to live on. WHY? Why is it not the individual's responsibility to build up a decent pension pot during their working life? The same survey found that 31% of pensioners rely on State pension benefits. Some of these pensioners may have good reason, but the lack of personal accountability bothers me. Is it laziness? Arrogance? I remember when I was 20 and out of work for 3 months, I signed on and my mother was furious with me - "No one in the family has ever claimed anything from the Government" she yelled. I can't remember exactly what I was awarded for those 3 months but suffice to say that, as a higher rate taxpayer now I've more than repaid what I "borrowed" to see me through a tricky patch. And surely that's what it should be? A safety net for when best intentions fail or fall short. I've nothing against the State pension at all and I think it should continue to be paid to all pensioners regardless and shouldn't be means-tested. But people need to be responsible for their own wellbeing as well. Look on the State pension as a bit of a bonus. A bit of extra spending money perhaps. Not a god-given right that gives you immunity from providing for yourself.

I've ranted, haven't I? I really do find it quite infuriating though. Grrrr.