Merz backs plans to raise Germany’s retirement age to 70 in pension changes
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/merz-plans-germany-retirement-age-pension-reformsOpen linkView original on feddit.ukhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/merz-plans-germany-retirement-age-pension-reformsOpen linkView original on feddit.uk
In a civilized society, the retirement age should be going down, not up, you fucking greedy ghouls.
Yeah, should be. Sadly we basically have a ponzi scheme for national pensions in Western nations.
The problem is neoliberalism and the fascism of conservatism. There is more than enough wealth. The system is designed to funnel the majority into the hands of the richest 0.01%; a large amount of government spending goes to unproductive waste like layers of private middle-men, consultants, corruption, bureaucracy, mass surveillance, wars, etc.
That would make it more expensive. That's not realistic, especially with aging populations. Retirement age should always have been life expectancy (like it was in the beginning). And should have been a fixed amount, dignified living, not to fund the life you've gotten used to. And on top of UBI, of course.
I will not accept any "how will we pay for this" arguments when there's always plenty of money for war, even in Europe. Take it off the billionaires.
I mean, that would be ideal. But I was talking realistic. Better pensions would be available if people stopped voting against their interests. But we don't even have that, so a revolt against billionaires doesn't seem likely to me anytime soon.
I'm just picturing a 69-year-old working as a roofer or construction worker in the current heat.
Absolutely impossible. Raising the "retirement age" leads to working class people dropping out before they receive a pension, leading to poverty.
While executives in office jobs keep earning, doing fuck-all while "working from home" in their paid-off house.
There are several of those in the company I work for. They make 5x my salary and don't know how to use the softphone or connect to the company network. Their sole purpose is to be CC'd in important e-mails, but they never read them.
Human production has increased many times over.
I'm so tired of hearing we need more young people to support the retired.
No. There is plenty of money from the huge increases in production thanks to all that technology.
It's just that :
The workers aren't getting any of the profits from their increased productivity and subsequently, the government isn't getting the taxes from it.
The government isn't taxing the billionaires who are hoarding the money that would be more than enough to cover the expenses.
Both are part of the problem but the 2nd one is the biggest.
We were promised that we would all be working less since production is so efficient now.
And yet we work more and more. Even though profit margins keep increasing.
If things were balanced, the average person would be working less and be living more comfortably.
Merz fucks yet another generation.
Well, since younger people pay more, it's only fair for them to work longer. Especially when you consider, that they probably will get next to nothing when it's their turn.
But it's their own fault. If only they had made their parents and their parents neighbours have more kids, they could now pass that cup to their own non-existing children
Parasite.
will the SPD grow some balls and represent the workers for once? whats the point of having them be part of the government again?
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