Retirement age increased by a few years - for or against ?

[Cimmerianbloke]

The pyramid of ages in Europe already started to inverse itself when I was a kid, we learned and studied that at school. The retirement scheme for public workers is not enough to assure the currently working population an income when they'll hit retirement age. By then, what those people paid all their life through taxes and contribution will barely be enough to cover their basic expenses, as some pensioners in Spain can confirm today. The whole current system should be scrapped, governments should encourage people to invest into private retirement schemes, but that would deprive these governments of a very big slice of cake. Keeping people in their job as long as possible has a double advantage. First, elderly active people contribute actively to the running of society and government expenses, and second, work keeps them away from hospitals and nursing homes. In the US, lots of people keep working beyond retirement in order to benefit from employer-financed healthcare cover. I think it would be a good option for Europe to implement that kind of healthcare cover, as universal healthcare is a major issue across the EU.
The bottom of the problem is to find a balance that would allow willing people to retire at their own chosen age without penalising the working population or keeping the youngsters away from much needed jobs... I am also in favour of a two to five years extra contribution to the workforce, to align the retirement age to the ever-expending life expectancy. Sadly, it means I will have to work until 70 to 72 years myself...

[zanipolo]

the new french predident announced today he will drop the retirement age in france from 62 to 60.

[LeBrok]

If I'm healthy I'll gladly work till I'm a 100. Find the job that you like or like the job that you have, and problem of retirement is solved. The retirement system should be substituted with "handicap compensation" only for people that can't work for health reason.
Find a job that you like, be creative, think positive, enjoy life (that includes your job), make smart choices (life is not a rocket science). Unless you're lazy, sick, hate your job and life in general, you shouldn't care for retirement age.

PS. This post is not directed at anyone of posters.

[hope]

If I'm healthy I'll gladly work till I'm a 100. Find the job that you like or like the job that you have, and problem of retirement is solved. The retirement system should be substituted with "handicap compensation" only for people that can't work for health reason.
Find a job that you like, be creative, think positive, enjoy life (that includes your job), make smart choices (life is not a rocket science). Unless you're lazy, sick, hate your job and life in general, you shouldn't care for retirement age.

PS. This post is not directed at anyone of posters.

I agree with you to a point Le Brok. Most people think retiring will give them free time to do all the things they did`nt have the time to do
when working but the reality is often different. There are some who cannot mentally cope with so much available time on their hands and can become depressed. Many are still healthy and energetic but now with no real outlet for it.
Unless you have been able to sort out a good pension scheme you may also find you are not financially able to do the things you wanted to.
On another note however , if we did`nt get retired there would be even less work for the next generation and goodness knows even those armed with degrees are often having trouble finding work places to-day.

[LeBrok]

I agree with you to a point Le Brok. Most people think retiring will give them free time to do all the things they did`nt have the time to do
when working but the reality is often different. There are some who cannot mentally cope with so much available time on their hands and can become depressed. Many are still healthy and energetic but now with no real outlet for it.

I know what you mean hope. From my observations, most of folks don't have defined interests, hobbies, or passion for anything, or will to do anything; except watching tv, sleeping, eating, drinking, and generally roaming around the house or yard - just to fill the day. They also work, but work is wherever life had lead them to. The job for them is either indifferent or just hated. No wonder they are looking forward to retirement, so they don't need to go there, but not because they have extensive plans for retirement. Just one less dreadful think to do, or fewer things they don't need to do.
I'm sorry to say that, but most of ordinary citizens are like children. They'd rather not do anything unless they are pushed by circumstances. If they do something, it usually is about money, sometimes a spouse. Most of them feel dislike to new or ongoing education, self improvement, career change or anything new and unknown.
The more I understand the more normal citizen scares me, lol.

Unless you have been able to sort out a good pension scheme you may also find you are not financially able to do the things you wanted to.

This, and what I said above gives me a realization that we are never going to get away with retirement program.

On another note however , if we did`nt get retired there would be even less work for the next generation and goodness knows even those armed with degrees are often having trouble finding work places to-day.

This is because are economies are messed up at the moment.
Well, actually not mine (Alberta, Canada), we need 20,000 workers right now. The economists painting even bleaker picture, because baby boomers are retiring en mass. We need them to stay working as long as they can. Isn't it something?
The key, to solving many social problems, is good economy.