We recently had a negative post about the Age Pension in Australia.

Unclear messaging, false information, and ignorance have left many Australians concerned lately that the Age Pension will be wound back, or even abolished entirely.

The Treasurer has said that these concerns are unfounded, admitting that the government has not made the facts clear. Some politicians have been making “unclear statements”.

The Age Pension is sustainable, and “strongly supported by both major parties”. And, in fact, an Actuaries Australia report advises that the cost of the pension to taxpayers is actually decreasing.

Governments know that it is “really poisonous” to change too much about the the pension. Age Pensioners make up a large proportion of voters; they are a very strong bloc. Any political party trying to reduce or abolish the Age Pension can expect to “be punished at the ballot box”.

Much of the fear about the Age Pension comes from the media and the aggressive, greedy and pampered superannuation industry, that claims to be replacing the Age Pension, and is putting about ridiculous claims on how much money retirees need to live a comfortable life.

Well, the media and the super funds do not run the show. Nor do ill-informed blabber mouths.

The only change I would make to the age pension, is to require anyone who receives it, in fact anyone who receives any government pension, to always wear in public a certain coloured badge or ribbon with the letter 'P' conveying to everyone the fact that they rely on government for their living.

Yuyutsu,

Great system, it worked/ in Germany when Jews had to wear an identifying sign; you keep good company.

The treasurer is right. The Retirement Income Review
found that the Age Pension is economically sustainable
and is at no risk.

The same advice was also reported in the Inter-Generational
Report (IGR) 2021 and endorsed by the government. The age
pension will be here long into the future for many
generations.

The economic fact is that it is becoming more affordable,
not less. It is also the political reality that any
politician who tried to take away the pension would be
tossed out of office.

Yuyutsu,

You have been revealing your true, unpleasant self lately. I agree with Hasbeen. In fact the yellow Star of David came to mind before I looked at his post. Disgusting comment from you.

Dear Is Mise and Ttbn,

The differences are:
* In Nazi Germany, wearing the Star of David had many horrendous ramifications. Nothing of the sort was contemplated here, only a bit of shame.
* Under Nazi rules, one's status was determined at birth: nobody ever chose to be considered a Jew nor was there any way one could escape that status and fate.

How about, also, another colour/letter for "public servants", MPs and the like who live off [even much more] money taken involuntarily from others? Perhaps the letter 'T' for "Thief"?