> While it's blindingly obvious that the current monolithic pyramid schemes used to move money from the young to the old will have to disappear,
A sentiment shared by the young. Until they get old.
A sentiment shared by the young. Until they get old.
So I don't think this is something historically people have believed in youth and rejected in adulthood. It's only coming to a head now. Of course, it's reasonable to expect that the current entrants to the scheme will continue to try to perpetuate it once they've committed significant resources to it, despite complaining loudly about the scheme now, not least because many will have little choice (they will be in a worse place than prior entrants, having had to commit proportionally more resources prior to drawing their benefits, and generally be expected to receive fewer benefits when they do, as the schemes adapt to the situation).
What this rhetoric really boils down to, AFAICT, is trying to push some of that burden back up the pyramid earlier, so that the bust is perhaps shared a little more evenly. i.e. by reducing the benefits of current recipients so that they are more inline with what future recipients can be expected to receive. I suspect it is a fools errand, though, since these are typically legal obligations, so would need very controversial legislation to enact. I can't see "stealing from grannies" ever passing a democratic legislature.
Instead, I fully expect both parties will keep doing what they have been doing which is colluding to slowly raise the retirement age. By doing that, they'll ensure that current beneficiaries continue to get their payments while also ensuring enough people die before drawing a significant amount of benefits to keep the pyramid scheme running just fine.
This isn't about "youth" vs "adulthood", most of the people who wish to deny the old their due are adults themselves. But I believe historically, when resources get tight, the "community" doesn't mind putting their elders on an ice floe and letting them go, so that the current generation can have more.