The Socialist 16 January 2013

Mass action to save our NHS

Mass action to save our NHS

PCS fighting the austerity agenda - 'Action gets results'

Teachers: fight for strike action is on

Beware: latest pensions changes

Sussex County hospital cleaning and catering: The brutal reality of privatisation

Brixton Hill: Opposing Labour's 'cuts cooperative'

Two TUSC candidates standing against cuts on the Wirral

We need an alternative to blind-alley capitalism... socialism!

Northern Ireland: Flag issue turmoil illustrates failure of the 'peace process'

Prison closures = more privatisation

Them & Us

News In brief

Renationalise the railways now!

Tory minister lies about 'lategate'...

Sheffield fight back, or we'll have nothing left!

Swindon: 1,100 Honda job losses

Indian embassy protest: raging against rape

Capitalism - Forever blowing bubbles

Review of the film 'McCullin'

A day in the life... Young, low-paid, bullied and angry

Reject the wedge between generations

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue

PDF version

PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

020 8988 8777

[email protected]

Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/748/15998

Search the site	Printable version

Home | The Socialist 16 January 2013 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | PDF

Reject the wedge between generations

Claude Mickleson, Anti-cuts activist, Forest of Dean

'The old are money-grabbers who want something for nothing and fuss when they don't get it.' ... 'The young won't do a fair day's work and laze around causing trouble.' While the middle aged and "baby boomers" were 'brought up with unrealistic expectations' and 'demand more than the country can afford'.

These common typecasts probably fit a few people but most people of any age just want a reasonable life of peace and prosperity.

Such stereotyping pleases the capitalists, who want to drive a wedge between us. I think the young are having a bad time of it.

I'm now 89 and left school 75 years ago. I had to take any available job and delivered groceries on a bike for ten shillings (50 pence) a week.

Even then, it couldn't keep a growing lad. My parents still had to keep me, living hand to mouth, as my dad's job was insecure and there were brothers and sisters. When the war came I joined the RAF, where I was fed and clothed.

A youngster today has higher expectations - that's called progress. These days, someone leaving school at 16 or older, probably better educated than I was, is lucky to get a job.

This creates many problems unless he/she has well-heeled parents to support them, help them study and provide a deposit on a house.

Jobs for all

It's a crime that young people cannot get employment, something we all need to fulfil our lives and provide for our needs.

The capitalist class wants to discipline workers by saying: "There's plenty waiting for your job if you don't behave."

A socialist's principle should be that we are all fully trained and gainfully employed for the prosperity of us all.

If any person is left on the scrapheap for any time it can become much more difficult to return to work and that's not good for them or the rest of us.

Then there's the Old Codgers, who served in the armed forces, worked in factories, farms, shipyards, coalmines or shops.

Few except the rich escaped 'their duty'. Life was hard. If the baby boomers' lives later improved it was because their parents, after a grim war, were determined that their children would have a better life.

Thatcher

Times improved slowly until 1979 when we were burdened with the 'Iron Lady'. We had to fight for every improvement - now we must defend them.

Since Thatcher life has become harder - especially as we were let down by Labour which always professed to support the working class, yet the leadership always fails to defend us.

Now we face an extension of the working age despite a desperate shortage of jobs and a million young people facing a lousy start in life.

In future people will be getting older, more infirm and worn out and slaving until they drop, while the young are out of work and kicking their heels.

We should make sure that everyone who is fit and able to work has a decent, fairly paid job. Those too old or disabled should be provided for and cared for with dignity.

In this issue

Fighting the cuts

Mass action to save our NHS