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John Ramwell
A Thought or Two


It has been a while since last I wrote for our Newsletter so here comes a thought or two.

For quite some time I have been ‘chattering’ – I aspire to be a member of the chattering class – about the idea that our government should encourage those of us with larger family homes to down size.

My wife, Jen, and I own our own home from which the children have now flown. Some five years or so ago we decided to swap our place for something smaller and we decluttered and decorated. In the event, we decided that the loss of equity and the expense and hassle involved made it less than worth the effort. So here we stay, albeit with a little tinge of guilt as we realise how difficult it is for young families today.

For the time being then, we stay put, but my thoughts on this matter were re- awakened when I lay in bed listening to the R4 ‘Today’ programme tell us of the Intergenerational Foundation and their view that those of us with more than two spare bedrooms are guilty of ‘house hoarding’. Apparently there are more than 18 million of us in this position. My tinges of guilt grew a little. I can guess at how difficult it is to bring up a young family in cramped conditions.

Then I began thinking of the other reasons we are currently being faced with that could or, perhaps should make us feel guilty. There has been much in the media over the last few years about how much older we are living and what this is costing
society in care and pensions for the elderly. Now we are being told we are taking up too much space.

Initially it is tempting to go on the defence. To claim we have worked all our lives for our retirement. We have brought up children and it is their turn to make their way in the world. We had to make the effort and now it is up to them.

There is little doubt that we have had it better than our parents. The standard of living and the job security we enjoyed over the years far surpassed that experienced

by previous generations. For that we should be grateful though I do suspect that many have taken this state of affairs rather for granted.

Now we see the situation going into reverse. I do not believe that generations coming up behind us are ever, by and large, going to have it better than we did. It might be tough growing old today but I suspect nothing like as tough as paying off educational fees, finding and keeping a job with meaningful career opportunities and putting a roof over head, food on the table whilst remaining ahead of inflation.

So I beg the question. Would you rather be old or rather be young in this day and age.

I know my answer.

Even though the young are still basically very resilient and many of them will have an exciting future, there remain many who will seriously under achieve through lack of opportunity. No amount of resilience will cope with the emotions this state of affairs brings in its wake.

We did not have to face mounting debt within an economic global down turn. We did not worry about energy provision, climate change, over population and pollution. We have not been over concerned about dwindling resources, about depreciating education and health care standards, government corruption and little hope for the future.

We also missed the life before the government provision of cradle to the grave security, (read ‘The Classic Slum’ by Robert Roberts if you want reminding just how tough life could really be). We missed the horrors of WW2, I even (but only just) missed conscription. We had an expectation that, barring any accident, we would have a job for life with an improving life style and hope for the future. For us there were no short term contracts, delayed and contributory pensions and a global economic crisis which, even if resolved (in your dreams!) will hardly provide the much needed growth.

I ask again; would you change places with a teenager. Not quite the choice it once was. To grow old wondering whether there might be enough in the pot to care adequately for us or to be at the threshold again wondering at what chances the world has to offer.

What’s my take on this question? I will stay just where I am and continue to hope that I can grow old gracefully. On the basis that the good die young I may have quite a while to go!!


John Ramwell