Eldon-Online

The Retirement Debate

Wow! I started this one three weeks ago and then watched in amazement as the Banking industry, at least in Britain (and possibly elsewhere for that matter), has managed to demonstrate what happens when you let the lunatics run the asylum. Clearly, given my professional background, I am on thin ice here - but let me get the retirement issue finished and I shall return to the topic of the day.

My initial Blog was started when I noticed that the debate over retirement was, once again, looming large. As you might imagine, it is a topic of more than just passing interest to this working retiree!!

The underlying debate is split into two so, not wishing to behave like a one handed economist, on the one hand there is the discussion revolving around the fact that if the older people carry on working beyond the "accepted" retirement age, then the younger ones are apparently being denied the opportunity to enter the work force - while on the other hand part of the community now wants to retire at 50 instead of 60 or 65. And any attempt to increase the retirement age is met with fierce resistance.

As my principal concern deals with the former - let me address briefly the latter. Why not allow people to retire "early" if they can afford to do so? And if the Government and is paying, why not take an early break as long as you have contributed enough to the system to cover the remaining 30 or 40 years of their life - as life expectancy continues to lengthen? But can you reasonably expect the State to return to you what you haven't given them, or do think that your children, grandchildren and maybe great grandchildren should be forced to pay for you to have an easy life when you are still healthy enough to contribute? I don't think that's altogether fair and, in the immortal words of Rebekah Brooks "... we're definitely in this together".

But on the other hand ...

I have to ask what is wrong with people continuing to work on after they have reached a certain "age" - an age plucked from the air almost, as being an appropriate point at which one should stop working? If they still have the desire to work, the ability to work ... and can add value to what they are doing.

In my own case, I am very conscious of a number of facts. Firstly, I only want to carry on doing things while I can be of use. I want to be able to say - at the appropriate time - "I don't think I have anything to contribute that cannot be done by anyone else". I do not want to be in the situation where an "employer" feels the need to come and say to me "David, sorry but you have to go". Neither do I want to be a burden to anyone - the State, wherever I choose to live, or the family. I want to be independent, and I recognise that I have been lucky enough to get close to that position whereas others have not. But the bottom line surely must be - if there is some value - then use it.

And what about the clamour at the other end of the age scale? Those who are using, as an excuse perhaps, the fact that people are staying in the work place longer than before - and are therefore denying jobs to the young.

What do they suggest - enforced retirement? And with the continuous improvements in longevity, what are the young of today going to do when they reach a "to be enforced" retirment age? I suspect they too will want to carry on working in many cases.

It seems to me, therefore, that the debate should not be about old-fashioned ideas of retirement and ages. (Our ancestors, remember, usually worked until they were carried feet first away from their work place).It needs a new debate that considers the age one starts education, that reviews what could be done during the period of time from the end of high school/secondary school/university to perhaps add practical skills and knowledge to the academic process that has already taken place and perhaps a later start at work than has hitherto been the case. 

It is just a start - a change of thinking. And it's a discussion that needs to take place sooner than later, involving the young and the older.

Currency Changes? Old Hands For Hire!

In April 1970, a small group of Britons assembled just outside the walled gates of the city of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman; a city where at sunset they closed the main gate (Bab al Kabir). To enter thereafter, you could only go on foot through the Bab as Saghir (the “small gate”) and needed to be in possession of a fanoos (sometimes called a "butty"), a hand held lantern so that your face could be seen.

 The foreigners were on a mission, and took up residence in a small local house built next to a nearby wadi. It was a mission carried out under the direction of the Sultan with the full cooperation of the military forces. The start of the exercise depended on the sighting of the new moon. 

But before I get totally carried away by the opening remarks of this potential spy thriller, I should perhaps wind the clock back a little and tell you what this is all about.

 I have just attended a reunion in London of some former colleagues, one of whom recently wrote and published a book about his professional life, which started back in the 1950s. When I first met him he had two jobs – Heavy Plant Driver. He was a bulldozer driver on a building site in Oxfordshire, drove a motor bike and spoke and dressed appropriately to his role. His part time role on his tax form? Financial Advisor to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman – in which position he also spoke and dressed appropriately! He was the leader of the team in Oman in 1970. The mission? To go around the whole country, one the size of Britain excluding Northern Ireland, in two weeks gathering in the local currency – Indian Rupees, known as Gulf Rupees and the last country using them – in exchange for the new currency – the Riyal Saidi, named after the Sultan, Said bin Taimur. [Of course the name of the currency was changed just a few months later when HH Sultan Qaboos, the current Ruler and Said's son, took over the running of the country.]

 I was the youngest in the team, and was given the easiest route, which was up the Batinah coast in the company of five clerical staff, all Indians imported from other countries around the Gulf, one local interpreter, 25 troops mainly of Baluchi origin (and glad to have them on my side), one British army Major under contract, five landrovers, three 3 ton trucks – and tins full of cash! 

We would stop in various pre-determined villages and towns and set up "shop" either in a date grove, or an old mud fort, or in an army base. It's a long story, really, and while it was tough going at times, the memories are all good.

(Yes, I'm there!!)

But fun story though this is, the whole thing just set me to thinking.

If Greece is going to leave the Euro, as it might, then maybe closing the borders for two weeks to collect in all the Euros in existence there because they are no longer legal currency and handing out the New Drachmas would be the answer.

And if so, there is an old team around somewhere with all the relevant experience - indeed possibly the only people left with any experience - but payment in healthcare costs please!!