OLD FOGIE FRAUDSTERS? _ Yeah?

We are on the Wairarapa train and as per usual there are quite a few golden oldies using their free gold passes for a free trip. Anyway the conductor told one couple that they would have to get a new gold card because they had an expired.

And unless they had the right dates they were told not to accept them.

Why, we asked, were they so worried? After all, we said- its not like the card carriers are going to get any younger.

However the conductors tell us that there is a heap of fraud and people pass on the expired cards to people who arent yet eligible for them.

Sounds like a story there somewhere..

ANOTHER VIEW

Economist Brent Wheeler isn't so kind when it comes to oldies keeping their gold card benefits.

We reckon that upping the age is the fairest way to go. Up to 70 seems sensible. However Brent, as economists do, says that the oldies forget that they have been looked after by the state in past decades.

He has no problem with giving them a subsidy- just questions the reasoning.

Not just the gold card either…. the argument is in common use in respect of numerous other things old people consider “I’ve always paid my taxes” gives them some right to.

The logic of this is faulty. At the time these people paid their taxes they consumed government services – education for their children, health care for themselves, a Police Force…. and myriad other things.

They consumed their “taxes worth” back then – more in fact – which is why we have run up various deficits at various times.

If we want to give old people money for being old – fine. But let’s not pretend that its because tax is some kind of saving scheme to be cashed in when you are over 65. If we stopped thinking like this we might see bribes like the gold card for what they are. Cheap vote grabbing schemes which penalise people who are still working and still paying tax.

His whole blog is here

OLD AND WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD

We were not surprised to see that Steven Joyce is looking to review the free travel for pensioners that was championed by Winston Peters.

Now we are all for making the lot of oldies as comfy as possible. But its about time we redefined old.

Now we went to lunch with a bunch of 60 - 65 year olds earlier this week. They aren't old. Definitely showing signs of excessive wear and tear but not old. One was some computer guru and was flat out on his iphone. The other was an ex merchant navy captain. One was ex PR and the birthday boy was a landlord and book keeper. They all have lived a bit and by hell they still are.

Now BB's ma and pa are closing in on 70 and 70 plus. Are they old? hmm probably best described as oldish. Rickety Hoons who sleep a bit more than they used to.

Now Joyces dilemma is that due to the popularity of the travel subsidy of $18 million and the growing numbers of those eligible, the budget is about to blow out like a fat girl after a feed of cabbage.

We reckon its about time to up the ante on the eligibility.

To 70.

Nice round figure and for some reason the age where people get oldish.

Now according to statistics there are abut 384 thousand people older than 70.

And there are 173 thousand between 65- 69.

But the really scary thing is there are 226 thousand between 60 and 64. And other big dollup between 50 and 60.

So its pretty obvious the budget will be blown to smithereens if the criteria stays the same.

But there would be big savings if they shift the criteria out to 70. Its time we, as a nation, recognised that old isn't old anymore - 65 is still pretty young and 70 is just getting oldish.

We are currently riding the Wairarapa train and as its an off peak its full of cottontops and we overheard a few talking about the possible changes. Those who are eligible dont want it to go but those who havent got it yet can see the sense in it being raised. Its easier not to give than take away.

So those who are already eligible should retain that eligibility but those who are not yet 65 should now have to wait till they are 70.

Its a big change but one we have to make in light of the big bubble of an aging population that will impact on the countries economy soon.

However, we think that the subsidy is a great thing. We have seen people widen their horizons with a bit of free travel. The 65 plus demographic have seen out wars and paid their taxes with the full expectation that those taxes would provide a goodly sum to live on in their dotage.

And we owe it to them to ensure that they can.

DORIS'S BIG DAY OUT

We are on the 1 o'clock train from Wellington to Masterton. While there are a few glide time public servants on it - it largely full of old age pensioners. Thanks to Winston's swansong - the elderly can go backwards and forwards between Wellington and the Wairarapa for free - off peak. So the one o'clock train has become the Tena express.
Its great to see but I wonder if restaurateurs etc are capitilising on this phenomena on both sides of the Rimutakas.
I think there are some who are just going for the ride - Surely someone can see the opportunity and can come up with some packages to keep them entertained.