Monday 28 June 2010

And That's It For England

I'm not particularly into football myself, I'm far more into playing a sport than watching someone else play it. Unluckily for me I have a boyfriend who is football crazy and I was made to watch the game last night. I'll be honest, I wasn't absolutely bored stiff but I was shocked to see in the news today how upset people were that England are now out of the world cup.
My mum was six years old when we last won the world cup... she now has an 18-year-old daughter (and I'm the youngest) what does that say about our chances?
There are so many arguments as to why the world cup is a good thing. Many people say that it brings the nation together but I don't think it does. If anything it just divides the world further.
Someone in BBC news today said that they were surprised there wasn't an outbreak and that England fans didn't start fights with the Germans. Why should that come as a surprise? Surely people shouldn't want to hurt someone else other something as insignificant in life as a football game.
Other people in this particular article spoke about how they had spend thousands of pounds over the years following the England team play. Two different views come to me about this (1) How can they possibly afford to do that? and (2) If they can afford to do that then why not use the money on something that will have a positive impact on someone else's life (i.e. donate it to a charity)?
Ultimately, football is a game. It's there for enjoyment and although it would be nice for the team to say they won the world cup, what significance does it have in our individual lives?

Thursday 24 June 2010

Raising the Pension Age?

On BBC news today there are articles telling us that the pension age may be raised to 66 as early as 2016 and that there's talk about it even going up to 70.
I for one think that people should be able to take the last years of their life to do what they've always wanted to do without a worry, they shouldn't have to work through it!
Although some may argue that this change may only result in a rise of one year, there is the risk that it could result in an additional four on top of that. And, who's to say that the government will stop there?
Most of us are put into the educational system between the ages of 4-5 and national statistics show that the life expectancy rates of 2006-2008 are 77 for a boy and 81 for a girl.
If the pension age were to be raised to 70 it could result in certain members of the public only having 11 years of their life without having to worry about education or working for a living.
Life is such a precious thing and this world is an amazing one, people should be given the chance and the time to explore it.
Hard work is something that should result (in my opinion) in a long relaxing end where people can feel happy with the work they have accomplished in their lives.
People are arguing that the reason for the raise is because life expectancies are now longer, so I argue why not relish this and enjoy those extra few years rather than work through them?