Attn: Generations X and Y

When I was growing up in the Sixties~If you can overlook the oxymoron~there were some 15 people in the workforce for every pensioner, who enjoyed a pretty modest lifestyle. Today we are approaching 3 people working for each pensioner, who enjoys an elevated lifestyle. You guys have to slash the pension obligations Trudeau dumped on you, to get himself re-elected.

Firstly you eliminate survivor's pensions for working spouses. As per my opening blog, they are an illicit inducement to get women to scab. Only homemaker spouses are entitled to survivors' pensions, as a reward for foregoing their own careers.

Now let me run this one by you. If an old-fashioned breadwinner husband works to support his wife, who similarly works as an unpaid homemaker to support him: and the husband retires and gets a pension to maintain him and his wife: and the husband dies: his wife continues to receive his pension as his surviving spouse, but takes a one third cut. All's fair and aboveboard so far.

But suppose the wife dies first, should not the husband also take a one third cut? The pension was designed for two people. Or if his wife works in her own right and does not depend on him financially, he should take a cut. Or if he has no spouse to share his pension with, he should take a one third cut.

So that a retired working couple, instead of each receiving a whole pension, would each receive two-thirds of a pension. And when their partners die, retired working spouses, instead of receiving one and two thirds pensions, would receive just two-thirds of a pension. (Similarly with working wives and gay couples: I'm trying to keep it simple. And it would only apply to CPP and pensions that are assumed by a surviving spouse.)

There are economies to be realised in recognising the breadwinner and homemaker marriage. I noted in the opening blog that it costs more than $1000 a day to keep an old person in an institution, when millions of homemakers would love to care for their old parents and infirm relatives, with just a little support and encouragement.

It's recognition and appreciation that homemakers crave, as much as the money. Corporate policy is to encourage women in the workforce with breaks and advantages, while leaving homemakers to fend for themselves. I propose we encourage the homemakers, and leave working women to fend for themselves. We admit women into the workforce as equals when they are truly up to it in all senses. If we put half the effort into the breadwinner and homemaker family that we spend trying to get working couples to fly, we might get off the ground.

And please do not ask if I voted for Trudeau in 1968. I shall smash your eardrums with the loudest scream in history.