Why should they be in the best position to make the most of things? Presumably you'd accept that in our society, money is heavily linked with power. Emphatically, young people have substantially lower incomes and wealth than people who have been in the workplace for decades, so they're far more susceptible to "cost of living" issues. I'm not saying their being paid less is a bad thing, obviously they are less productive as they're inexperienced, but they are less well off.

It's easy to say that because they're young, young people have "more potential" and have various options in terms of what they do with their lives, but if personal economic strength is linked to personal freedom, young people will be less "free" in the respect that they're less likely to be able to buy opportunities as others can. Obviously being able to work unpaid is a classic example.

To take an example from my own life, I was a special constable for the Met for a few months (volunteering 8 hours a fortnight). I was only able to afford to do this because I'd earned a fair amount before, had savings and was working a 4 day week at points. The vast majority of people younger than me at the time would not have been able to do this. And since it's the main route into a career in the Met, many potentially good coppers never become one.

I don't think many people (even nickgusset) would disagree with that. Opportunity taking, at the micro level, is obviously good. But if at the macro level there seem to be fewer (or worse) opportunities, that's got to be an issue surely?

I'm honestly not bothered who provides the opportunities, I just think it's a monumental political failure if the advances largely outside of political control (health, technology, etc.) are outweighed by the negatives within political control (education, transport etc.) to such an extent that there's even a debate possible about which generation is the more fortunate.

It should just be established that time leads to inevitable progress that raises living standards. In Japan, for example, I understand that inequality is lower than many places not because of government intervention, but just because the socio-economic structures don't really lend themselves so easily to economic disparity. For me, whether people are better or worse off in Japan because of government intervention is far less relavent than whether they are compared to previous generations.

I sort of share your annoyance at the "why won't they just think of the children" emotive sh*t, but I'd say the "next generation" not being better off despite all of the positives above is a farce and therefore noteworthy. Much like foodbanks in 21st century Britain are. Just reeks of totally inept management of a good situation. Returning to your steak vs baked beans analogy, I'd say politicians have been given a nice steak and have grilled the f*ck out of it so much nobody even recognises it as a steak anymore.

"The fox has his den. The bee has his hive. The stoat, has, uh... his stoat-hole... but only man chooses to make his nest in an investment opportunity.” Stewart Lee

If anyone's recorded it I'll save you the bother of watching and give you a synopsis. They're all full of s***.

How many times did Miliband say "Working people" ? or "The working people of this country".

Indeed a LOT are working under the Conservative led Government. Some £31 Mill in work, nearly 2 Million jobs created since 2010, approx 5.5% expected unemployment rate this year, nearly half the eurozone's average.1000 jobs created every day.

That's enough from my "Soapbox" and "Question Time" is coming up !

Anyway, I am exceedingly busy between now and Election Day campaigning on behalf of my beloved Conservatives so I will hardly have any time at all to debate on HOL !!!! "Thank Goodness" I hear from the multitudes !!!!

Take care one and all.

Edited by Willo (16 Apr 2015 10.37pm)

Not hard working families? I felt left out because Milliband didn't keep referring to 'the people at home'

Why do you love the Conservatives, Willo?

Genuine question.

...we must expand...get more pupils...so that the knowledge will spread...

What an embarrasment last night's charade was.

The BBC made it as left wing as was humanly possible.

Labour, SNP, Plaid Cymru and Greens all trotting out the 'get the Tories out' line and asked questions from a specially selected audience, probably Guardian readers.

We should all be embarrased, this is a general election debate where impartiality should be key and this is a public service broadcaster.

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah