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by cbeach 1359 days ago
Yes I do pay plenty into my pension.

It's not my "privilege" to earn at that level. I was born into an average economic background. I worked really hard at school and university, and then over a period of seventeen years, I worked really hard in responsible jobs.

If all people from average backgrounds took the attitude that only "privileged" people get good careers, then unfortunately it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Luckily there are plenty of aspirational people in the UK looking to better their family's situation by advancing their careers.

3 comments

> Yes I do pay plenty into my pension.

Then it's not really a 60% marginal tax rate, is it?

> I worked really hard at school and university, and then over a period of seventeen years, I worked really hard in responsible jobs.

Educated by the state, health taken care of by the state, protected by police and emergency services, defended by the military, enjoying the benefits of scientific research, and lots of other things all paid for through taxes.

You did rather luck out having the combination of interest and talent that turned out to pay very well (as did I).

My wife is a nurse and works really hard, literally saving people from cancer, but she gets paid comparatively little because we don't pay enough tax to fund the NHS properly.

The poster you replied to was not saying you didn't earn it, they're saying you're in a privileged position now.

> having special rights, advantages, or immunities > Similar: wealthy rich affluent prosperous lucky fortunate special

Although worth noting that luck plays a much larger role on most peoples success than is acknowledged. Uk and Us are also much less likely to recognise use role of chance in personal success than wealthy Europeans.
If you lived in a dysfunctional country without public services, you wouldn't have been able to do all that, though.

You took more benefit from the system than others, regardless of whether it's by merit, it still makes sense that you pay more back.