[FirmwareBurner]

>The primary focus seems to be maintaining the status quo, particularly safeguarding pensions.

Pretty much yeah, but is it a surprise that people vote to keep their cushy standards of living from the past?

Sure, none of those voters cares that the economic landscape has changed since the boomer times when Europeans companies ruled thew world and brought in the most profits and tax revenue, which allowed easy funding of the generous welfare system we enjoy, except that now we're not producing the same amount of money to still afford this lifestyle, so something will have to give, since the current trajectory seems to be ever increasing taxes on labor to fund welfare, while economic prosperity and competitiveness declines.