In his message, Andris writes: “What are we whining about, the shleserists and other revolutionaries of the world order? Today, out of curiosity, I checked my pension savings. Here’s the result, and this is without considering my voluntary contributions (only the 1st and 2nd levels). Honestly, I don’t understand why people say that Latvia has been brought to ruin and plundered, as some idlers tell us before the elections. We need to work. I have been doing this regularly since I was 19, paying taxes,” Andris writes, attaching an image showing that his projected pension, after working for 40 years, will be 2833 euros. This post sparked a lively discussion in the comments: “If we compare, about 25 years ago the average salary was around 300 euros, today it’s about 1500 euros. On paper, it’s five times more, but inflation has also risen several times during this period. In reality, 300 euros back then is about 700–900 euros in today’s money, meaning the standard of living has increased, but not as dramatically as the numbers suggest. The same principle applies to pensions: 2833 euros today sounds like a large amount, but in 25 years, due to inflation, its purchasing power will be roughly equivalent to 1400–1600 euros now.” “Provided that you will work with your current salary until retirement! There’s nothing to brag about — life has its ups and downs. Maybe in a year you won’t be able to work, and such a pension won’t be in your future! And this is just a projection — not reality! I’ve also been working and paying taxes since I was 18! I don’t complain, but I’m not in a hurry to boast.” “And you will receive all this after reaching 75 years... Good luck living that long, because the government will raise the retirement age to 75 in the next two years... Be proud of that.” “If only! To have a 40-year work record, you still need to work at least 23 more years. Life takes different turns, but I hope you succeed. You know nothing about the coefficients that the government uses when calculating pensions — they are applied as needed. I hope your parents receive/will receive a decent pension. The main thing is that the retirement age is not raised. Good luck to all of us who have worked and paid taxes, as well as to those who have been rebuilding this country from the 90s to the present day, but for various reasons their pensions turned out to be inadequately low.” “This is not an opinion — this is a cocktail of arrogance and detachment from reality... Your story is not a formula for success, but a result of coinciding favorable circumstances, time, and place, which you proudly present as your own genius. Well, yes, if you were lucky, then everyone else suddenly becomes 'not diligent enough.' And this patriotism of yours... Of course, with such numbers, Latvia looks like Switzerland. Try to look at the country not through your bank account, but through reality — the picture is a bit less 'optimistic' there. Overall — go into politics. It’s precisely such self-assured, reality-detached characters who are always in demand there. You’re already halfway there — just put on a suit and keep telling everyone that they just need to become you.”