Of Pensions and the Perils of Longevity
Satire
By Plutonix
The setting is contemporary Mauritius, yet the dilemma is timeless: the clash between promised social security and grim fiscal reality. The newly elected Alliance du Changement (ADC) government, citing the financial ruin left by its predecessors, has announced a drastic pension reform, forcing citizens to work five years longer. Here, the great Athenian philosopher Socrates — a stranger to modern budgets but no stranger to virtue — finds the recently “un-retired” Cephalus, an elder raging against the tyranny of arithmetic. In this humorous dialogue, they grapple with the true meaning of justice when the cost of living long collides with the price of governance, and the pursuit of a dignified retirement is complicated by spreadsheet terrorism and the lingering scent of political profligacy.
Characters:
- Socrates: The tireless philosopher, slightly exasperated by the modern political theatre, and still seeking to define the true nature of “justice” in an era of fiscal collapse.
- Cephalus: The recently “un-retired” elder. He is deeply invested in the immediate, tangible aspects of the social contract — namely, his promised pension and the right to a comfortable nap.
Setting: A gathering in Port Louis. A massive, slightly damp protest banner reading “60 ANS, C’EST ASSEZ! — NOUS SOMMES FATIGUÉS!” flutters in the background. Cephalus is trying, and failing, to unfold a complicated government information leaflet.* Read More… Become a Subscriber
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 26 September 2025
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