[474 Reporter's Eye] When Solidarity Starts to Fray

   The crisis surrounding France’s pension reform, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 to ensure fiscal sustainability, reflects the growing generational conflict facing the world today. The “national dispute,” marked by massive strikes against President Macron’s plan, stems from the demographic reality of falling birth rates and longer life expectancy, which pits the state’s effort to sustain the pension system against the public’s demand for retirement security. Public funds are rapidly depleting as the working population shrinks and the number of retirees grows, creating resistance from an older generation accustomed to the right to retire, even as the government insists the reform is essential to ease the burden on future generations. What appears as a simple policy debate is, in truth, a moral question about how society defines fairness between age groups.

   On one side lies the legitimate demand for fair compensation after decades of contribution: on the other, a growing tendency to expect more benefits from less work. This tension reveals how collective self-interest can turn a shared safety net into a zero-sum struggle. When public discourse focuses solely on who gains or losses, the broader purpose of social welfare, rooted in mutual care and trust, begins to fade. 

   This challenge is not limited to France. South Korea faces the same risk, as the National Pension Service shows signs of running out of funds while political hesitation blocks decisive reform. The burden will inevitably pass down as a heavy inheritance to the next generation. Without long-term vision and bipartisan courage, the cycle of delay will only deepen social fatigue and cynicism among the young.

   When such social and economic friction accumulates without resolution, reflection on history’s bitter lessons becomes vital. When resentment between groups deepens, the consequences extend far beyond pension disputes and can threaten the very foundation of society. The rise of dictators like Hitler, fueled by collective frustration amid economic turmoil a century ago, reminds us that small acts of selfishness and division can erode the social fabric and lead to a destructive cycle in which everyone loses. History does not repeat itself exactly but rhymes, and ignoring its warnings comes at a high cost.

   Technology and algorithm-driven media amplify sensationalism and confirmation bias, weakening empathy and turning generations into adversaries. The media’s pursuit of outrage over understanding turns public debate into a spectacle, rewarding division rather than dialogue. History shows that division is the easiest way to control the masses, and genuine change requires shared responsibility and sacrifice. Labeling others as “old folks” or “rude kids” only widens the gap between generations. Remembering that each elder is someone’s parent and each youth someone’s child fosters the warmth and understanding that holds a community together. 

   The essence of pension reform lies in redesigning the social contract so every generation can live with dignity. This process demands transparency, democracy, and renewed intergenerational solidarity. The reform itself was only a signal flare. As demographics continue to evolve, new challenges will follow, and how wisely they are met will determine the future of our world.