Seniors have political clout
Marion Walsh of St. John’s writes: According to statistics, seniors, by and large, are responsible for the kind of governments that are elected. We are growing in number and will soon — if we don’t already — outnumber the younger generation.
It’s a curious paradox when it comes to politics that the most forgotten people are the senior citizens.
According to statistics, seniors, by and large, are responsible for the kind of governments that are elected. We are growing in number and will soon — if we don’t already — outnumber the younger generation. Seniors work on political campaigns and volunteer in all kinds of ways.
A report just released has confirmed that we have one of the worst Canada pension plans in the developed world. It’s obvious that it needs an overhauling. Our costs go up and all we get is a ridiculous indexing at year end that doesn’t help us maintain our standard of living.
One very serious example is the cost of electricity, which is skyrocketing in this province. The few extra cents that are added to our pensions wouldn’t pay to keep one extra light bulb on for a day. Very soon our electric bills are going to exceed our ability to pay.
We have paid through the nose over the years when banks gouged us, utility companies gouged us, and the list goes on and on, only to have this nation of ours that we built through hard work and conscience ignore us. We are plagued by telephone scams that, in this day and age, should be stopped. Surely the technology that the telephone companies have should enable them to block these scammers.
Seniors have specific needs that need to be addressed. Some of our medical plans don’t cover essentials such as eyewear. A senior can damage his or eye glasses and require a new pair, only to be reimbursed $40, and that doesn’t cover the cost of an eye exam.
Come on, governments, do something for us. Not all of us are snowbirds.
But what does our failing vision see on television but the same paid actors knocking the Liberals and the NDP. Notice the next time you watch them that the same paid actors are on both the anti-Liberal and antiNDP ads. Harper, my son, you are out of touch with reality. Your government cut our search and rescue and closed Veterans Affairs offices but has sent millions of dollars overseas in foreign aid.
That’s not a bad thing in itself, but look at the other side of the story. Our Senate, which was touted as the chamber of sober second thought of our nation, has been largely discredited. The fact is, you don’t have any priorities to help everyday working Canadians, especially seniors.
I doubt very much you would recognize a recession if it batted you in the face. If I had your expense accounts, I might be blind, also. Keith Young Mount Pearl