Attitude to elderly may be uncomfortable portent

I WOULD like to think James Young (Letters, September 11) was writing tongue-in-cheek in suggesting pensioners should abstain rather than vote No in the referendum but, sadly, I fear he is in earnest. Leaving aside his unjust accusation that this older generation are wholly responsible for society’s ills, I have rarely heard such an outrageously undemocratic suggestion. Is this to be the nature of democracy in an independent Scotland? Why not go the whole hog and have compulsory euthanasia for the over-65s? That way, you could slash public spending at the same time. Rev Ritchie Gillon, 31 Southfield Avenue, Paisley. I AM sad to say that I have to agree with James Young. I have spoken with many pensioners in the run-up to the referendum and a consistent theme with the majority was: “I am voting No to protect my pension.” When I explain that the UK Pensions Minister confirmed that pensions would be totally unaffected it has no effect.

It is my belief that a majority of this generation have such a deepseated mistrust of politicians and their promises that they are intimidated by any change. They only hear the negative statements from Better Together and ignore everything else, which unfortunately includes any consideration of what is good for future generations of their family. David Stubley, 22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick. I SHARE the same birthday as Mr Salmond. And we oldies can be selfish. We so want to achieve our lifetime’s ambition before we fall off our perch.

Young voters need to understand what’s going on here – the fact is, by 2033 one-quarter of the Scots population will be over 65. So nationalists are expecting today’s 16-17-year-old Scots on reaching their thirties to foot the total bill for our pensions, teeth and so on. Alone. Imagine the tax levels.

By contrast, England has a young population, bursting at the seams (there’s a places crisis now in primary schools down south). Today’s young Scots will need others to share this burden. Today’s young need the UK. Elizabeth Bunn, Ardenlea, 44 Golf Road, Ballater.