Why target a soft touch???
Once again the story rolls on - some Conservative MP's are considering targeting pensioners by stopping the Freedom Pass, Fuel Allowance and free Prescriptions!I would love to see these MP's trying to live for a week or two on a pension, they would surely get a rude awakening. They live in luxury, have their subsidised meals, drinks, all sorts of perks. Chauffeur driven cars, home in the country for some, and at the end of their working life have a huge pension to look forward to.Compare that with a pensioner who has worked all their lives, sometimes for a miserable salary. Gordon Brown raided their pension funds. Inflation has reduced their little bit of savings. Council Tax, Lighting, Heating, Water Bills, plus the high cost of food and many are left with very little to live on.The Freedom Pass really is a Godsend for pensioners, it means that they are not forced to sit at home all day long with nothing to do. Instead they are able to get out and about, meet their friends, go to the library, or for hospital appointments. Without the Freedom Pass I can assure you that pensioners would suffer tremendously. Many would suffer from depression moping around the house all day, sometimes lonely old folk can go days without getting the change to speak to another person. Is this what our 'caring government' would wish for them? Pensioners have paid their dues to society and it is high time they received this little perk towards the end of their working life.As for Fuel Allowance, there have been many stories inthe press that some pensioners have in the past had to choose between eating and heating. With costs soaring due to greedy untility companies it is no wonder pensioners are finding it more problematic to keep their homes heated. Is this what our 'caring governbment' would wish for the older generation? No doubt MP's elderly relatives are well cared for and well heeled!Then we come on to prescriptions, as one gets older there is a greater chance that health conditions mean more visits to the GP and more medication. Why should pensioners be expected to fork out the high price for prescriptions? If this were to happen many pensioners would just go without their medication and end up in hospital which would cost the NHS much more in the long run.Why for instance are prescriptions free in Wales and as far as I am aware in Scotland and Northern Ireland? Can this be fair? I have also heard that pensioners living in Southern Ireland are well catered for. The pensions in this country are lower than in most other European countries. Not something to be proud of.There are so many ways the government can save money but targetting a soft touch like Pensioners is really disgraceful! They say it would cost more money if these benefits were means tested, so why bother?Instead concentrate on the Quangoes, The Pen Pushers in the NHS and other areas. The advisers - why on earth do these people who are supposed to be capable of running the country need so many advisers? Haven't they got the brains to work things out themselves?The NHS could save BILLIONS if only they would stop trying to deliver free treatment to the entire world. Check who is entitled to receive treatment, or ensure that the patient is intending to pay for his/her care. A number of NHS hospitals are close to going into administration because of mismanagement. Sack the Managers!We are also spending a fortune on overseas aid, even when countries say they don't want our money, still we insist on handing it over! Most of the money probably ends up in the hands of those in power. I doubt the people living in those countries feel the benefit! We also give huge amounts to the IMF - aiding countries like Argentina, Greece, Spain - you name it!Bring our troops home from Afganistan, what on earth they are doing there God only knows. It must be like trying to train a Rotweiller, and for what? Stop reducing our Army to save money and then relying on the TA. Labour even closed our local TA in Horn Lane some years ago and sold the land to build flats!Can we not have someone running this once great country of ours who actually cares about our own people?We are so generous to anyone and everyone who comes to these shores, whether or not they are a deserving case, whether or not they wish us well or wish us harm. Surely if money is tight we cannot continue like this? Why pick on the pensioners weho have worked all their lives and end up trying to live from day to day on a miserly pension?If the Conservatives once again wish to be known as the 'Nasty Party' then they are certainly going the right way about it. If they decide to target pensioners in this fashion then I for one will never ever vote for them again.Sorry for the rant but someone has to say it!
Jean F Fernandez ● 5181d15 Comments ● 5180d