No country for old men

18/08/2008

Further to your articles regarding older people living alone, especially men, I believe the film "No country for old men"  should be renamed: "England- no country for old men." I am, of course, one of the two million loners.

 

I feel that there were two aspects to the articles which were totally overlooked. Firstly, no pensioner in this country believes a word politicians say anymore. They have become totally self serving individuals lining their own pockets with second homes, fat expense accounts and inflation proof retirement pensions.

 

What about old men living alone who have been widowed - as I have been recently? I was young and gullible enough to fly as aircrew over Germany 65 years ago, but since being widowed and living on a half RAF pension, this penny pinching Government has now reduced this small "reward" by over £65  per month since my wife died. (In fact it is actually £65.74 because of the penalty of living alone, and ceasing to be classed as a married person for tax purposes). Some reward.

 

Is it any wonder that faith in "the system" and politicians has completely disappeared?

 

Secondly, the most outrageous affront by politicians to the people of this country is that few (if any) Members of Parliament care what their employers (the voting public) think of them - as long as they can keep their snouts in the financial trough for themselves and for as long as possible.

 

No MP has ever died penniless or in financial difficulties or worried beyond reason about how to pay their utility and food bills.

 

 

 

Mr T J Maxwell, DFC,  Exeter