Gordon Brown was quite correct in his statement in December 2004 when he said that a Society should be judged by its generosity to its children and its elderly.
Judgement---Our elderly are treated the worse in Europe. Our Society should be thoroughly ashamed.
A few of months ago I read a letter to the editor of The Daily Mail referring to a resolution made by the EU Nations at the Laeken Summit 2001. The resolution was that each Member State would attempt to attain a Basic Pension of 40% of its Average Wage by 2007 and then work towards 60%. Obviously I realised that my own Basic Pension was well below these levels so I wrote to my MP to check if the resolution was true. I was so shocked by the information I received from the Minister of Work and Pensions that I decided to publish a website www.basic-pension.com to try to publicise the poverty of our Basic Pension in comparison to those of our European partners. On the site you will find the League Table Of European Nations together with references to EU documents. You will see that the UK provides the worst Basic Pension by far. In fact , taking the Pension as a percentage of each countries Average Wage you will note that Pensioners in Greece, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy receive over 5 times our basic pension. Those in Portugal, Malta , Hungary and France receive over 4 times as much and those in Poland ,Czech Republic ,Latvia ,Finland and Sweden receive 3 times as much. Slovakia ,Cyprus ,Denmark, Germany ,Lithuania and Belgium receive over double ,whist finally Estonia Ireland and Holland have almost twice our basic pension. Our basic pension is less than one third of the recognised poverty level and our governments plans will reduce this to one sixth over the next 40 years. The Government always replies that to award a Basic Pension to equal the recognised poverty line is unaffordable. This statement is shameful to the society of a Nation which is second richest in the EU when every other nation shows that they can afford to keep their pensioners out of poverty.
This programme made me so angry that the expletitives that came out of my mouth would've made even Billy Connelly blush! How the gas and energy companies can live with themselves charging pensioners full price is beyond me. Their bills are so high because they are retired and stay at home all day using electricity- why can't the enery companies take that into consideration and reward them for their loyalty and custom by giving them a discount?! Then maybe they could afford to eat as well as keep warm. And the Government..........'rewards' teenage girls who get pregnant by pushing them up the council housing list but who can't look after the people who have worked and paid taxes their whole lives. Disgraceful! On another note, I do wish dispatches had given some information on how to help these people- I for one would gladly give up one night a week to cook for someone like Glady.
At a time when so many pensioners are living in poverty, unable to eat properly, heat their homes, or have much of a social life or occasional modest holiday, why are we so set on freely providing [forcing on some of them!] more and more expensive medications [with ever increasing adverse-interaction potential] to prolong what is to many just ''existance,''not ''Life''.
I would rather see much more generous pensions, with people given a real choice as to what to spend the money on - a comfortable, ''fun'',but possibly horter life, or a prolonged Living Death!
Originally posted by kbc: At a time when so many pensioners are living in poverty, unable to eat properly, heat their homes, or have much of a social life or occasional modest holiday, why are we so set on freely providing [forcing on some of them!] more and more expensive medications [with ever increasing adverse-interaction potential] to prolong what is to many just ''existance,''not ''Life''.
I would rather see much more generous pensions, with people given a real choice as to what to spend the money on - a comfortable, ''fun'',but possibly horter life, or a prolonged Living Death!
Life should be more than just living longer.
How about real choice?
Very few if any pensioners `live in poverty` but if you are so concerned about the issue then you coul aways petition that the money which is wasted on Africa and accommodating immigrants each year should be spent on increasing the pension rates!
Originally posted by kbc: At a time when so many pensioners are living in poverty, unable to eat properly, heat their homes, or have much of a social life or occasional modest holiday, why are we so set on freely providing [forcing on some of them!] more and more expensive medications [with ever increasing adverse-interaction potential] to prolong what is to many just ''existance,''not ''Life''.
I would rather see much more generous pensions, with people given a real choice as to what to spend the money on - a comfortable, ''fun'',but possibly horter life, or a prolonged Living Death!
Life should be more than just living longer.
How about real choice?
Very few if any pensioners `live in poverty` but if you are so concerned about the issue then you coul aways petition that the money which is wasted on Africa and accommodating immigrants each year should be spent on increasing the pension rates!
Very few if any pensioners 'live in poverty'
Perhaps you are jst not seeing them? Perhaps they're stuck at home, no money to go out and SPEND like you probably do! Are you anywhere near pension age yourself? Have YOU got a decent alternative income lined up fo r your inevitable declining years? Have a look in Charity Shops and the like.Have a look in the dwindling number of public libraries ; who's reading the papers and keeping warm? How many pensioners do you see in pubs these days, once a popular hang-out for all ages? Or is your ''local'' now a trendy wine-bar or gastro-pub for the well-heeled?
Having been to different parts of Africa and seen their needs too, I'm quite happy to give a little to help. My suggestion was for more money for food and fuel and less, if so chosen, on say 15 expensive items on free prescription, some of which are never taken, some of which have nasty side-effects,some which may have dubious and largely unproven ''benefits'', some which are actually nutritional supplements because of enforced poor diet etc--------!! Count your [present] blessings!
Originally posted by kbc: At a time when so many pensioners are living in poverty, unable to eat properly, heat their homes, or have much of a social life or occasional modest holiday, why are we so set on freely providing [forcing on some of them!] more and more expensive medications [with ever increasing adverse-interaction potential] to prolong what is to many just ''existance,''not ''Life''.
I would rather see much more generous pensions, with people given a real choice as to what to spend the money on - a comfortable, ''fun'',but possibly horter life, or a prolonged Living Death!
Life should be more than just living longer.
How about real choice?
Very few if any pensioners `live in poverty` but if you are so concerned about the issue then you coul aways petition that the money which is wasted on Africa and accommodating immigrants each year should be spent on increasing the pension rates!
Very few if any pensioners 'live in poverty'
Perhaps you are jst not seeing them? Perhaps they're stuck at home, no money to go out and SPEND like you probably do! Are you anywhere near pension age yourself? Have YOU got a decent alternative income lined up fo r your inevitable declining years? Have a look in Charity Shops and the like.Have a look in the dwindling number of public libraries ; who's reading the papers and keeping warm? How many pensioners do you see in pubs these days, once a popular hang-out for all ages? Or is your ''local'' now a trendy wine-bar or gastro-pub for the well-heeled?
Having been to different parts of Africa and seen their needs too, I'm quite happy to give a little to help. My suggestion was for more money for food and fuel and less, if so chosen, on say 15 expensive items on free prescription, some of which are never taken, some of which have nasty side-effects,some which may have dubious and largely unproven ''benefits'', some which are actually nutritional supplements because of enforced poor diet etc--------!! Count your [present] blessings!
Most of the elderly I encounter can afford to shop in Marks and Spencer and take regular holidays. I in comparison shop in Netto, Poundland and Boyes so don`t lecture me about life sunny. I am probably old enough to be your father.
British Gas launched the Essentials tariff, the UK's largest social energy tariff, to cut gas and electricity bills for 750,000 of our most vulnerable customers. Essentials provides additional help to vulnerable customers, particularly those who use prepayment meters, by offering them access to our lowest standard Direct Debit prices, irrespective of their method of payment. The tariff is open to existing British Gas customers in receipt of at least one of a number of income related Government benefits. The British Gas Trust could provide a grant to a customer who has a British Gas energy debt and also, in some cases for other costs or outstanding debts. The Trust, established in 2004, also finances on-the-ground debt advisors to explain to individuals how to escape debt cycles and manage their finances going forward. The Trust is run independently of British Gas and is a registered charity. Customers who wish to apply to the Trust can request an application form by calling 01733 421021.'Here to HELP' - working with 4 charity partners, 'here to HELP' is an innovative programme which aims to improve the lives of people living in some of the poorest communities in Britain. The scheme offers free insulation, a benefits assessment and other free products and services from our charity partners, depending on individual circumstances.To date the scheme has signed up over 586,000 homes and has found unclaimed benefits totalling nearly £13 million. On average, qualifying applicants are over £1,500 a year better off as a result of the benefit health check alone. The British Gas Home Energy Care Register provides essential services for customers with specific requirements. Almost 560,000 customers now benefit from the service, which provides annual safety checks and specially designed appliance controls and adaptors for older people, people with disabilities and those who are chronically sick.
RACHEL TO WIN!!!! ***Forum Babes Calendar Miss September*** ♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥To all my SIT friends..you know who you are ♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥.·:*¨¨*:·.♥
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Originally posted by kbc: At a time when so many pensioners are living in poverty, unable to eat properly, heat their homes, or have much of a social life or occasional modest holiday, why are we so set on freely providing [forcing on some of them!] more and more expensive medications [with ever increasing adverse-interaction potential] to prolong what is to many just ''existance,''not ''Life''.
I would rather see much more generous pensions, with people given a real choice as to what to spend the money on - a comfortable, ''fun'',but possibly horter life, or a prolonged Living Death!
Life should be more than just living longer.
How about real choice?
Very few if any pensioners `live in poverty` but if you are so concerned about the issue then you coul aways petition that the money which is wasted on Africa and accommodating immigrants each year should be spent on increasing the pension rates!
Very few if any pensioners 'live in poverty'
Perhaps you are jst not seeing them? Perhaps they're stuck at home, no money to go out and SPEND like you probably do! Are you anywhere near pension age yourself? Have YOU got a decent alternative income lined up fo r your inevitable declining years? Have a look in Charity Shops and the like.Have a look in the dwindling number of public libraries ; who's reading the papers and keeping warm? How many pensioners do you see in pubs these days, once a popular hang-out for all ages? Or is your ''local'' now a trendy wine-bar or gastro-pub for the well-heeled?
Having been to different parts of Africa and seen their needs too, I'm quite happy to give a little to help. My suggestion was for more money for food and fuel and less, if so chosen, on say 15 expensive items on free prescription, some of which are never taken, some of which have nasty side-effects,some which may have dubious and largely unproven ''benefits'', some which are actually nutritional supplements because of enforced poor diet etc--------!! Count your [present] blessings!
Most of the elderly I encounter can afford to shop in Marks and Spencer and take regular holidays. I in comparison shop in Netto, Poundland and Boyes so don`t lecture me about life sunny. I am probably old enough to be your father.
Sorry mate, I was a War baby,so as men don't live as long as us women, I very much doubt you are old enough to be my father! ''sunny?'' - or did you mean ''sonny?'' Whatever; just a bit condescending don't you think?
