Post 4--Senior Discounts (1)

Post 4--Senior Discounts

I promised to continue a topic related to Post 3. Sorry, but I am changing course, though only slightly.

In yesterday's Vancouver Sun there was an article about the discounts that Canadian seniors get all over the place, no matter how poor or rich they may be. Just because they are seniors! The subject is discussed more often lately and is thus of general interest. It is also of interest to me. After all, I am a senior.  However, my take on the subject may not be what you expect, for it is not in my immediate personal profit.

I quite annoyed with the senior lobby, represented especially by CARP--Canadian Association of Retired Persons--that demands the continuation of this privilege. So I wrote a letter to the Vancouver Sun that I share with you below:

Re;

My, my, my! Where has the spirit of Canada’s parents and grandparents gone? Are we no longer (grand) parents and have instead turned into an egoistic lobby group to squeeze the most out of our system for ourselves?  Amazing! Shameful!

At a time:

       when wages are on a downward spiral and workers supporting families—our children —are

           having a tough time of it;

       when young secondary and tertiary graduates—our grand-children—cannot find jobs

           suitable for their skills;

       when single mothers—our granddaughters-- are squeezed to death;

       when school children—our grand- and great grandchildren-- come to school hungry;

       when the pool of wage earners supporting seniors is dwindling due to seniors refusing the

           responsibility of raising families,

we seniors are demanding continued privileges for ourselves instead of our needy families!  And that not because we are necessarily poor—many of us are not—, but because we are seniors.

If there were any love, charity and sense of justice in our hearts, we seniors would lobby for our children and grandchildren as well as for the poor among us. CARP ought to be ashamed of itself. A bunch of well heeled and well organized egotists! This is the reason I have never joined them.

Re;