Comments on: Should we have a Minister for Pensioners?

By: Philipa

Philipa — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:18:52 +0000

Snafu – no they don’t; single people get a reduction in council tax.

By: Welshcakes Limoncello

Welshcakes Limoncello — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:36:23 +0000

Totally agree, Ellee. There should be a Minister who would really take care of the concerns of the elderly and make sure they are not ignored. Here I am fed up with fighting with difficult-to-open jars and you can get so frustrated that you do yourself an injury. I think Mutley has the right attitude to ageing, though!

By: Snafu

Snafu — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:07:14 +0000

Who represents childless, single people at Budget time!?!

They are expected to roll over and pay more tax to subsidise the lives of everyone else in society…

By: weggis

weggis — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:29:41 +0000

NO! NO, no ,no, no. That’s the last thing us Grumpies need. Wash your mouth out with soap Ellee. Just have a look at what the commissars have done for children and women, PLEASE.

Just leave us alone, we are doing fine without them. I want to die in peace and dignity. i don’t want some spotty graduate of the Students Union telling me I can’t drink, smoke and have butter on my toast.

By: Ellee

Ellee — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:07:58 +0000

Pip, Hypothetically, if I am in my 70s and single and have the chance of a cuddle with someone I adore who is also around my age, then I shall go for it! Love and intimacy is the best medicine in the world. Obviously, better to be married and cuddle with your spouse, but life is not always that simple…..

By: Philipa

Philipa — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:36:01 +0000

Er.. Ellee, you think “saga sex too should be encouraged”? Look at the front page of the Indy today and you’ll read that UK children are reported to be the unhappiest in the western world. Obviously they were far happier being thrust down mines, up chimneys or being blown up in a war, what price freedom? Hmn. No doubt the blame will be laid at the door of single mums, despite the fact that there were plenty of those after two world wars and boys weren’t drugged en masse with Ritalin. I think Mutley does highlight a good point – what people enjoyed as younger adults they want to continue to enjoy as older adults. But how can you reconcile damning the wanton sexual freedom of young adults and encourage ‘saga sex’? You don’t specify the encouragement of sexual relations between married couples, and I don’t think that’s what you meant. Are you saying it’s ok to be a sexual honey bee, going from the flower of womanhood, to flower, but only if she’s drawing her pension? Perhaps the pensions minister will host a database of pensioners and provide State sex lessons just as they do with children. Let’s face it, many women are amazed a man can work a mobile phone as the buttons are small on that too. I wonder what his other duties might be??

By: Ellee

Ellee — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:11:03 +0000

WW, That was my thought about Ed Ball’s department too, but heaven help our poor pensioners if their welfare comes under his jurisdiction.

By: Winchester whisperer

Winchester whisperer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:28:17 +0000

We have far too many ministers. Why should HH be Minister for “Women & Equality” rather than simply “Equality”? Pensioners may come under the Ministry for Families or do you think there should be a Ministry for Single People? It’s too much! I’m sure Civil Serf would have an opinion…she’d set up a Ministry for Bloggers.

By: Ellee

Ellee — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:25:16 +0000

Mutley, this post is part serious, part tongue in cheek as I feel we spend so much time, energy and resources on other groups of society and ignore the needs of our elderly who are often helpless and vulnerable. It’s proven that music, and singing in choirs, lifts your spirits, including the elderly. So thoughts like this made partly in jest could have some relevance one day. It’s got to be better than pill popping. And of course, saga sex too should be encouraged.

By: Mutley

Mutley — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:18:57 +0000

Some of these remarks are a bit silly – why on Earth would a pensioner want to sing in a choir or go to a tea dance if they did not want to when they were fifty or forty? When I am old I shall want to shag and take class A drugs…