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Future seniors sacrificed

Today's seniors should not trade away the benefits of future seniors to protect their current benefits

I am pleased to read that Dan Albas has not yet developed the “water off a duck’s back” attitude that he has “witnessed by some of the more experienced politicians”. This “thick skin” is not something to be proud of. It only confirms these politicians’ contempt for the people — they’ve stopped listening, and simply assimilate and regurgitate party policy.

Harper, Clement and Flaherty staunchly defend future reductions to seniors’ benefits. What concerns me is their open effrontery. They actually believe that we would sacrifice the benefits of future generations, simply by assuring us that the current seniors will not be affected. This contempt is appalling. We will not throw future generations of our children and grandchildren to the wolves to ensure current benefits.

The parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page and other experts indicated that future increases to OAS and GIS will not have the dire impact that is being fear-mongered by the Harper government. Who do you believe? I know who I believe.

Harper et al had better get their stories straight and re-examine their budgets in order to ensure that future generations of the less fortunate are cared for. We are not interested in projections of dire consequences unless we support Harper’s agenda — nor are we interested in statistics founded on threats or fear.

If an increase in funding is required, re-examine current revenue sources and “could have” expenditures. Harper and his crew continue to misread the priorities of Canadians, or maybe they just don’t care. But that is to be expected once one develops a “thick skin”.

On the other hand, any senior citizen who would trade away benefits of future less-well-off seniors just to protect current benefits deserves to be viewed with contempt.

Patrick MacDonald

 

Penticton