Madam, - I saw extraordinarily heart-warming scenes on RTÉ News this evening from the Age Action public meeting in protest at the Government's Budget decision to target the over-70s medical card scheme for significant savings.
The clips showed a group of people that were really protesting. They were angry, and they shouted at the bewildered Government representative as he tried to speak. They vented their frustration at being picked out as a societal group that could be easily pick-pocketed.
The meeting was also conducted with a good dollop of humour, and the collective wisdom of the assembled brought dignity and respect to the occasion.
A fine example of effective protest to us all, and as the same bulletin also revealed, a result was achieved. Congratulations to all concerned.
Another example of the people informing the Government how to govern. - Yours, etc,
DAVID CONWAY,
Station Road,
Dunboyne,
Co Meath.
Madam, - At the risk of death by a thousand Zimmer frames, I think it is time that someone stood up against Dad's Army and stated the obvious: while the original thresholds for losing the over-70s medical card may have been too low, the new ones are far too high.
These new thresholds are close to the average industrial wage.
At this wage a worker is expected to pay tax at the highest rate, pay a mortgage, fund a car or other means of travel to and from work and raise his or her children and still have enough left over to pay for doctors' visits and medicine for all the family.
Our retired folk are likely to have no mortgage to fund or children to support and have no work- related travel expenses and could therefore better afford their medical expenses on substantially less than their younger counterparts. Where is the fairness in a working man supporting a family on close to the minimum wage being refused a medical card while a retired over-70 married couple earning three times as much get one?
But don't they deserve it, they say. I find it risible to hear many well-heeled elderly claiming parentage for the Celtic Tiger given that they were, for the most part, responsible for the spend, spend, spend years in the 1980s which brought the country to its knees; once again they now refuse to bite the bullet when tough action is required.
As is so unfortunately the case, the loudest squawk has got the worm.
The Government have failed in their overriding duty to the majority of taxpayers to stand firm against these vociferous minorities and the bandwagon politicians who think only of today's sound bites and not of tomorrow's economy.
This Budget was only the beginning. More drastic action is likely to be necessary next year. Are our elders and betters to be permanently excluded from paying their share? - Yours, etc,
FINTAN MOLLOY,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Madam, - The Government have deemed the provision of free primary care to all over-70s to be too costly in the present economic downturn.
Yet nothing is said about the universal free entitlement to hospital care which is much more costly to the State.
True, private insurance covers many elective hospital procedures for those who can afford it but when people are acutely seriously ill or develop more complex illness, more often than not it is the State which picks up the tab.
In countries where there is a system of universal free primary care it has been shown to be cost effective in reducing the burden on the hospital sector. It is also a societal choice and the abolition of the over-70s scheme says much about our attitudes to the elderly and also to the value of primary care. Universal free primary care in Britain was introduced in 1948 in much more stringent economic times when people were still queuing for rations.
To my mind, the savings needed in the health budget could be much more easily achieved if every doctor was to prescribe generically. - Yours, etc,
Dr GARRETT IGOE,
Virginia Primary Care,
Virginia,
Co Cavan.
Madam, - An end to rampant consumerism, mass re-engagement in the political process, concern for our youngest and oldest, humility from our elected representatives and a seat in the pub.
It ain't all bad, is it? - Yours, etc,
DES DORIS,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - I have just watched our wonderful senior citizens on the 9 O'Clock News. What an inspiration they are to us all! Let our politicians beware. . . these gallant warriors are not for turning. - Yours, etc,
WINNIE POWER,
Hillside Grove,
Dunmore Road,
Waterford.
Madam, - While I have some sympathy for the over-70s I do think the way they behaved today (October 21st) was unacceptable. If our "young people" behaved the same way, the over-70s would be the first to voice their displeasure about the "youth of today".
Basic manners are important and the "example" given by our senior citizens today was appalling. - Yours, etc,
LAURA O'MARA,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.