How We Really Treat The Ageing Population

I wanted to show how just how bad the government's money grabbing was by showing you the pettiest example I could find

And it is this.

My proposer Richard has recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. Because he has been sensible and has a private pension in addition to his states pension, he has been informed that he earns just a few pounds too much each month to qualify for a free TV licence and so must pay for it himself

Well, that sounds fair enough, doesn't it? This is something that is mean tested to ensure only the most deserving get this benefit.

The problem is that it is all a lie

The BBC TV licensing law clearly states that anyone over the age of 75 automatically qualifies for a free licence from the BBC themselves. There is no mention of size of earnings or anything else. No, as far as the BBC is concerned, if you reach 75 years of age, you deserve to view their programmes for free.

So my question is: what happens to the money that Richard pays each year for a licence that he should be getting for free?

Is it given to the BBC? I don't see why because they don't want it.

So keeps it? And what do they do with it? What essential plan could justify stealing this money from a pensioner?

Now a couple of years ago, The French government honoured Richard and small number of his compadres with the Legion d'Honneur for his part in helping to liberate the people of France in World War II. So in another country, he is an honoured war hero and a national treasure.

Over here, he is just a vulnerable cash cow for some civil servant to cheat and steal from.

Does that make you feel proud of your island?

But it's not all bad.

At least now we have an answer to the perennial question - what is going to done about the ageing population.

And the answer is: why, they're going to fleece us for every penny they can get, of course.

Isn't that something to look forward to?