Readers' letters - May 10

The recent claim by a so-called ‘think-tank’ that the baby boomer generation, having had it so good, should now contribute to the millennial generation by paying National Insurance and more tax to enable youngsters to benefit by being awarded a £10,000 lump sum is utterly ridiculous.

Frankly, myself and many of my baby boomer generation are getting thoroughly sick of the current attitude that, because we managed to succeed in our careers, managed to earn enough to buy our houses, and managed to save a few pounds, that we should be penalised for it.

Yes, it’s unfortunate that some of the younger generation are struggling to buy homes, but in all fairness, how is that our fault?

Most of my generation worked hard and saved

hard.

We didn’t max out our credit cards, buy things we couldn’t afford, spend thousands and thousands on over-the-top weddings just to emulate silly celebrities, buy expensive cars, and we didn’t fall for payday loans – we tried to save up for everything, and if we wanted children, we waited until we could afford them, unlike some these days.

A lump sum of £10,000 isn’t going to help them at all – many will squander it, having no financial common sense.

I think our generation had far more of a grasp of finances, frankly.

We, the Baby Boomers, built this nation up to what it is now and our efforts should be appreciated: unfortunately it appears we are now being seen as fair game when really it’s the politicians who are at fault for the mess we’re in now.

Karl Sheridan

Address supplied

law

Great outdoors is for everyone

Re: Dog walkers bare teeth at court ruling (LP May 3). I would like to recount my own experiences of ‘dog walking’ in my local area.

For many years, I enjoyed walking through the park in New Longton and the woodland area beyond to Rawsthorne Crescent.

However, over thepast 18 months/two years, I have encountered ‘friendly dogs’ jumping up at me and covering my clothing in muddy paw marks, while their owners grinned benignly.

I have had to walk past one dog snarling and baring its teeth at me, whilst the owner held on to its collar, and only a short time ago, a small but sturdy dog ran behind me whilst carrying a large stick in its mouth and hit me on the back of the leg with the stick.

I limped home and had a bruise on my leg for three weeks. The dog’s owner was oblivious as he was “round the corner” at the time and did not see what happened.

I urge these selfish people to be more responsible and at all times be aware that not everyone wants their dog’s attention!

As for the “professional” dog walkers – obey the court’s rulings.

In my opinion, even four dogs are too many for one person to control.

The great outdoors is for everyone – not just dog lovers!

Hutton Resident

language

Grammar confusion

I join Local Resident – an ex-teacher – (LP Letters, May 1) regarding people’s disinclination to use “I” and “me”, using “myself”, the “writer” and all sorts of other inappropriate substitutes. It is as if using “I” is considered presumptuous.

However, the problem does not stop there.

When they do use “I” and “me”, people often choose the wrong one.

They fail to differentiate between the subject and the object of clauses or sentences. Many will not know what I am talking about because the education system seems to have given up on the teaching of grammar and parsing.

So they write “Please send it to John or I” (instead of “me”) when they would never dream of writing “Please send it to I”. Equally, “Me and John are on holiday” (should be John and I”) when they wouldn’t write “Me am on holiday”!

If it isn’t taught, it won’t be learned.

Neil Inkley

Walton-Le-Dale

finances

Cutting cost of living

Many speak about the unfair funding Lancashire receives from Westminster, London.

Lancashire deserves better funding and English Democrats favour an English Parliament that would be smaller. That Parliament would take possession of all English tax revenues and would commence the implementation of an economic stimulus for families and individuals.

Council tax discount doubled from 25 per cent to 50 per cent will reduce average council tax bills by £600. A pensioner will benefit more from a council tax reduction of 50 per cent than the gimmicks afforded them by the establishment parties who have run Lancashire into the ground.

School meal charges will be eliminated. For a family with three children attending state education, that would be a saving of over £1,000 a year. That will help Lancashiremen and women a great deal.

Lancashire folk have tired of the establishment ‘robbing them blind’ with tax rises and public service charges. It is time to slash the cost of living, starting with council tax and school meal charges.

Samuel Fielding

English Democrats