Ordinary people must wait until age 65 for a pension

THE scandal of current and former politicians collecting lavish pensions while also taking a substantial salary is yet more proof of just how out of touch with real people the political class has become.

Saying the pension is legal and therefore they are entitled to it does not wash with people who have to wait until age 65 before collecting their pensions, presuming of course they are lucky enough to have one.

Just because something is legally right does not make it ethically right.

Saying that giving up a modest pension would not make a difference to the national finances is the attitude which has caused our budget deficit. Our taxes are squandered on various grants, allowances and tax breaks to public servants, quangos, vested interests and cronies, all claiming the amounts are modest. Individually that may be true, but add them all together and you get a €20 billion deficit.

It is pathetic for any politician to whinge that other public servants, like soldiers and gardaí, can get a pension while on a salary.

Why should a 55-year-old retired garda be entitled to a pension and work full-time as well? Perhaps a public sector pension should only be granted if you are retired from work and are over 65?

Politicians who have surrendered their pensions whinge that they got no thanks. This is because people do not believe they should have had those pensions. You simply cannot expect thanks for giving up what you should not have had in the first place.

The sense of entitlement and culture of maximum reward for minimum performance that is endemic among the banking class only mirrors the culture of the political class.

It is a culture that can no longer be tolerated by voters. The political class must learn that they are elected to serve all the people and not just themselves and their buddies.

Jason FitzHarris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin