Pensioners paid high taxes in previous era

An article on Monday, Aug 19, in the Irish Examiner re the reduction of State pensions, will infuriate every OAP in the country who in the 1970s and ’80s had more than 60% deducted from their wages with a combination of income tax and PRSI.

Let us not forget that employees on the PAYE system were being robbed, while much wealthier business people and professionals often reneged and only paid taxes if they chose to do so.

In my own case, employees had no option where overtime was concerned, because our employers’ rules stated overtime was compulsory. We were all skilled workers and we often had to often work many hours in excess of the normal 40-hour, five-day week, and also at weekends.

Those of us who were single naturally had a much reduced tax-free allowance and we suffered severe financial deprivation.

Why are our voters so naive? One has to admire the Greeks for their many street protests but we should not agree with some of them who used extreme violence.

The massive reductions on social welfare will further butcher the most vulnerable of our citizens while the wealthier, including our politicians, live in luxury with their large salaries.

Bill Foley

Blarney

Co Cork