Why does the BBC always patronise the UK's elderly generation?
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Tonight on BBC1 there is a programmed headed “When I get older”.
This programme at 9pm features John Simpson, Gloria Hunniford, Leslie Joseph, and Tony Robinson, spending time with some pensioners to find out how they survive in a country with a trillion pound economy, although we are told we are poor due to the Tory induced recession.
And I have to say what patronizing rubbish this is going to be.
Unless of all these famous people going back to their easy lifestyles, one or more uses their clout with the media to force the Government to increases the State pension, this will stop pensioners having to beg for handouts, means tested or otherwise.
The State pension increases link with male average earnings ended when Margaret Thatcher broke the link in 1980, and then linked State pensionhs to the lower inflation rate.
And so since the 80’s, over 30 years ago this issue has never been fundamentally been brought up in the media. Or fundamentally discussed on Question Time. It has been buried by the BBC.
Facts are that Cold kills 180 British pensioners a day during winter. Britain has 12 million elderly people.
“”Nine elderly people died every hour from cold-related illnesses last winter against a background of soaring energy bills.
Official figures show the number of deaths linked to cold over the four-month period reached
25,400 in England and Wales, plus 2,760 in Scotland.
Charities and energy company critics claim the UK has the highest winter death rate in northern Europe, even worse than much colder countries such as Finland and Sweden.
Winter worries: More than 300,000 UK pensioners have died of cold related illnesses since 1997
There are fears the toll could rise this year following a recent barrage of price rises that may frighten elderly people into not turning on their heating.
Heated issue: Pensioners see rising fuel bills and worry about whether they can afford to warm the house
While the UK death rate is high, the total was down by around 30 per cent compared with 2008/9 because there were fewer flu outbreaks, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Coalition government has cut the last administration’s Winter Fuel Allowance payments of £250 for pensioners and £400 for those over 80, by £50.
ENERGY BILL RISES
Energy providers have announced big rises in prices this winter.
• Scottish Power is increasing electricity bills by 8.9 per cent.
• Scottish & Southern Electricity is putting up gas by almost 10 per cent.
• British Gas announced a 7 per cent rise on gas and electricity
Michelle Mitchell, director of the charity Age UK, said:‘It’s still unacceptable that in this day and age tens of thousands more older people die in this country every winter from the effects of the cold weather.
‘As another winter sets in, plummeting temperatures will once again spell misery, ill-health and, in some cases, even death for too many people in later life across the country.
‘The simple fact that the UK has one of the highest winter mortality rates in Europe – higher than even Sweden or Finland – makes it clear this is very much a home-grown problem.
The fact is the UK’s elderly have seen their living standards plummet since the 80’s, and as a result millions of pensioners have and are living in poverty, after paying taxes and N.I. Contributions into the system all their working lives, ie for 30, 40, and 50 years.
I cant wait to read responses to this posting. Because what I write is true, and not want the BBC or the politicianns want me to think.
What is your response to what I have posted ?
Well you’ve posted your ramblings in a section of the forum for discussing radio!
Ash Eldford, ramblings are they ?. You should be ashamed at the way elderly people are treated in this country.
Well, we all make mistakes, where else should my posting go then ?
That is aside where Im sure you would like to put it, and where the BBC media always put it.
If it were me I’d write about it in the TV section, as it’s about television?
By the way, I am very supportive of the elderly.
I called your post a rambling because you were complaining about something that wasn’t even broadcast at the time you wrote it.
“The State pension increases link with male average earnings ended when Margaret Thatcher broke the link in 1980, and then linked State pensionhs to the lower inflation rate.
“This issue has never been fundamentally been brought up in the media. Or fundamentally discussed on Question Time. It has been buried by the BBC.”
First up – the link with earnings was restored last year.
Secondly, this very issue has been and still is covered extensively by the BBC. See this Nick Robinson blog post on the very issue: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2006/05/cost_of_the_lin.html
Not convinced? How about all these BBC pieces garnered from a very quick Google?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10379602
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6138308.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3197943.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/features/pensions/history.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/conservatives/954245.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8294251.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/issues/4312339.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/450781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/915395.stm
I could go on…
Your entire rant is based on a broadcast you haven’t yet seen and a wholly unwarranted view of the BBC.
Lastly, the apostrophe in ’80s is before the number, not after it.
Please can we keep rants like this away from Media UK? Condemning a TV programme before you’ve even seen it is just plain ignorance; but raging about it in a forum intended for the discussion of radio is far worse. You have already aired this subject at mind-numbing length by hijacking another thread (one you yourself started). We ALL know what you think on this subject!!
Mr Currie, no I’m not ignorant.
I have campaigned on behalf of the elderly generations for well over 20 years, because as a relative younger person I feel it is my duty to fight for a generation who came through the war years fighting for my freedom.
I have the progamme taped, and I shall watch both in due cause.
It is a fact that Britain’s basic State pension is totally inadaquate in this day and age, and means tested hanouts are demeaning and intrusive for many millions of elderly people to be forced to accept because the people in the country they fought for, the under pensionable aged, are not capable of standing and being couted on behalf of all British pensioners.
The programme shown last night is an example of BBC indifference and patronisation toward the elderly.
This generation dont need well heeled celebs’ going into their houses to try and help them.
What this generation needs is somebody in the media spotlight to raise the issue of the inadaquate basic State pension in this country that forces our elderly people to have to go without food to pay their bills, and this is refered to as “heating, or “eating”.
I in 5 from 12 million pensioners live in poverty in this country, there are 12 million pensioners.
Our right wing politicians say that our pensioners have become a “burden” to us. Isnt that a lovely word for our politicians to use ?
Lastly, yes, you all know what I think on “this” subject. How about you telling me what “you” think on this subject.
I notice you have actually already posted this in the Television forum.
Yes I have. What do you think of the issue ?
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What has this got to do with radio?