Dear Sir,

I hesitate to take issue with the views set forth by Claudette Fleming in The Royal Gazette of June 16, concerning tougher laws to protect the elderly.

She is absolutely right by drawing our attention to those over 65 now outnumbering those under 14, and that more protection should be given to those over 65.

But there is a consideration that Dr Fleming neglects to mention: that is the disgraceful way that my age group — the over-65s — collectively has acted towards young people of Bermuda.

We have colluded with politicians and bureaucrats to increase our national debt, by making inadequate provision for our pensions and medical care. In short, the older generation has stolen through the political system from younger generations to finance our extravagant lifestyle.

This has arisen from a misguided belief that, somehow, the younger generation owes a debt to seniors. In truth and morally, it is the reverse. Our history, until recently, has always been that of improving the lot of our children and grandchildren, not sabotaging their future.

Instead of taking the high moral ground, we have in recent years plundered through the political system the birthright of our young people by providing enormous benefits for ourselves, the older generation, without giving much — or even any — thought as to how such benefits will be paid for.

Politicians, in their eternal quest for power, have lied to voters and bought the votes of seniors by providing goodies to them, which can be paid for only by those now going to school with Star Wars backpacks over their shoulders. In return, we seniors have rewarded our politicians for facilitating their acts of theft by voting for them.

Politicians are only too well aware that old people vote; children do not.

This is financial child abuse of significant proportions, disguised though it may be.

In essence, by not thinking about costs, which amount to about $5 billion — or $100,000 per person — people of my age have stuck the costs on the shoulders of our young people.

The financing of reckless government spending on seniors is the equivalent of eating up our national capital. In effect, we chopped up our apple trees for firewood, thereby reducing the yield of the orchard in the future.

Dr Fleming has called for greater protection for the elderly, but we have abused the younger generation big time.

It is they who need protection from us, not the other way round.

ROBERT STEWART