Letters: Yes, it was really easy being a Boomer… How Gen Z must envy us!

A reader suggests that their Boomer generation suffered more than Gen Z. A call for understanding from government. And a cat enjoys a recent issue.

Gen Z envy

I’m interested to read your articles and correspondence about Boomers having it easy. 

It made me think – and I do recall how easy it was when I was young and growing up. We had outdoor toilets, our parents had to light a coal fire in the morning to keep us warm, regular power cuts in 1973/74, price inflation at 25% in 1975, no phone at home at all until I was about 10 years old, a black-and-white TV with three channels, seasonal food only meaning no year-round strawberries in the shops. 

During my second year at university, in early 1979, there was regularly ice on the inside of the windows in the morning. Yes, it was really easy. How Gen Z must envy us!

Peter Adamson, Abertillery

Winter fuel 

It’s simple. HMRC knows exactly how much we all pay in the way of taxes – and if you don’t pay much tax, you presumably have little income. Any pensioner who pays below a certain amount of tax gets the winter fuel allowance. There are two snags. First, two government departments, HMRC and DWP, would have to work together. Secondly, don’t all pensioners have a million pounds in untaxable ISAs?

Less suspicion of the people who ultimately pay their wages, more compassion and more logic would benefit government, and us. Oh, and a black hole, by its nature, can never be filled. Is this what Rachel Reeves is telling us? Keep giving money for evermore?

Rose King, Cromer

Trade winds 

I’ve just finished reading your excellent supplement on housing. Reading the section on training, including the ongoing skills shortage, I was reminded of a well-expressed letter, which observed that for years academia has treated the trades as inferior to higher education.

As someone who came to this country as an adult, I’ve always been totally flummoxed as to why Britain doesn’t embrace the trades; it seems so self-destructive. Maybe Britain is still very much at the mercy of its historic class system. 

This is so tragic, because I really don’t think the country will ever fulfil its true potential if it doesn’t genuinely embrace the trades – not at the expense of other education of course, but in conjunction with.  

Kim Young, Canterbury 

• ‘Gen Z are turning to culture instead of alcohol’: Is the party holiday officially over?  
• National service for Gen Z, tax breaks for boomers: Why ‘desperate’ Tories are chasing older voters

Dying planet 

The “Labour” Party may have been getting its knickers in twist over assisted dying, while the irony is that they’re ignoring the climate crisis, which may rapidly be going to cause mass assisted dying! The truth is that they’re in a massive hole of their own creation and don’t realise it’s a good idea to stop digging.

Rod Willmott, Worcester 

Say nothing 

The DWP cannot be both a psychiatrist and a police officer. As whatever you tell them can be stored up to use against you, the safest course is not to tell them anything unless you have to.

If the Labour government really want to help, rather than hound people into work, they will need a new organisation that does not report to the DWP and so may win trust.

My other concern is anyone with a mental illness who is driven into a job they cannot do will make it harder for people with a mental health problem to get a job even if they are able to do it.

Diana E Forrest, Walsden

Blame game  

The people who tell you immigrants and minorities are the problem are the same ones cutting your wages, underfunding your services and dodging taxes. Don’t be fooled.

Ben Scott, Facebook 

Cats and dogs  

We thought you’d like to see our cat Coco enjoying the latest issue!

Robin & Vicki Morton, Edinburgh 

Not easy being Green  

Carla Denyer outlines her Big Issue 2025 as the climate.

Bristol Airport’s big plan for 2025 appears to be expansion and lengthening of the runway(s) to accommodate more frequent flights and larger aircraft. This plan comes despite objections from many local residents and local councils concerning the levels of pollution and constant noise from often non stop daily flights which can only become much worse.

I think the reaction from the Green councillors and the Green Party in Bristol to this proposed expansion has been disappointing so far, and I believe that if they are serious about the climate for 2025 they must show leadership and put up a strong opposition to this plan.  

K Ward, North Somerset 

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