Veteran voters will decide at elections
A letter in the Mercury asks what right does an ageing, overwhelmingly male UKIP member have to, according to the author, ruin it for the rest of us?
The answer is it's because they have a vote and have the choice of who to vote for, just like the rest of us.
The letter seems to imply that the aged (particularly men) are stuck in their ways; unable to adapt to the new reality.
Actually, what the letter provides evidence for is that the old are changing their ways since their increasing support for UKIP is new.
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It is probable that this is a general phenomenon not restricted to UKIP. Increasingly, the "no longer young" question their allegiance to the party of their youth. They have listened to too many fairy tales to be taken for granted again.
Most of the political parties hammer on about the ageing population but do not seem to realise the consequences for their electoral base.
The changing demographic means that the average age of voters will be increasing. A larger number will be old. Additionally, flighty youth takes its voting responsibilities lightly, but the elders take it seriously with the result that a far larger percentage of the latter vote.
And whom they vote for is no longer guaranteed. Consequently, it is likely the author of the letter is being unduly dismissive of the aged. A lot of political canvassing is directed at youth but the suspicion must be that the result of the next elections for the foreseeable future will be decided by the grey-haired.
Russ Ball, Leicester.
Comments
by Kohelet
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:31PM
“The difference is that Tories cut benefits but not universal for the elderly, that is the point relevant to this letter.”
by Kohelet
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:31PM
“The difference is that Tories cut benefits but not universal for the elderly, that is the point relevant to this letter.”
by 4_Stroke
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 2:02PM
“It is ironic that the writer of the original letter is actualy 58 so will soon be in UKIPs demographic acording to him, Maybe Eric will vote UKIP at the next election.”
by reubedube
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:36AM
“bapcav:
Could have been because Tony Blair was at the helm, and he is nothing more than a Tory in disguise. He had to do what he could to ensure the rich are kept rich. His successors were too afraid of the possible political consequence to make a move toward changing anything.
As for the present Coalition, they are mostly a bunch of self-centred millionaires who simply dare not do anything to risk upsetting their elite supporters.
My biggest personal problem this year will be having to keep reminding myself that we are all in this together. Difficult to do while I'm struggling to work out what next we can possibly manage
to do without.”
by bapcav
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 7:25PM
“Kohelet :
Why did the Labour Party, in power for 13 years, retain so many universal benefits for the elderly rich ?”
by Kohelet
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 6:55PM
“"Most of the political parties hammer on about the ageing population but do not seem to realise the consequences for their electoral base"
Not sure about that, why do the Tories still retain so many universal benefits for the elderly rich.”