Maybe it’s the old who should have their vote limited

Readers continue to debate voting and age. The discussion started when a young person said his generation would not be likely to vote, and now older folk are coming into the frame.

A couple of people think older people will benefit least from the political changes, suggesting that their votes would be worth less, while younger people will be around longer to feel the effects.

Meanwhile, another reader feels maybe we should only let people older than 30 put their tick in the box on a ballot paper.

Other topics include whether or not we should say ‘thank you’ to bus drivers and if Jeremy Hunt was mugging us off with his coffee cups on Metro’s front page yesterday. Read on and have your say.

■ Red from Ruislip (MetroTalk, Thu) laughably suggests that young people’s votes should be worth less because they are ‘idealists lacking the experience to be realists’.

By this logic, perhaps we should reduce the worth of the votes for the elderly, as they will see the least benefit from voting for changes that may not come into effect until they have passed away, whereas those idealistic youngsters will have to live with whatever choices are made for years – even decades – to come.

People such as Red seem more concerned with trying to dismiss the vote of the youth, who want what’s best for everyone rather than policies that benefit the least people.

The young seem to have a far more realistic view of what’s going on, and of the effects that things will have, than people clinging on to their outdated views that they are scared of changing. Matthew, Birmingham

■ Red’s comment on young voters is a reflection of what is wrong with the system and society as a whole.

You give value to people based only on their age and wealth? Young people are rightfully fearful of their futures, yet you choose to mock them? Shame on you. These horrible attitudes are exactly what bad politicians rely on. Tanya, Croydon

■ I was amused to read Red’s comment. If the young aren’t voting and therefore aren’t to blame for the skip-fire of a government we’re dealing with, perhaps the old should get half a vote. Phil, London

■ So, Red, should older people have half a vote, because they won’t feel the damaging effects of recent political decisions for as long?

Regarding Brexit, old people have already bought a house and had a chance to travel the world easily. It’s the young adults and future generations who suffer from the crippled economy.

Maybe we can compromise and let only people in their 30s vote? Greg, Maidstone

■ I seriously hope Red is a comedian because that is the stupidest comment I have ever read in Metro. Pedro, Hammersmith

■ Young people have never been interested in politics. I wasn’t when I was young but now I’m passionate because getting older means you see how politics affects everything. Of course there are exceptions but this is generally the case. Barb, Gloucestershire

■ Simon from Chichester (MetroTalk, Thu) rolls out the old chestnut and asks why politicians from all parties don’t get together to sort out the mess the country is in. I’m afraid Simon is being rather naïve and forgetting three things.

First, that by their very nature, people disagree about things, including how to run the economy.

Second, the current government is made up of a rich and privileged elite whose main aim is to protect the interests of the wealthy and themselves.

Third, a government without opposition is called a dictatorship. Geoff, Leytonstone

■ Paul (MetroTalk, Thu) suggests proportional representation means decisions are taken slowly. I’m an engineer – a binary system that tries to reach a goal by veering sharply from left to right is grossly inefficient. Much better to have lots of tweaks to the path from many different measures. Neil, Sutton Coldfield

■ The problem with parliament is there is not one party or individual I would vote for. Chris, Kent

One thanks-less task

■ Regarding saying ‘thank you’ to bus drivers, Tracey from Wimbledon (MetroTalk, Thu) states drivers can lip read. Are they using the cameras to check people are mouthing ‘thank you’? If I’m walking off a bus – middle doors – do I run back to the front to thank them? What if they drive off – do I run after the bus to do it at the next stop? Can you also advise if I should thank my refuse collectors too, as they are doing me a service? Joe, by email

■ I would like to see bus drivers voting on the ‘thank you’ matter. I’ve got a strong sense that most of them are rather tired of replying several thousand times every day. Tom, Liverpool

Hunt’s mugging us off with his cups

■ Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made a video to explain inflation using coffee cups in the Treasury canteen – and was compared to feckless comedy character Mr Bean (Metro, Thu). His coffee cup lesson just shows how all those in politics take the electorate for fools. Sean, Manchester

■ Does Jeremy Hunt have shares in a coffee company?! Coffee is not an essential commodity, so the best way to avoid that bit of inflation is not to buy it. Maybe he’s confusing us mug voters with coffee mugs. Martin, London

■ In his video, Jeremy Hunt speaks to the nation as though we’re all a bit stupid and can’t understand basic things. I make him right – why else would we have had a Conservative government for way over a decade? I think he knows his audience. Alan Noon, Banstead

Lynch starring in classic film would make it a best Sellers

■ If there is ever a remake of I’m All Right Jack, the 1959 classic British comedy about industrial life in Britain and trade unions, the RMT union leader Mick Lynch must be a shoo-in to play Peter Sellers’s character of Fred Kite.

Fred was the Soviet Union-worshipping union shop steward working in a missile factory. Lynch even sounds like Fred. On a serious note, I too am dead against driver-only trains and unmanned ticket offices. Russ, Stockport

And another thing…

■ Elliott of Haywards Heath (MetroTalk, Wed) rails against rail guards for daring to use mobile phones. Has it not occurred to him that he may be seeing off-duty uniformed staff on the way to or from work, in which case they are just members of the public?

As a rail guard, I do use my mobile in the course of my duties. I’m usually checking work emails or the timings of connecting trains for passengers. I definitely don’t have time to waste on playing games. Ted Jones, Headcorn

■ Obesity is costing the NHS £6billion a year, and with people returning to air travel after the pandemic, should airlines now weigh passengers, not luggage? It could start a mindset change regarding us taking responsibility
for our health. Liz, Staplehurst

■ Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand prime minister, is stepping down
and will be a hard act to follow. Her resignation speech was memorable – she knew that she had given her all for her country. It makes one think that the politicians of GB Ltd need to look at her legacy and wonder if any can compare to her. Tony B, Thailand

■ I recently bought a tuna sandwich from my local supermarket, albeit for a reduced price. Anyway, when I opened it to add a splash of vinegar,
I noticed it hadn’t been buttered. Since when did sandwiches get sold without butter, and who made this decision? This has scarred me for life. Martin Lawrence, South Croydon

Start a text with VIEWS followed by your comment, name and where you live to 65700. Standard network charge applies. Or email mail@ukmetro.co.uk. Helpline for Views: 020 3615 0600. Full T&Cs on metro.co.uk/terms Metro is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Comments may be edited for reasons of legality, clarity or space.