IoS letters, emails and online postings (7 February 2016)

I could not disagree more with Paul Vallely in his analysis of the problems facing older people (“A generation of stoics, robbed of dignity”, 31 January). Writing as a 75-year-old of modest means, and health issues commensurate with my age, I see my generation as being blessed.

We enjoyed full and secure employment, free higher education, reasonable pensions on retirement, and affordable house prices if we chose to buy rather than rent. Those who could not consider buying could have a reasonable chance of securing council accommodation.

Compare that world with that of the current working generation. Student loans for those aspiring to higher education. An unreliable jobs market with zero-hours contracts or unpaid internships. Laughable pension schemes for those who can afford to contribute after paying exorbitant rents or mortgages on grossly inflated house prices with a rapidly shrinking social housing stock for the worse off.

Of course, there will be examples of old people who have a miserable life and we, as a society, have an obligation to provide them with care but these, I suggest, are the exceptions. Compared to the life prospects of the younger generation I would see my life as secure and blessed. No wonder we can be stoical about our infirmities. We had the best of it.

Patrick Cleary

Honiton, Devon

Electoral reform should not be a “party” issue (“Party leaders call for left-of-centre pact to secure electoral reform”, 31 January). It is a matter of “national” importance that crosses party boundaries. A democracy is supposed to represent “the will of the people”. So, how can we kid ourselves that we live in a democracy when many MPs have been elected on a minority of votes cast in their constituency; and the number of seats for each party in Parliament bears no relation to the number of votes cast nationally for each party?

The first past the post system must go – it is no longer “fit for purpose”.

Malcolm Morrison

Swindon, WIltshire

Years ago it was part of my job to promote vocational education, including apprenticeships, in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where some schools had sixth forms and some didn’t (“Lord Baker: ‘Schools shun skills courses’” 31 January). Although there were exceptions, schools with sixth forms did not welcome my approaches but the 11-16 schools did. Even then, some selected only the less able or middle-ranking pupils for my presentations in the mistaken belief that “all bright kids should go on to university”.

When talking to parents, one of my arguments for considering the vocational route was that their offspring often earned good wages while training, and did not require financial support for a year and a day with often a mediocre degree to show as an outcome. This was particularly true with engineering apprentices where many achieved positions of responsibility by their early twenties. How sad that things have not changed.

Patrick Cosgrove

Bucknell, Shropshire

As a proud British Muslim, my plea to Jack Letts is please leave Islam and go back to your last faith (“Muslim convert Jack Letts calls on Brits to turn to Islam”, 31 January). As a doctor I can assure you David Cameron is mentally very well. Islam is based on Quran (not Sharia) which clearly says (5:32) do not kill. Funny you do not mention Saudi killing children in Yemen.

Name and address withheld

In years to come, when the high-speed trains are running, will those who are able to afford a ticket to make the journey from London to Birmingham truly consider the chaos caused by it’s construction to have been worthwhile?

Forests and buildings are being destroyed so that a few may make their journey 20 minutes quicker. Ancient temples and historic buildings are being blown up overseas in the name of ideology. Similar acts of destruction are taking place in this country in the name of progress.

Colin Bower

Sherwood, Nottingham