Let the young have the work

IT would be common sense not to increase the age at which old age pensions are paid. With so many young people out of work, surely the way forward is to free up jobs by allowing the older generation to retire?

Yes, by all means, if the oldies “want” to work let them, but many of our young people, some with good qualifications, are desperate to work and are unable to get jobs.

The state is paying Jobseeker’s Allowances and funding other initiatives, so why not use the cash to allow early retirement and give jobs to the young.

A dog’s ear?

From: Ron Farley, Croftway, Camblesforth, Selby.

PETER Laws’ letter (Yorkshire Post, March 8) headed “wrong phrase” states that Jimmy Greaves’ expression “fit as a butcher’s dog” is incorrect and should be “fit as a butcher’s pup”.

I am 83 years old, an ex-RAF physical training instructor, sportsman etc; have travelled this country and many parts of the world; and was often called (even in my 70s) and often heard the expression “fit as a butcher’s dog”. Never, ever, in my life have I heard “fit as a butcher’s pup!”

Culture clash

From Douglas Telfer, Kings Road, Harrogate.

I was interested that the Taliban had condemned this week’s killings of civilians in Afghanistan by a US soldier by placing a statement on their website (Yorkshire Post, March 13). It is good to see that they make use of at least some aspects of Western technology.

From: Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire, Bradford.

WILL Afghan forces have the stomach for a fight with the Taliban after British and American forces have left Afghanistan?