Our three main political parties are trying hard to titillate us, to provide for their return tickets on the next gravy train to the land of plenty, guaranteed pensions for life and titles for many. Each party has its own train and they are busy training up new drivers and "repositioning themselves."

If history is any guide, OAPs will be left on the endlessly circulating inflationary escalator to degrading means testing, Christmas tit bits and completely inadequate annual increases, designed to provide pointless jobs for those trying to make unworkable benefit systems seem sensible.

Another army of carers are employed to persuade those too proud to submit themselves willingly to a minute examination of their private affairs which often leaves them short changed on their real entitlement. "Pick it up it's yours."

Yet another army are out there hunting down real cheats and frail old people who are completely unable to react to simple changes of circumstances which affect savings and therefore any benefits they may be getting. These can be caused by free bank shares they received as share holders, by virtue of a house mortgage when the bank changed from a building society, which fluctuate in value from day to day.

Other fluctuating common changes of circumstances, affecting savings and therefore benefits, happens monthly for occupational pensions, weekly for state pensions and any other benefits, even though they may be free from tax. Whilst in a bank account it is savings. If the cheat catchers decide to call when these accounts are at their most healthy, whether it is to pay for a much needed holiday or the replacement of twenty year old wiring, gas fires or whatever, they will want to see up to date details of all your finances, even down to the bit of cash under the bed for an anniversary party.

These are all changes of circumstances which affect benefits and can result in repayment of cash received and decreases of future payments.

No wonder the poor souls who are trying to make sense of all this at the front desks of the local authority finance offices are stretched beyond their capacity and installing expensive new computer systems, to be trained on. They could surely be found more satisfying work to do if the gravy train brigade concentrated on draining this diabolical, finance guzzling quagmire.

This is what our politicians are allowing us to be driven relentlessly towards by ignoring the effect inflation has on pensioners income.

I have never committed my loyalty to any party but voted for the most PROMISING. I was attracted by the idea of proportional representation but we don't hear anything about that now. They managed to scotch it, except for the Scots. I would go for a hung parliament but they abolished hanging. Oops I could be up for inciting violence!

I think what i will do is vote for the strongest opposition party every time, whoever it is, and stick to that policy. I don't want any of them thinking they can have a free pass on the train. They must be made to pay up for our basic needs. Quality health, education, training and inflation linked pensions.

An interesting calculation; what proportion of your pension is ear marked for fuel, phone and council taxes each month ??

Updated: 14:30 Friday, January 20, 2006