This is one of several variations on the theme of taking care of those less fortunate, including "those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped," from Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States, someone Stephen Harper would do well to emulate as he contemplates messing around with seniors' pensions.

The same goes for the Liberal government in this province, as it tries to cut into the money spent to support developmentally delayed persons through Community Living BC.

This tactic blew up in Christy Clark's face last year when it looked like several of the adults who work down at the recycling depot here in Maple Ridge were going to lose their jobs.

The same could happen to Harper as he threatens to raise the age of eligibility for the Old Age Security benefit to 67 from 65, a move that wasn't mentioned during the election campaign last year. Even Big Stiff must know that "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it," as in the case of Prime Ministers Mulroney and Martin, who both tried to play with seniors' security and had to back down.

The Old Farts (and I are one), are a big voting bloc, and you try and take away or reduce what amounts to less than two per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, and they're going to steep you in hot water like a tea bag.

There are a quarter million seniors living in poverty in Canada, according to sources on the Internet, and raising the age of eligibility will impact those of low and modest income. Better to hit the affluent who don't really need the extra dough; better to look in your own backyard - Stevie - where the perks and pensions of MPs are enough to make you regurgitate that tuna casserole you've had the last three nights.

Paul Martin, a millionaire, makes $167,000 a year in pension. An MP needs only six years to qualify for a pension, whereas a federal public servant at 60 years of age with 35 years of service and an average salary of $50,000 over his highest five years will get $35,000 in pension.

For every dollar an MP contributes to his pension, taxpayers contribute $5. It's all on the Internet, along with the 64 free round-trip tickets, the $25,000 in expenses on top of the $157,000 salary, and a meal allowance that some of them use to pay their mortgages.

All this in addition to the Maclean's article outlining the 99 Really Stupid Things the Government Did With Your Money: Would you rather send millions to China or put it into seniors' pensions or services for the disabled; how about $6 million in legal fees for disgraced B.C. government bureaucrats versus new schools; money for Stanley Cup and Grey Cup parties or more doctors, nurses, hospitals?

Ice shacks on the Rideau, CBC's birthday, money for snowmobile clubs in Quebec.

The list is endless, shameful, infuriating.

Politician, heal thyself, and quit picking on old folks and the disabled.

The first of the reports on the CLBC imbroglio points to the "well-organized and entrenched culture of entitlement among the families of the developmentally disabled" with respect to the receipt of government money (like it's a bad thing).

Look who's talking: just because your ass is warming a backbench doesn't mean you deserve to live like royalty.

Advocates and families are also accused of being highly professional and politically astute in their defence of the needs of the disabled, with high expectations for supporting their children and their clients - traits, it seems to me, required for dealing with the government.

Would they rather we roll over and play dead?

t3atyler@shaw.ca