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I've just been listening to a comedy show on BBC radio 4 where members of the public are asked to come up with genius ideas. One lady read out her plans to use elderly people in Nursing Homes to monitor CCTV security cameras with the added incentive that if you spotted a crime taking place and reported it, you won a prize. They went on to develop the idea until it evolved into a kind of Bingo game, where each person had a card on it with a list of misdemeanours that could be crossed out one by one until some lucky punter stood up and shouted "House".

I have to admit that this totally preposterous idea gave me a chuckle at the time, but ultimately I have a problem with being asked to come up with ideas as to how elderly people could be made to contribute more to their society or their community. You see, it assumes that elderly people are a burden. That society and communities are somehow carrying them and that they should be giving something back in order for them to justify their continuing existence.

In my view these people have contributed to communities all their lives. They helped make our countries great and in my view they have earned the right live out their days in whatever way they wish. I find it, frankly, shameful that we are turning our communities into ones that do not respect what they have done, and which can't support them in a way that they deserve.

and anyway, getting these people to watch CCTV cameras will put other people out of work. Now I have to go because I think I've just seen someone drop some litter on screen 3, and that would mean I win the office sweepstake. This week the prize is a cocktalk shaker.

Learn more about this author, Robert Stephenson.
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