YES, I may wax on about "golden days", as Peter Johnston puts it (January 28).

Does he really not remember when OAPs could live and go out in safety, when the meanest of "golden day" criminals respected the old, leaving your windows open without fear of burglary, when drugs meant you were ill?

His grandiose views suggest he is against law and order in any form. His condescension to "some things have got worse" and his "until a bunch of trendy do-gooders, including himself, came along and destroyed sanity". Well, trendy is not the word most would use. Do-gooders condemn punishment as barbaric, claiming a thug who beats someone up is "misunderstood", louts who smash up property etc need "love", the victim is just unfortunate.

In a previous letter, Mr Johnston said "the old and influential sought to instruct the young how to conduct themselves". Well, I'm just old, and any influence was taken away, even from parents, when children were told "when you are 16, no one can tell you what to do".

It was just civil liberties, rights and PC groups who told all of us what we can and can't do or say. Can't be English, tell certain jokes, banned some cartoons as unsuitable, yet okay to use foul language at any and every opportunity.

When change isolates people, such as children unable to afford fashion clothing, it is wrong. When, as he says, only the most old-fashioned in his office wear a tie, that is bigotry. These people want change to satisfy their whims, not to benefit society, so do not recognise any other view.

Geoff Pollitt

Towers Avenue

Deane, Bolton