• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

'Hurry up and die' Japans finance minister tells nations elderly

Lord Tammerlain

Lord Tammerlain

DP Veteran
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
30,780
Reaction score
15,082
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
‘Hurry up and die,’ Japan’s Finance Minister tells nation’s elderly - The Globe and Mail



In North America, longevity is the holy grail. But in Japan, home of the famous centenarians of Okinawa, living to a ripe old age is becoming a source of shame.
While magazines such as National Geographic rhapsodize over Okinawan seniors – who are among the longest lived on earth – Japan’s new Finance Minister, Taro Aso, has a harsh message for the nation’s elderly: “hurry up and die.”


Almost a quarter of the population is over age 60, leaving Japan’s social services crippled by the financial and medical needs of the elderly.
The number of households receiving welfare that include a senior over age 65 represent about 40 per cent of the total, the Guardian reported.
Aso, a wealthy 72-year-old, said he couldn’t imagine living off the state in his golden years. “I would wake up feeling increasingly bad knowing that [treatment] was all being paid for by the government,” he said.
Click to expand...


I could just imagine the outrage this would cause in North America
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

Yeah, well, that problem is on it's way to us as we speak.


Hurry up and die? I think we could word it better.

Something like, hurry up and lets cut their medical care once we get a doctor to determine that old age is in fact terminal, and ease them into the next life in a cost efficient manner.

See, here in 'merica....we got manners.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

And I thought that Asian culture being more collectivistic should have been more kind to their elderly. They were usually respected and guidance was sought from them.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

This is awful, how dare someone suggest that old people are a serious drain on tax dollars due to the high cost of their care.

P.S. SLASH ENTITLEMENTS
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

America's elderly should just die because the liberal government wants that American tax money for the care and feeding of millions of Mexicans, who all vote to keep liberals in office. Certainly that goal is more important than the lives of elderly Americans. Obama has all but said as much and Obamacare will effectuate that goal, particularly after 20 million presently illegal Mexicans are added.
 
Last edited:
Re: Hurry Up and Die

Deuce said:
This is awful, how dare someone suggest that old people are a serious drain on tax dollars due to the high cost of their care.

P.S. SLASH ENTITLEMENTS
Click to expand...

Well, I guess taking care of the elderly does qualify as entitlement. The big question coming up for people is that with medical technology we can keep you alive a longer time than your grandparents.
It is like during a cardiac arrest code, when do you say "Okay, stop the CPR".

We have people in their 90's taking cholesterol lowering drugs, why?

This is a very hard question and I really don't have any faith in politicians taking it on.

We do have age limits on patients receiving heart transplants as well as limits on those who continue to have an unhealthy lifestyle. And I am glad of that although Palin would probably call them the death squad.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

While it is an exceptionally harsh comment, in the type of society where the elderly are largely provided for by the government, it's a serious concern. The higher the percentage of the population that is elderly and being supported, the more the younger generations need to pony up to make that support work. That's part of the reason why I don't like the type of elderly social services this country uses. The openendedness of the system is a major concern, even if one doesn't look at whether we should have the system to begin with.

Personally, I'm all for the Quality of Life over the Quantity of Life for myself.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

The Japanese have very different concepts of life and death. For them, its not a lack of money; wealth in Japan is more prominent among the elderly than any other age bracket (I also read an article at one time stating that they possess half of all privately held savings.) For them, suicide is a matter of pride and honor. Unlike Western values, keeping them alive through futile efforts would be seen as an affront to their dignity. They don't want to be a burden on their families or the rest of society, whether real or perceived, and Asian culture in general views suicide to be a noble thing. Its why so many of the elderly volunteered to be part of the "suicide corps" that went into the damaged nuclear power plant at Fukushima.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

I don't think we can take the word of this one man as being the word of the culture. Japan and most east Asian countries still cherish their elderly, probably more than we do.

It's kind of shameful of the finance minister to insert himself into the end of life processes of millions of people by making such bold, aggressive statements. He should have more respect. One day he too will be old.

Just another case of some idiot in government having his foot in his mouth.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

Tell me what is the difference between "hurry up and die" and it's time to give Grandma a pill and ship her off to hospice?
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

Then how about we increase the entitlements like SS and show these old buzzards a good time in their dotage and then cut their medical care to palliative only after 80. We also need assisted suicide centers so people don't have to accept shriveling up into a little ball parked in a rocking chair.
 
Re: Hurry Up and Die

If we spend our money keeping cognizant seniors alive, how will we afford to keep young people in vegetative states alive for decades?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom