The Ageing Population Crisis
The greatest challenge of our time
Modern medicine and improved living standards are enabling people to live longer than ever before. This is not as good as it sounds.
As a greater proportion of the population get older, there are more expenses to society associated with this. Pensions, health and social care and other benefits are huge costs to society, and these costs will only continue to grow. Healthcare systems around the world are struggling to keep up with the growing strain of people getting older and frailer.
Japan is struggling the most from the ageing population crisis with about 28% of its population aged at least 65. "Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society," says Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2023.
As a greater proportion of the population get older, there are less economically active people to support society. This means that we will all have to be taxed more and public spending will have to be reduced, lowering the quality of life for everyone. An increasing proportion of people will have to spend their time caring for the elderly meaning that there will be less people working in other areas, weakening the economy and the strength of our societies. There is a huge risk that our societies will collapse as there is also a fertility crisis, meaning that there is not enough young people to support the growing needs of the elderly.
Unfortunately living longer is not always correlated with greater quality of life. Many people are just trapped in pain and suffering for longer.
increasing life span at all costs
Our loved ones must watch us get weaker, become more dependent and go through much pain and suffering as we get older. Many elderly people get dementia and other illnesses which many younger people think that they would rather die than go through.
Is death really that bad? It could be the ultimate end of all suffering and yet many of us avoid it at all costs. Why are we so scared of it, to the extent that we would rather go through pain and suffering for ourselves and become a burden on those around us?
SOME practical solutions
There are no easy answers to the ageing population crisis but if we let it get out of control it will greatly weaken society.
Subsidised and free healthcare could be stopped for people over a certain age. This will still give elderly people access to healthcare but will discourage them from using it if they must pay, reducing the stress on our healthcare systems. The older we get, the less time we have left to live, the less quality of life we have but also the more expensive it is to keep us alive.
Giving elderly people an easy way out. Euthanasia should be an option to all elderly people over a certain age. They should have the option to die with dignity and in peace at a time and place of their choosing, especially if they are going through long term suffering and there is no way their situation is going to improve.
Ageing population means more immigration
Many people currently complain about levels of immigration. However, immigration is necessary as birthrates are falling and the population is ageing. A flow of young talent into the country is a quick and easy fix to sustain the economy and society. Without it, there would be a shortage of people working in health and social care and there would be less people paying taxes to support the growing costs.
We are avoiding the elephant in the room
The ageing population crisis is a big contributor to many problems in societies today. It is heavily contributing to the housing crisis, the cost of living crisis, higher immigration, higher taxes, struggling healthcare systems and austerity measures.
Why are our politicians not talking more about the issue?
The Lifeboat Dilemma
Imagine that there are 20 drowning people. If there is a lifeboat which can only carry 15 people, is it better to save all 20 or to just save 15? The boat will sink if all 20 get on the lifeboat.
Society is in a similar position. It is going to collapse unless action is taken to prevent it.