A careless remark by Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso caused quite a stir. The official said: the elderly would do well to rush to the next world, so as not to burden the social system.
The minister made this statement at a meeting of the National Council for Social Reforms. According to him, the state spends a lot of money on the senseless forced maintenance of the life of just one patient who is near death. As a result, the social security system is paralyzed by the support of people over 60 years old, who make up almost a third of the nation.
“God forbid that you are forced to live when you want to die. I would wake up with a disgusting feeling, knowing that all this treatment is paid by the government,” the 72-year-old minister issued, advising the elderly to “hurry up and die.”
Later he had to make excuses for such a reckless proposal. The minister assured that in no case did he call for refusing treatment for the elderly, thereby dooming them to death. And he promised to “start with himself”, trying to die quickly when the time comes. At least on this score, he left unambiguous written instructions to his relatives — that his life should not be extended by useless «long therapy».
By the way, when he was prime minister, Taro Aso was already seen in such radicalism. “People under 70 barely hobble and go to the doctors every now and then,” the British The Guardian quotes him. Why should I pay for those who only eat and drink and make no effort? I take daily walks and do a lot of other things, but I pay more taxes.”
The minister’s position shocked many in Japan, which traditionally respects the elderly. But how to solve the problem that he raised in such a sharp form, the authorities of the country do not represent.
The average life expectancy in Japan is 83 years. And Japanese women hold the palm among the planet’s centenarians (they live on average up to 86). Japanese men are a little behind, also because of the relatively high suicide rate. At the same time, the population is rapidly aging and shrinking: today, 20 people over 100 years old live in Japan. Japanese demographers published a disappointing forecast: in half a century, 128 million will remain from the current 87 million inhabitants, and 2 out of 5 Japanese will be over 65.
The government has to raise taxes in order to provide social guarantees to pensioners. Former premier Yoshihiko Noda proposed doubling the sales tax within 3 years to replenish the welfare fund. At the same time, most Japanese are categorically against the liberalization of immigration laws and the influx of foreign labor. Each year the state grows by no more than 15 new citizens.