hypocritical?

Question

Why is it that the Goverment complains about us living longer and the strain on society but they moan about us smoking, drinking and being overweight and keep mentioning we will die sooner if we dont look after ourselves, but surely they would like us to die sooner to save money?

An ageing population means that in future there will be fewer workers to pay the pensions of a greater number of older people.

-www.bbc.co.uk-

Also we are going into a top heavy society like china due to the decrease of children per family

Answer 1

This concerns the UK economy.I don't know much about the United States, but I guess pensions are a universal thing.If you haven't made adequate savings by the time your old and grey, well unfortunately it's very unlikely your going to be able to rely on any state handouts you should be entitled to, because at the rate things are going, partiularly with the rapid deterioration of our natural resources, namely...OIL, the future certainly isn't bright and definetely not orange.


What this is concerning is what is known as an ageing population and relates directly to pensions and the benefits system as a whole.Maybe 10 to 15 years ago there were around 5 people working for the retirement of one person.This individual, if they were a man would approximately live for maybe 5 to 8 eight years after their retirement and maybe 10 to 12 year for women, so a state pension wouldn't be paid out for a considerable amount of time.However, due to advances in bio medical sciences, life expectancy is shooting up at a phenomenal rate, where according to some publication(namely the Guardian)their are people being born now that could be living to 150 plus!The other societal trends that are beginning to emerge are the increasing number of people staying single longer and women having children later as they are more concerned with having careers than having babies and a greater emergence of same sex couples, has also meant that we are not producing enough people to continue to support those now reaching state pension age, who could well be living 20 plus years after they've reached retirement.So when I mentioned before about 5 people working for the retirement of one person, that has now dwindled down to about two and will continue to do so until something is drastically implemented to counteract this inevitable misfortune that many people who don't save for their retirements are going to face...basically poverty.You've probably noticed in the news that there has been an increasing number of immigrants coming into the united kingdom approx 650,000 due in part to the entry of a number of new countries to the EU.The reason for this change could well be because of the ageing population and the decrease in the national birth rate.The plan might be for these immigrants to contribute to the National Insurance and Income Tax system to help elleviate the financial strain the British government is currently under.

Answer 2

because people that are alive and HEALTHY for a longer period of time can work longer. That means a bigger workforce, and the longer someone stays healthy, the longer they can go without the public dole.

Fact is, the retirement age has not increased in pace with the extended typical life of people in modernized countries. Thats why the government is complaining.

It used to be that retirees got a pension to live out the last five or six years they were expected to live. Now, retirees at 65 are living for another 20, 30, even 40 years. So the amount of money required to keep supporting public programs has been steadily increasing. Sadly, the retirement age is due for a delay, perhaps to 70 or even 75.

Answer 3

I'm guessing you think that one part of the government is fully aware of what any of the other parts are doing... Have you ever heard the phrase: "The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing."? Well, trust, our government works in much the same way. It is split up into factions that will contradict each other left and right. THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE VOTE!!!

Do you? If you don't, then quit complaining. If you;re not old enough, please give it SERIOUS consideration.

Answer 4

When has the government complained that we are living longer? Of course we are becoming an ageing population but there are pros and cons to every situation. Lighten up and enjoy life!!!

Answer 5

Yes the government is worried - old people don't pay much tax and have to have pensions. Smokers should get a higher pension as they will not live as long as non-smokers but have paid more tax.

Answer 6

The idea is to make us be less healty so that we can buy all their nice expensive drugs to make us better....and just when our immune systems stop working due to the amount of antibiotics they've been pumping us up with, they'll come up with an even more expensive drug.

Answer 7

Show me where the government complained about us living longer, that I would like to see

Answer 8

What a good question!

Except that they'd probably like us healthier longer to get more taxes from us, instead of having to pay for our health care.

Answer 9

What?!!?
I have never heard "the government" or anything remotely associated with it say anything like that.
What the blazes are you talking about?
Are you from Mars?

Answer 10

Why do they spend that money on non-smoking programs, but still give subsidies to tobacco farmers?