Old People - Are They Necessary??
By WSPC on Jun 25, 2007 in Health
I was watching what I would describe as disturbing commentary on one of those current affairs type programs on TV.
The Minister for Health in NSW was saying “Old people take up 80% of hospital bed space”.
This is only a smattering of what else was said, bear with me here, there is a common thread of thought coming.
The next item was how old people are costing employers millions of dollars because employees are taking time off to look after their elderly parents when they are ill or are recovering from operations etc.
My concern is that the thread of thought that is being subconsciously planted is that old people are a burden on society and they are costing (it’s always about the mighty dollar) the economy, the taxpayer and employers vast sums of money to keep them alive.
It all sounds innocuous at the start but the underlying theme is that old people are using up all the health resources and maybe it’s a problem we need to deal with. If a thought is promoted long enough it starts people thinking of solutions that may not be in the best interest of the elderly.
I may be over reacting but I have seen ideas promoted in the past that lead ordinary decent citizens taking a stand that is morally and ethically reprehensible. The media needs to be more responsible in its reporting and show more objectivity in it’s presentation.
How about promoting how these people require society to look after them now that they are infirm, they have generally worked and paid taxes all their lives. the government should be providing more aged care facilities allowing the aged to live out their lives in dignity. Facilities where they are encouraged to participate in activities and not just drugged up to keep them quiet and docile.
Nia | Jul 3, 2007 | Reply
old people are a grouping of the past i believe. we are living longer, and now can work till we are ,..wait for it 75, simply because we are as a population in better health than previous generations. You always said when it came time to retire they would ( the government) make it out of your reach and you would have to keep working probably till you expired on the spot at your computer in the middle of a morning tea to bid you a peacful and fulfilling retirement.
I think Soylent green is as close as gaticka is as close as australia card and the bird flu pandemic, feel more at ease now?
If yo oldies would retire , a whole heap of jobs would become available, can’t guarantee maintaining the integrity of your original concepts being maintained as most of the language used today is written in broken /pidgin / text/sms script, but that just adds to the diverse fragmented society we now live in alleighlooya viva la difference.
c’mon now, untill we get pollies who have elderly rellies and have to consider their care, the world is not going to change, and besides gotta blame someone, may as well be the most vulnerable of our society.
love your blog, always something interesting thought provoking and entertaining.
WSPC | Jul 24, 2007 | Reply
Fortunately I have found an interest in Affiliate Marketing, so I now work for myself and if I topple over at my desk, it will be doing something I love.
My Government job is up for grabs to the next generation who are welcome to the long hours and beurocratic bull…t.
My life is in a great place now, and as Buzz Lightyear would say “To infinity and beyond.” There are no boundries.
Just as long as they don’t need green biscuits to feed the populace.