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If immigration stopped, we'd have quite a different problem, and one that looks like Japan and China and most of Europe: namely, an ageing population with no en

If immigration stopped, we'd have quite a different problem, and one that looks like Japan and China and most of Europe: namely, an ageing population with no end in sight. The welfare state problems would be exacerbated.

mafribe 10y ago
Why is an aging population a problem? Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. If a young population was such a great thing, why are Chad, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Zambiam Malawi, Mali, Uganda, Niger all such basket cases? The only real problem with an aging population is the pension system. This problem can easily be solved by raising the age of retirement.
- madgar 10y ago
  > Why is an aging population a problem? Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. Older people can be just as selfish as young people. Relevant Brexit quote [0]: > Woman on Radio 4 who voted Leave. "I'm pleased. Don't think it'll effect us cause we're elderly. For the young people I'm not sure." That doesn't sound experienced or wise - actually, if anything it seems recklessly selfish and bordering on intergenerational violence. > The only real problem with an aging population is the pension system. This problem can easily be solved by raising the age of retirement. How exactly is that solution "easy" if all those old people vote consistently to keep the retirement age where it is? Older folks are the single most reliable constituency in America on election day. I personally think the story behind all of this is the growing divide between young and old voters. IMO our aging population is indeed more experienced and wiser... when it comes to stacking the deck in their favor and keeping their awful policies from being reversed. Which generation(s) have a problem with LGBT people? Which generation sold $1T in debt to its children and erected unprecedented barriers to discharging that debt? Which generation started the War on Drugs and refuses to admit to its failure, or even really fix the embarrassingly racist details like mandatory minimums? Which generation tells which generation that they can't possibly earn more than $7.25/hour, and which generation pours wealth into elections so they can maintain that status quo? [0] https://twitter.com/GameofThrowIns/status/746326764570427392 https://twitter.com/GameofThrowIns/status/746326764570427392
- orf 10y ago
  > Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. Great! I'm sure they wouldn't mind manning the tills, stocking shelves or driving buses. The type of work you generally do (and can do) changes with your ages. The older generation can't or won't do jobs the younger generation does, which leads to pressure on services which rely on those people. You don't see many 70 year old nurses.

mafribe 10y ago

Why is an aging population a problem? Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. If a young population was such a great thing, why are Chad, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Zambiam Malawi, Mali, Uganda, Niger all such basket cases? The only real problem with an aging population is the pension system. This problem can easily be solved by raising the age of retirement.

madgar 10y ago
> Why is an aging population a problem? Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. Older people can be just as selfish as young people. Relevant Brexit quote [0]: > Woman on Radio 4 who voted Leave. "I'm pleased. Don't think it'll effect us cause we're elderly. For the young people I'm not sure." That doesn't sound experienced or wise - actually, if anything it seems recklessly selfish and bordering on intergenerational violence. > The only real problem with an aging population is the pension system. This problem can easily be solved by raising the age of retirement. How exactly is that solution "easy" if all those old people vote consistently to keep the retirement age where it is? Older folks are the single most reliable constituency in America on election day. I personally think the story behind all of this is the growing divide between young and old voters. IMO our aging population is indeed more experienced and wiser... when it comes to stacking the deck in their favor and keeping their awful policies from being reversed. Which generation(s) have a problem with LGBT people? Which generation sold $1T in debt to its children and erected unprecedented barriers to discharging that debt? Which generation started the War on Drugs and refuses to admit to its failure, or even really fix the embarrassingly racist details like mandatory minimums? Which generation tells which generation that they can't possibly earn more than $7.25/hour, and which generation pours wealth into elections so they can maintain that status quo? [0] https://twitter.com/GameofThrowIns/status/746326764570427392 https://twitter.com/GameofThrowIns/status/746326764570427392
orf 10y ago
> Older people are more experienced, wiser, and less likely to be violent. Great! I'm sure they wouldn't mind manning the tills, stocking shelves or driving buses. The type of work you generally do (and can do) changes with your ages. The older generation can't or won't do jobs the younger generation does, which leads to pressure on services which rely on those people. You don't see many 70 year old nurses.