4 ms·

Have we ever seen this happen to a drastic degree in recent times? If so, what happened? Who says that governments couldn't address a crisis, when they often in

Have we ever seen this happen to a drastic degree in recent times? If so, what happened? Who says that governments couldn't address a crisis, when they often involve themselves heavily in crises the economy, bailing out banks and so on. If a modern government can force every young person to to join the army for the ostensible "defense of the nation" (e.g. Israel) , why not force them to take care of old people?

pixl97 8y ago
>If a modern government can force every young person to to join the army. "Joining the army" and "Fighting a battle every day" are two different things. Most of the time armies are not doing anything. And when they are, it is a significant threat to ones continued existence, something humans are highly optimized to fight for. Keeping the old people alive has a few problems. First, if you take grandma to the roof and throw her off, it does not directly affect your continued existence (unless you consider law enforcement action, but we'll leave this out for now). In this case you are economically better having a geriatrics purge. Second, taking care of old people is insanely depressing. Throwing most people to these terrors is just going to increase the suicide rate in young people. Third, and separately, how does the government 'force'? Right, they take young men with guns and point said guns at the population. So you're telling me that the larger old population is going to vote to tell part of the young population to take guns, point them at the other young population and have them take care of the old one. Um, so you want to have a revolution, ya ya. Also, young (working age) people create wealth. Old people consume it. Where is this government going to get its tax dollars from?
- detcader 8y ago
  Good thing war and military culture is not depressing, alienating and suicide-inducing. The opportunity to help and care for other people is a great gift. Killing or culling individuals, populations... directly affects everyone's spiritual and mental existence.
  - pixl97 8y ago
    >The opportunity to help and care for other people is a great gift Which is why lots of people love the idea of pediatric care. You help them, they get better. You don't get better from old age. You deteriorate and die.
    - detcader 8y ago
      I should say that your previous comment has points I think are good ones! I just don't think it's a pie in the sky idea imagining a world where younger people can bring compassion, patience and kindness to an older population even as they deteriorate. I think increased technological complexity in life, the markets, and our current governments can not create, or exist in the same way in, such a world.

pixl97 8y ago

>If a modern government can force every young person to to join the army. "Joining the army" and "Fighting a battle every day" are two different things. Most of the time armies are not doing anything. And when they are, it is a significant threat to ones continued existence, something humans are highly optimized to fight for. Keeping the old people alive has a few problems. First, if you take grandma to the roof and throw her off, it does not directly affect your continued existence (unless you consider law enforcement action, but we'll leave this out for now). In this case you are economically better having a geriatrics purge. Second, taking care of old people is insanely depressing. Throwing most people to these terrors is just going to increase the suicide rate in young people. Third, and separately, how does the government 'force'? Right, they take young men with guns and point said guns at the population. So you're telling me that the larger old population is going to vote to tell part of the young population to take guns, point them at the other young population and have them take care of the old one. Um, so you want to have a revolution, ya ya. Also, young (working age) people create wealth. Old people consume it. Where is this government going to get its tax dollars from?

detcader 8y ago
Good thing war and military culture is not depressing, alienating and suicide-inducing. The opportunity to help and care for other people is a great gift. Killing or culling individuals, populations... directly affects everyone's spiritual and mental existence.
- pixl97 8y ago
  >The opportunity to help and care for other people is a great gift Which is why lots of people love the idea of pediatric care. You help them, they get better. You don't get better from old age. You deteriorate and die.
  - detcader 8y ago
    I should say that your previous comment has points I think are good ones! I just don't think it's a pie in the sky idea imagining a world where younger people can bring compassion, patience and kindness to an older population even as they deteriorate. I think increased technological complexity in life, the markets, and our current governments can not create, or exist in the same way in, such a world.