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Ask HN: Why don't governments handle funeral arrangements instead of families?

4 points by amichail 3y ago

Wouldn't most people want to save their family the trouble and expense and just have the government take care of their funeral arrangements according to their wishes?

seydor 3y ago
the state treats everyone equally, so no "according to their wishes" But i m sure if nobody is interested in the body, a standard burial does take place.
- amichail 3y ago
  Maybe the government could offer several popular funeral arrangement options that you can choose from.
pmontra 3y ago
What happens if nobody pay for the funeral?
- amichail 3y ago
  The government would use tax payer money for it.
spondylosaurus 3y ago
Funerals are generally for the benefit of the living, no? Subsidizing the cost would be one thing—modern funeral expenses, at least in America, can get truly bananas—but taking over the arrangements themselves might deprive the dead's loved ones of a chance to hold specific religious rites, serve a meal with personal significance, choose a meaningful engraving for the headstone (and find a particular plot of land for them to come visit it later), and so on. Rather than a burden on your loved ones, think of it as a chance for them all to say goodbye and share how much they're going to miss you!
- amichail 3y ago
  Maybe your loved ones don't want anything to do with funerals though.
vba616 3y ago
Can you be more specific about which governments, as I think that the governments of most English speaking countries do handle funeral arrangements where necessary, and it's not limited to them but a fairly ancient practice. I don't live in the UK, but the BBC is always a good source, compared to Wikipedia anyway: "National assistance funerals, as they are known, are carried out by local authorities for people who die alone or with relatives who are not able to pay." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37999757 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37999757 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauper%27s_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauper%27s_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter%27s_field https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter%27s_field

4 points by amichail 3y ago

Wouldn't most people want to save their family the trouble and expense and just have the government take care of their funeral arrangements according to their wishes?

seydor 3y ago

the state treats everyone equally, so no "according to their wishes" But i m sure if nobody is interested in the body, a standard burial does take place.

amichail 3y ago
Maybe the government could offer several popular funeral arrangement options that you can choose from.

pmontra 3y ago

What happens if nobody pay for the funeral?

amichail 3y ago
The government would use tax payer money for it.

spondylosaurus 3y ago

Funerals are generally for the benefit of the living, no? Subsidizing the cost would be one thing—modern funeral expenses, at least in America, can get truly bananas—but taking over the arrangements themselves might deprive the dead's loved ones of a chance to hold specific religious rites, serve a meal with personal significance, choose a meaningful engraving for the headstone (and find a particular plot of land for them to come visit it later), and so on. Rather than a burden on your loved ones, think of it as a chance for them all to say goodbye and share how much they're going to miss you!

amichail 3y ago
Maybe your loved ones don't want anything to do with funerals though.

vba616 3y ago

Can you be more specific about which governments, as I think that the governments of most English speaking countries do handle funeral arrangements where necessary, and it's not limited to them but a fairly ancient practice. I don't live in the UK, but the BBC is always a good source, compared to Wikipedia anyway: "National assistance funerals, as they are known, are carried out by local authorities for people who die alone or with relatives who are not able to pay." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37999757 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-37999757 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauper%27s_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauper%27s_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_funeral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter%27s_field https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter%27s_field