The New York Times Sunday (October 17th) Magazine includes an article entitled "The Old World" (see link above and below) that mentions some of the problems countries face when the population gets older. After reading the article comment about China's strategy and present your opinion. Be ready to disduss this in class.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/magazine/17Aging-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Armando Sevilla
ReplyDeleteIn the article As Populations Age, a Chance for Younger Nations, the author Ted Fishman tells us that by 2018, 65 year-olds will outnumber those under 5. Meaning that the age mixture of the world is turning upside down and the majority of the earth’s population will be elderly. Of course this means a drastic change in the way we live, how we form relationships and how business is done all over the world. However, there is one point the author makes that strikes me as morally wrong. Fishman states, “The high costs of keeping our aging population healthy and out of poverty has caused the United States and other rich democracies to lose their economic and political footing. Countries on the rise amass wealth and geopolitical clout by refusing to bear those costs.” “Refusing to bear those costs” by those costs they mean the expenditures it takes to keep and maintain retirees and the elderly. In my opinion, it is morally wrong and should be outright illegal to force the elderly into poverty just for a country’s greed and eagerness to amass wealth. Fishman also tells us, “One of China’s biggest fears, expressed repeatedly in public pronouncements, is that it will grow old before it grows rich.” Since the number of people over 65 will rise to 300 million by 2050 in China they are worried that the industrialization, wealth and political foothold they have in the international business world will be brought down by their increasing elderly population. To avoid this fate China gives their workers little to no pensions and the vast majority of the elderly has only their meager savings to live on for the rest of their days. In doing so, China has no commitment whatsoever in providing for the elderly now or in the future. Compare this to developed countries like the United States where older workers have long tenures, are at the peak in terms of pay and benefits plus pensions; as well as social security and Medicare, and they have the option to opt out and save in a private retirement fund. In fifty years when it is my turn to retire I will have sufficient means to live comfortably, although it may take some told on the county overall. I say this with no reservation because if it wasn’t for the work and hours put in by all young and old a county would not prosper, grow or achieve recognition and a relatively easy and comfortable retirement is what every citizen should have once they are too old to work any more.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis article was well written and full of facts. I honestly learned a lot of statistics and figures about the populations dispersion in terms of age variance in a few popular counrties. The message of the article I suppose was to inform readers about the affect of age on any economy. I would like to believe that what author Ted Fishman was doing was doing propogating select repopulation. This however is a terrible conspiracy theory of mine and may not be worth devulging. The author ended with this statement: "If we understand how aging populations and economic forces interact, perhaps we can make the most of our age and our youth." I believe this to be the most compelling arguement of the story.
ReplyDeleteI believe that China is mishandling this situation. It is immorally wrong to put the older people aside and for the young to take their positions away. When they had work extremely hard to get where they are. China is just pushing them into the rural places and denying meaningful pensions and health care to its people. China is acting like old people don't exist and is making them to die faster, because most of those old people are going to become poor and would not be able to survive for long. I accept the fact that we have more old people than young people. But that is a problem we had created. China needs to stop been selfish and start thinking of ways to help the older people. Old people are not useless. People used to say that old people are wiser than young people, and I think that is true. They could give us great advices to become successful in life.
ReplyDeleteThis article clearly outlined the challenges we face as the population ages. I see the reality of this affecting me directly. Now I will listen intensly when politicians discuss social security and their suggestion to protect it for our future. China has done a great job in capitalizing on the situation, and though many frown on the outsourcing of jobs now, the situation is only going to get worst. Hope the united states can come up with a working model on sustain the programs we have in place. I dont see the traditiona of 2.5 children changing anytime soon, as a matter of fact, I believe the author, Mr Ted Fishman is right, in saying, it will continue to contribute to the problem. This article was an enjoyable read.
ReplyDelete