Ageing Population

globalcookie · 29-12-2014, 01:38 PM

Japan's generation gap 'a cautionary tale for Singapore': PM Lee
POSTED: 29 Dec 2014 11:46

SINGAPORE: The generation gap in Japan, which has reportedly led to increasing friction between the young and the old, serves as a "cautionary tale for Singapore", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday (Dec 29).

"We must take care of each other and not let this happen here," wrote Mr Lee on Facebook.

The Singapore Prime Minister was commenting on a Japan Times article, "Generations square off in a battle for the ages".

Mr Lee noted that the proportion of Singaporeans aged 65 or older had increased to 1 in 8 this year - up from 1 in 9 last year, though still some way off Japan's 1 in 4.

"It is a cautionary tale for Singapore. Like Japan, we are a rapidly ageing society," he wrote on Facebook. "Japan's young are unhappy they have to pay for pensions and medical care for the old, at the expense of their own financial security. Meanwhile, the old bristle that the young are uncaring and ungrateful.

"Japan is renowned for its social cohesion and community mindedness. Yet the article tells of the elderly hogging seats on trains and cutting in line at supermarkets. We must take care of each other and not let this happen here."

The Japan Times article had highlighted how the younger generation in Japan felt that the elderly had "no respect for others' rights or needs" and were leeching off working taxpayers.

"Should the young respect the elderly, pity them, or gnash their teeth at them? Sometimes different generations can seem almost like different species, shaped by environments so different as to almost seem like different planets," the Japan Times reported.

- CNA/es

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Given that such topics will run into political discussion thus I post it here in Sg Politics subforum.

Greying population is a major issue developed nations faced. During baby boom period of the early stage of transition from undevelop to developing nation status, and the declining child birth during the mid-late developing nation status, it is almost an unavoidable problem faced by many nations.

China wll face a even bigger problem in the next 20-30yrs or so, given their 1 child policy (since 1979) hitting them hard then.

29-12-2014, 01:38 PM	#1
globalcookie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,446	Ageing Population Japan's generation gap 'a cautionary tale for Singapore': PM Lee POSTED: 29 Dec 2014 11:46 SINGAPORE: The generation gap in Japan, which has reportedly led to increasing friction between the young and the old, serves as a "cautionary tale for Singapore", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday (Dec 29). "We must take care of each other and not let this happen here," wrote Mr Lee on Facebook. The Singapore Prime Minister was commenting on a Japan Times article, "Generations square off in a battle for the ages". Mr Lee noted that the proportion of Singaporeans aged 65 or older had increased to 1 in 8 this year - up from 1 in 9 last year, though still some way off Japan's 1 in 4. "It is a cautionary tale for Singapore. Like Japan, we are a rapidly ageing society," he wrote on Facebook. "Japan's young are unhappy they have to pay for pensions and medical care for the old, at the expense of their own financial security. Meanwhile, the old bristle that the young are uncaring and ungrateful. "Japan is renowned for its social cohesion and community mindedness. Yet the article tells of the elderly hogging seats on trains and cutting in line at supermarkets. We must take care of each other and not let this happen here." The Japan Times article had highlighted how the younger generation in Japan felt that the elderly had "no respect for others' rights or needs" and were leeching off working taxpayers. "Should the young respect the elderly, pity them, or gnash their teeth at them? Sometimes different generations can seem almost like different species, shaped by environments so different as to almost seem like different planets," the Japan Times reported. - CNA/es -------------------- Given that such topics will run into political discussion thus I post it here in Sg Politics subforum. Greying population is a major issue developed nations faced. During baby boom period of the early stage of transition from undevelop to developing nation status, and the declining child birth during the mid-late developing nation status, it is almost an unavoidable problem faced by many nations. China wll face a even bigger problem in the next 20-30yrs or so, given their 1 child policy (since 1979) hitting them hard then.

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