Japan Press Weekly

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2024 October 16 - 22 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Society where elderly people are discarded has no hope

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The ruling parties and several opposition parties are calling for more cutbacks in social security benefits for the elderly, claiming that the burden of social services is disproportionately placed on the working-age generations.

The ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties are aiming to increase the number of elderly people aged 75 and over who must pay a 30% share of the burden for medical care costs. The “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party is advocating a 30% share for the elderly as a whole in order to curb their medical visits. The Democratic Party for the People is even calling for the legalization of death with dignity by reviewing the existing terminal-care guidelines in order to hold down medical costs. The “Ishin” party is also proposing to legislate death with dignity. What they are suggesting is the same as saying, “Don’t spend money on care for the elderly.”

It is only natural for everyone to get sick more often as they get older. Japan is a country with economic prosperity by global standards, yet it is a country where people when becoming old cannot see a doctor without a sufficient amount of money. Can a society where people are made responsible for whether they can fulfill their lives with dignity be called a society with hope?

They claim that “the elderly are being given preferential treatment.” However, the majority of elderly people have already been discouraged from visiting doctors because of the continuous cutbacks in public pension, healthcare, and nursing-care programs. The elderly are not being given any preferential treatment at all.

Huge wealth inequality exists in Japan. The tax burden rate goes down for an annual income exceeding 100 million yen. It is the “ultrarich” who receive preferential tax treatment. The reason why they are fomenting a generational divide by singling out the elderly is to turn the public’s attention away from this point. It is the disparity between the superrich and the general public that needs to be addressed.

Increases in the burdens and reductions in the benefits for the elderly will further promote the “self-responsibility” notion and will ultimately lead to curtailment of the overall public burden on social security services, including education, for all generations. For the younger generation, this could lead to just bearing the burden during their working years and not being able to receive necessary services when they get old.

The way for all generations to live decently is to put an end to preferential treatment for large corporations and the rich as well as to the planned major arms buildup in order to improve public spending on social services.