Thats not true in our western culture.
Old farts are an expensive burden on the health system.
Plus they hoard wealth (property) while the young increasingly go without.
This current batch of old people, the boomers, have had it especially good over the last 50 years, no generation has ever been so lucky.
Old farts have earned that right to be expensive on the health system that's
poorly managed (reason why its a burden). In fact, in some sub-cultures within western culture...elderly are no more a burden on the health system as the young mainly because they are well respected and cared for by their younger generation. For example...Indigenous Americans.
By the way, I was raised in "western culture"...the term
"elder" has a special meaning within my culture...far beyond just being old. An elder has a symbolic connection to the past, and for their knowledge of traditional ways, teachings, stories and ceremonies.
Also,
never underestimate disease...they adapt very easily and often quickly. After many of the old become sick or die, whom do you think disease will turn to next ?
Thus, there's many sides to the equation. The most important side is
disease itself.
For example, look at the history of the
Measles. Health systems almost eradicated it but its been slowly making a comeback via the young transmitting it to those
much younger. It's during the crisis of the Measles when the term herd immunity was coined.
Those small bacteria / viruses are more of a survivor than humans.
wrbtrader
