The Demographic Time-Bomb. My Encounters with the Police.

The Demographic Time-Bomb

One of the most serious issues facing developed countries today is the demographic time-bomb that has started to hit us.

In most developed countries today, average life expectancy is 80 to 85.

Across the world:

In 1900 it was 32

In 1950 it was 47

Today it's around 73

What that means is that we have more old people and fewer young people. And that's a huge problem: not enough money to pay state pensions, lack of healthcare resources, lack of people available to work, extra tax burden on young people, etc etc. The problem really is massive and it requires big unpopular change to address it. But guess what: it was not an election issue in either the UK or France in the July elections and it is mostly ignored everywhere.

Our governments continue to ignore it for someone to deal with later. Look at fertility rates:

The only solutions, if we want to attempt to maintain our standards of living are attracting more young people and upping retirement ages. That means more immigration (incentives to increase fertility have always failed) and encouraging older people to keep working longer. Good luck with those! And the longer we ignore it, the worse it gets.

The Four times I have been stopped by the Police

I can remember four occasions when I have been stopped by the Police

1. When I was about 13 years old outside my house

I returned home but didn't have my house keys. A Policeman just happened to be passing and thought my behaviour - loitering outside my house - looked suspicious. He asked me for an explanation and then to accompany him down to the Station but I refused. I told him I was going round to the back garden and would wait for my parents to return there. He wandered off... 

2. As a University student when I was driving my car with friends in Manchester

I drove my car with a few friends to an abandoned building site in the city centre. We took turns driving my car and were having a lot of fun. The Police turned up and questioned us. As the car wasn't stolen and it was private land they left us alone.

3. On my way to work when I was exceeding the speed limit

I got stuck in some really bad traffic and was late for work. I tried to make up a bit by going too fast when I was free of the traffic. I got pulled over by the Police who gave me a warning, but no fine.

4. In Oxford with blue flashing lights - they thought my tax disc was out of date.

I was in a traffic jam in Oxford city centre and all of a sudden everyone started pulling to the side to allow a police car with a siren and flashing lights to pass. I was very surprised when it pulled up alongside me and accused me of having an out of date tax disc. In fact I had recently renewed my car tax and the policemen didn't recognise the new colour. They assumed it was an old one. When I politely explained their mistake they just turned around and walked away. No apology, nothing.

Quote for the Month

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” — Margaret Thatcher