Len GreenJourneyman
Posts : 826
Joined: 31 JAN 2012
Location: IL
Status : Offline | It seems that the oldest person (woman) in Europe has just died - AGED 114 !
People in the developed countries are living much longer - probably the advances in medical & health services.
When I was born (January 1925) to reach my age with tolerable health (apart from eyes & minor age-probs) would have classed me as a REALLY ancient crone. Today a fair number of my friends & acquaintances are well into their 90's and most are "with it".
On the other hand, very many others have passed away already - unfortunately.
Incidentally I think that this is causing economic problems - which I guess are likely to increase !!!
On the one hand there are more & more elderly and old people who are no longer productive (most on expensive pensions)and have need of more & more expensive health care - and at the same time due to various circumstances, less & less children are being born (in my youth, 8 children or so was common - today, 1, 2, or 3 I believe is the norm. In most (maybe all) 'advanced' countries the AVERAGE "replacement rate" is well below the 2.1 children per couple !!
I wonder what this means for our grandchildren & great grand chilren etc. ???
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The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour:-
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
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