Japan does NOT have a population timebomb

Honestly, there are scare tactics at the moment highlighting the fact that the Japanese population is in decline as a result of its very low birthrates. However, the reason for this is the post war baby boom when families would have 10 or more children. So, the population timebomb is not a timebomb but a return to reason. Japan is a small, mountainous country with a population of 123 million squeezed into the flat habitable lands along or near the coasts.

I would argue that the expected dramatic fall in population in Japan is a very positive thing. Go to Japan - admire its beauty, and gasp at the sheer crush of people. There are far too many people in Japan, and I think the best direction the population can go in is down. The so-called timebomb is the problem with taxation - i.e. how will they pay the pensions of all the old people. Clearly there will be a transition period of a generation or more when things are going to be more difficult, but there are things that can be done:

Increase the price of cigarettes by 500% to be staggered over a decade. In Japan cigarettes are no more expensive than sweets and they are smoked constantly for there is no financial reason not to. This is revolting and unpleasant for the majority of people who don't have their lives controlled by cancerous weed. It might ween some dozy prats off the habit at the same time as helping to pay for cancer treatment.

Increase taxes on alcohol.

Increase petrol tax - petrol in Japan is far cheaper than in Europe.

Increase the retirement age from 60 to 65 or even 67. Japanese people are not much past their prime when they are asked to retire, which is frankly absurd. How can a country continue to pay people for 25 years of retirement, on average.

Increase immigration, in a controlled way.

Increase taxes, especially on things which are bad for us, such as fast food.

Increase taxes on air travel, and pump that money into renewable resources.

Increase people's awareness that it is them, not simply the state, who is in charge of their lives, including their ability to save for their retirement.

If in 50 years there are 25 million less Japanese then it will be a far more pleasant place to live. It will also go some way to being more prepared for the catastrophic climate change that is already upon us. Timebomb my arse. Here's to reason descending upon us.

Another religious lunatic bites the dust

So a female Jehovah's witness signed a form refusing a blood transfusion shortly before giving birth to twins, then died from a loss of blood. My first point would be: it doesn't mention blood transfusions in the bible because they didn't exist at that time. It does say that you shouldn't ingest blood - which is different as they clearly were trying to ween certain people off blood sucking, right?

It also said in the bible that slavery was OK, but you wouldn't accept that in the modern world, would you? Apparently hospitals now have to have Jehovah's Witness liaison people in times like this. I think we'd be better off simply calling them murderers.

Still, I hope they're happy now that they got what they wanted. And good luck to the father in rearing those children on his own.