100 year life?

On Saturday the Financial Times carried a link to a new web page they are supporting urging everyone to plan for 100 year life. Do I want to do this?

My friends and I are currently keen to continue exploring death, the final act, and what this means for most of us. The rise of the Death Cafe movement worldwide shows that we are not alone in considering the final act, but the FT is wanting us to plan for the next act.

How many of us want to plan for the next act once we get to 70 +? 

Government may want us all to return to the workforce so that we aren't a burden on the State, but supposing we are just tired of living? What is being offered to us in that situation? 

Nothing.

This morning I read about David Goodall, and the misery he is enduring because humans are locked into the sanctity of life mind set. Just what are the legislators afraid of? That families will embark on mass killing off of their older members? This is surely a nonsense for the majority and if my family wanted me dead then I would probably be wanting to die. It would be sad indeed to be kept alive when those you thought loved you actually wanted you dead.

Nobody I've spoken to is suggesting that there should be a mandatory death sentence for older people, and for the many who find their final years an exciting, engaging and fulfilling time of pleasure and achievements we wish them nothing but continued happiness. But for those who struggle with physical and mental degradation on a daily basis, who cannot achieve even a bowel movement without assistance, who suffer the indignity and humiliation of regressing to a helpless child like state life is no longer a blessing. The decision to end our lives should be ours, and ours alone, but too often we wait too long and because the State will not offer us assistance we come to the point where we want to exit, but we no longer have the capacity.

Keeping an aged friend or relative alive when they would rather be dead is cruel and as a society we could do better. We could offer an exit from this life that is planned, gentle and dignified. 

Why not?

Maybe the profits made by pharmaceutical companies and care institutions offer us an answer. The costs of keeping people alive who don't wish to be alive is, in many cases shifted to the State, so the tax payer must pay, but the profits continue to deliver to the supporting industries.

Is this humane?