Japan Official: Sick Old Folks Should 'Hurry Up and Die'

And the award for compassion showed by a politician when talking about a touchy issue goes to Japan finance minister Taro Aso. While addressing the heavy state costs of medical care for the elderly, he said:

• "I would wake up feeling increasingly bad knowing that [treatment] was all being paid for by the government. The problem won't be solved unless you let them hurry up and die."
• He also referred to elderly people who can't feed themselves as "tube people."

The 72-year-old later tried to clarify that he was talking about his own personal preferences on end-of-life care, reports the Guardian. "It is important that you be able spend the final days of your life peacefully." (More Taro Aso stories.)