Sorry, I know this is completely off topic but I am interested what people here think about this.
Why is it socially acceptable to make a decision to end our pets suffering and not end our own? I have watched news stories about people who have terminal diseases who do not have the option to end their suffering. Some have moved to Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal, because they decided they would rather end their suffering now rather than endure what their crippling disease will bring them.
I am a centrist, but lean far too the left on this one. We should be able to decide for ourselves if we want to end our life. No ifs ands or buts about it.
Like you it has always bothered me.
Who gives us the right to make a final decision for others - animals or humans.
Well, we can't read the mind of an animal, but like with humans: some are determined to life till the last breath no matter what, others want to be relieved.
But humans can tell what they want.
The problem is, that some, now voluntarly and even longed actions, might be some day something forced - by law or social pressure.
There is a Star Trek epidsode with a society in which everyone has to die with 60 no matter how healty and fit some is (in Logan's run it is even 30), and the scientist who was also affected by this was absolutely fine with this tradition, but the love interest - I can't remember if Dr. Crusher or Troi's mother - reacted with our social frame of references (Bezugsrahmen) and was shocked and tried to convinced him otherwise while the authorities but also the family were in disbelief why he wasn't coming for his farewell ceremony. In the end he choosed for his people and his family and died.
That was a Sci-Fi episode - intelleigent and with a profound idea. That's why TNG was and is my favourite Star Trek show.
Anyway:
What if one day we are supposed to end our lives for the benefit of the greater good (and I'm sure the rich will find a way to claim their importance and grant themselves - as a group - an extension)?
We are all getting older and the medical progress continues. But both is dramatically increasing the cost for pensions and health care. Up to 80% of all health care cost for a human are accumulated in its final two years. The reason for this is either the need for a 24/7 care (Alzheimer etc. pp.) - at home or at a retirement home - and very expensives therapies - mostly cancer. The older we get, the more likelier that we will get cancer. By now it is like flipping a coin. Every second of us will sooner or later get cancer, and for many it will be the cause of their death after a long and expensive struggle.
By now the politics (and companies) tries to lift the entrance age for the pension and thin-out the service catalog of the health care insurance.
?