"And yet our governments, no matter who is fronting the "political class," fails to insure adequate, timely medical relief for everyone of their constituents. Why is that?"

Can only speak for Sweden but if I understand political statement over the past 20 years: basically old people (70+) are a luxury we can no longer afford. Several problems will be fixed at once - lack of care and facilities for the eldelry, housing crisis, unnecessary strain on health care by the nonproductive.

Former minister of finance Per Nuder in 2004 referred to people born in the 40s as "köttberget" - the beef mountain. (As in Butter Mountain.)