Who could possibly defend a “dementia tax”? That term was coined by opponents of British Prime Minister Theresa May. It refers to her proposal to have older people pay for more of their care. In the fallout, Ms. May’s Conservative Party has seen its lead shrink ahead of June elections, according to polls. 

British voters will best judge May’s ideas, but the apocalyptical nickname game doesn’t help. The same thing happened in the United States – but in the opposite political direction – when President Barack Obama was accused of creating “death panels.”

Scaring voters about health-care reforms is easy. Solving the actual problem is much harder: Aging populations in the West are putting a financial strain on health care. Playing on voters’ fears only makes it harder to create an atmosphere where the best ideas – from left and right – can come to the surface. 

And now, here are our five stories for today.