Joe Biden, Diane Feinstein, Mitch Mcconell, Nancy Pelosi-what do all of these politicians have in common? They are old. Biden, 80. Feinstein, 89. Mcconell, 81, and Pelosi 83. In fact, most prominent politicians in Washington D.C. are…old. In a representative democracy where nearly 50% of the population falls under 40 years old, the question naturally arises: why are so many elected officials so much older than their constituents?
There are two ways of looking at this question. First, elderly people vote more; a lot more. According to the U.S. census bureau data, in 2016, nearly 71 percent of Americans over the age of 65 voted, compared to only 46 percent of 18-29 year olds. Motivated by Social Security and Medicare benefits, elderly people represent an electoral force. As a result, older politicians, who lobby for elderly benefits, are voted into office. Conversely, younger politicians, who lobby for legislation that might take money away from elderly Americans—such as improved infrastructure, immigration reform, and so forth—are often denied at the polls because of their weak, young constituency base. Since older individuals tend to vote more, they have a stronger voice in Washington D.C. Thus, while younger eligible voters (18-64 years old) make up nearly 61% of the population, they are a minority voice in Washington D.C.
Moreover, this problem looks to get worse in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as a result of falling birth rates and longer life spans, for the first time in American history, elderly adults are predicted to outnumber kids. In coming years, the old-person lobby will grow stronger in D.C., buoyed by a stronger constituency base. Consequently, spending on Social Security, Medicare, and other elderly expenses will continue to grow, and dominate the American budget, even if they are not economically sustainable. “Gray America” already dominates American politics. What will happen when “Gray America” outnumbers everyone else?