Gerontocracy: The debate over aging politicians at Capitol Hill

The recent passing of Senator Lindsey Graham and the prolonged illness of 84-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell have intensified discussions in the United States about whether the country has devolved into a gerontocracy. Even Graham, at 71, was not among the oldest members of the Senate, where images of elderly senators dozing off during sessions are not uncommon.

The average age of US citizens is 39, while the average age for senators is 64 and for House representatives is 57. Law historian Samuel Moyn of Yale University criticizes the increasing aging of the political, economic, and academic elite. In his book, "Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Accumulate Power and Wealth – and What to Do About It," Moyn argues that the problem is not just the physical and mental decline of older politicians but their representation of an aging electorate that controls the political system.

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Much more important is that they represent an aging electorate that controls the political system. They also reflect the dominance that older generations have over private forms of power, namely wealth. Older US citizens have the fattest bank accounts and largest stock portfolios in their hands.

Moyn also points out that older generations' dominance extends to private power, particularly wealth, as older US citizens hold the largest bank accounts and stock portfolios. He laments that the prevalence of elderly politicians discourages younger generations from political participation, leading them to question the credibility of their votes and even the political system itself.

While demographic shifts impacting power dynamics are not unique to the US, with declining birth rates and rising life expectancies affecting many developed nations, Moyn emphasizes the specific consequences in America. The aging of society poses financial stability risks to welfare states due to rising pension and healthcare costs. He suggests that the interests of older populations actively resist changes that might benefit younger generations.

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The older the politicians, the less credible the idea that their votes really matter to younger people. They might even start to doubt the political system altogether and abandon it.