Geritocracy: How Age Is Hijacking America’s Tomorrow

Sorry, Boomers?

Photo by Samuel Branch on Unsplash

If democracy were a stock, the analysts would be shouting “sell!” on cable news, as America’s controlling shareholders—let’s call them the Geritocracy—keep making decisions that prioritize short-term gains over long-term prosperity. It’s a classic case of mismanagement, where the C-suite (a.k.a., Congress) is packed with folks who remember Woodstock more vividly than they remember their own passwords. This isn’t merely a quirk of democracy; it’s a bug that’s morphing into a feature. And it’s a feature that’s slowly throttling the innovation and vitality out of the American Dream.

The Age of the Aged

Let’s lay down some numbers because, unlike my hairline, they don’t lie. The average age of the current U.S. Congress is around 60, the oldest in history. For context, when the U.S. was founded, the average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was 44. Today’s gerontocratic leanings aren’t just a political anomaly; they reflect a broader societal embrace of experience over youth—at all costs.

Why does this matter? Because legislative lumbago isn’t just a metaphor. It translates into policies that are more about preserving the status quo than breaking new ground. Think less moonshot, more musket shot. We’re legislating with an eye on the rearview mirror, focusing on maintaining systems that were designed for a world where rotary phones were revolutionary technology.

Economic Stagnation by Geritocracy

The economic implications are as stark as they are stifling. A gerontocracy tends to protect its own interests. This means policies that favor wealth preservation over wealth creation. Think tax breaks for capital gains, robust pensions, and healthcare benefits that favor the elderly. Meanwhile, younger generations face stagnant wages, exorbitant education costs, and a housing market as accessible as a nightclub’s VIP section.

The result? A throttled economy where innovation takes a backseat to preservation. The startups that should spearhead growth are often suffocated in the crib by regulations designed to protect legacy industries. It’s like telling Usain Bolt to run a race in ski boots.

Social and Political Polarization

On the social front, geritocracy fosters polarization. With older generations holding most political offices, there’s a disconnect in representation. Issues that resonate with younger voters—climate change, gun control, student debt—are treated like background noise, while debates about social security and Medicare get headline billing.

This isn’t just a failure of representation; it’s a catalyst for resentment. Younger Americans, feeling unheard, are more likely to disengage from the democratic process or swing towards radical solutions and populist candidates. In contrast, older voters, seeing their interests catered to, consolidate their grip on power by turning out in droves at the polls.

A Prescription for Change

So, what’s the remedy to this gerontocratic grip? Term limits might be a start. Injecting fresh blood could stop the legislative sclerosis that’s setting in. We also need to rethink electoral structures that disproportionately empower older, rural voters—like the Senate and the Electoral College.

Beyond politics, we need an economic and educational overhaul. Policies that facilitate entrepreneurship, lower barriers to home ownership, and make education both accessible and relevant to today’s economy could reinvigorate the workforce and unleash a wave of innovation.

The Bottom Line

Running a country like a geritocracy makes as much sense as running Apple like a typewriter company. It’s not just about being unfair to younger generations; it’s about hamstringing America’s capacity to innovate and compete on a global stage. If we don’t reboot the system, the future of American democracy isn’t just bleak; it’s yesterday’s news.

America needs to get out of the business of venerating age at the expense of agility. It’s time to retire the retirement home approach to governance and reinvest in the raw, kinetic energy of youth. If we can do that, maybe democracy’s stock will once again be on the rise. Otherwise, we’re just arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, blissfully unaware that the iceberg is age, not ice.