WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF GERONTOCRACY
THE OLD GRAY MARE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE OR IS SHE
Welcome to the United States of Gerontocracy, where the old gray mare ain't what she used to be. We have a government run by old people, and I'm not talking about the wise and experienced kind. No, I'm talking about the kind that still uses AOL and thinks Facebook is a newspaper.
Our President is 79 years old, which means he was born before the invention of sliced bread. And don't even get me started on the U.S. Senate, where the average age is 62. These guys are so old, they probably think TikTok is a clock that only tells time in seconds.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But wait, isn't age just a number?" Well, sure, if that number is 21 and you're trying to buy alcohol. But when it comes to running a country, age can be a real problem.
Older people may have experience and wisdom, but they also have a tendency to be set in their ways. It's like trying to teach an old dog new tricks, except the dog has access to nuclear codes. And let's not forget that as we age, our physical and mental abilities decline. I mean, have you seen Joe Biden try to climb stairs?
But why is our government so old? One reason is that people are living longer. And I'm not just talking about politicians who refuse to retire. Thanks to advancements in medicine and technology, people are living well into their 80s and 90s. Which is great news for them, but not so great for the rest of us who have to suffer through their outdated policies.
Another reason is that running for office has become too expensive for younger people. It's like trying to buy a house in San Francisco on a minimum wage salary. Unless you have a trust fund or a sugar daddy, you're out of luck.
But fear not, my fellow Americans. There is hope on the horizon. In the 2018 midterm elections, the number of millennials in Congress doubled. That's right, we finally have some fresh blood in the game. And by fresh blood, I mean people who know how to use Snapchat filters.
These young leaders bring new ideas and perspectives to the table. They understand the struggles of everyday Americans because they're still paying off their student loans. They know how to use technology because they grew up with it. And they're not afraid to speak their minds because they haven't been around long enough to develop a filter.
So what can we do to support these young leaders? Well, for starters, we can vote for them. And not just in presidential elections, but in every election from city council to Congress. We can donate to their campaigns, even if it means giving up our daily Starbucks fix. And we can volunteer our time to help them get elected, even if it means missing an episode of The Bachelor.
It's time for us to take back our government from the gerontocracy. It's time for us to elect leaders who represent us, not just their own outdated views. It's time for us to embrace change and progress, even if it means learning how to use TikTok.
So let's raise a glass of prune juice to the future of America. A future where age is just a number, and where young leaders have a seat at the table. Because if we don't, we'll be stuck with politicians who think dial-up internet is still a thing.
Gerontocracy: the exceptionally old political class that governs the US https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/19/us-congress-presidency-gerontocracy?CMP=share_btn_tw
Opinion | Feinstein, Biden and Grassley show America's gerontocracy is too old - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/19/america-gerontocracy-feinstein-biden-grassley/