Op-Ed: Old People Wield Too Much Power in US

Ageism is awful and should be rooted out, writes Samuel Moyn in a New York Times opinion piece. But there's a flip side as well that needs confronting: "a gerontocratic society in which the old control ever more power and wealth, leading to overrepresentation in political life and unequal power in social life." Moyn, author of the forthcoming book Gerontocracy in America, argues that seniors collectively wield this outsized power thanks to a slew of factors, from dominating low-turnout elections to commanding the bulk of national wealth and enjoying tax breaks and federal benefits that far outpace what younger people receive.

Moyn is not calling for cuts in support to seniors. In fact, he wants more robust elder care, including long-term care coverage. But he also urges policies that push power and resources downward: think age caps for top offices and judgeships, structural voting reforms that boost younger turnout, a lower voting age, mandatory retirement in some sectors, and tax changes that nudge older homeowners to downsize and free up housing. Such reforms are not "ageist," he writes, but critical for our society. "America needs to confront gerontocracy before the system collapses under the weight of its inequality and injustice." Read the full essay.