It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy • Hacker News Board

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#21

Post by CapstanRoller » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 5:08 AM UTC

syndicatedjelly wrote: post #2

As nice as it would be to have a less gerontocratic government, here's why I don't see that happening in the next century. 1) The share of the population over the age of 80 recently surpassed 10% in Japan. Japan is basically on the bleeding edge of population dynamics, and we can expect to see the same demographic changes coming to the US, China, and most of Europe fairly soon. India and parts of Southeast Asian are…

>As millenials age into the system, the government will start to more closely reflect their world views.

By what mechanism?

The reason those in government fail to represent the views of their constituents is due to class warfare and wealth.

Millennials are already reaching 40, yet the wealth of the Millennial generation is a tiny fraction of what Baby Boomers had in their 20s. To put it bluntly: it's too damn late!

It's not that those in power are simply out of touch, it's that they intentionally pulled the ladder up behind them.

So far the USA has robbed 3 generations in order to feed the capitalist class, and Boomers cheered it on because they also reap the rewards of this large-scale sacrifice.

Moloch smiles on the Baby Boomer generation.

https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.c...

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#22

Post by idontwantthis » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 5:31 AM UTC

mbg721 wrote: post #20

idontwantthis wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He’s stuttered his whole life. It doesn’t have to do with his age. Now that he’s old, people act like he suddenly has trouble speaking.

Apart from the stuttering, the constant lying (such as his speech plagiarism decades ago) has been something of a concern. Framing it as an old-age thing is an act of kindness.

[flagged]

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#23

Post by musicale » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 7:10 AM UTC

Who knew that the executive and legislative branches of government were lifetime appointments?

If only the US had "elections" where some of these officials could be voted out of office...

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#24

Post by TheCapeGreek » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 11:17 AM UTC

matt3210 wrote: post #17

When do these arguments become agism? Are we assuming 70 year olds are less capable?

It's well established that most mental and physical faculties degrade with age.

For some people less so than others, and AFAICT moreso if one keeps exercising and maintaining good health in general.

In some countries past a certain age you need to re-test for driving licences every few years. It would make sense to do the same for other areas, I think.

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#25

Post by sieabahlpark » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 5:28 PM UTC

matt3210 wrote: post #17

When do these arguments become agism? Are we assuming 70 year olds are less capable?

[dead]

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#26

Post by kbelder » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 7:08 PM UTC

TheCapeGreek wrote: post #24

matt3210 wrote: post #17

When do these arguments become agism? Are we assuming 70 year olds are less capable?

It's well established that most mental and physical faculties degrade with age. For some people less so than others, and AFAICT moreso if one keeps exercising and maintaining good health in general. In some countries past a certain age you need to re-test for driving licences every few years. It would make sense to do the same for other areas, I think.

And yet, somehow, the thought of being ruled by mostly young people is even more nightmarish than the gerontocracy we currently have.

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#27

Post by Lord-Jobo » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 9:09 PM UTC

kbelder wrote: post #26

TheCapeGreek wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's well established that most mental and physical faculties degrade with age. For some people less so than others, and AFAICT moreso if one keeps exercising and maintaining good health in general. In some countries past a certain age you need to re-test for driving licences every few years. It would make sense to do the same for other areas, I think.

And yet, somehow, the thought of being ruled by mostly young people is even more nightmarish than the gerontocracy we currently have.

Define 'young'. Under 70? Who gives a crap. Under 25? Yeah that's a problem, obviously.

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#28

Post by askin4it » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 9:44 PM UTC

idontwantthis wrote: post #22

mbg721 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apart from the stuttering, the constant lying (such as his speech plagiarism decades ago) has been something of a concern. Framing it as an old-age thing is an act of kindness.

[flagged]

Tara Reade

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#29

Post by krapp » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 9:51 PM UTC

kbelder wrote: post #26

TheCapeGreek wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's well established that most mental and physical faculties degrade with age. For some people less so than others, and AFAICT moreso if one keeps exercising and maintaining good health in general. In some countries past a certain age you need to re-test for driving licences every few years. It would make sense to do the same for other areas, I think.

And yet, somehow, the thought of being ruled by mostly young people is even more nightmarish than the gerontocracy we currently have.

How so? Young people aren't still seeing the world in terms of Cold War imperialist atomic dick-swinging contests and appeasing the wrath of the Old Testament God. Young people don't see technology more recent than the rotary telephone as weird and scary. Young people aren't still wrapping their head around women being able to vote, black people walking in the front door or gays... existing.

Perhaps someone who's spent more than half of their life living in the pre-internet world and likely is confused and infuriated by everything that's happened in the world after their adolescence can't comprehend the reality of modernity well enough to have an informed say in the future. They probably still read the New York Times and think it matters.

They say progress only happens one funeral at a time, but these old bastards and their regressive ideas aren't dying fast enough.

Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy

#30

Post by krapp » Fri, Sep 22, 2023, 9:58 PM UTC

musicale wrote: post #23

Who knew that the executive and legislative branches of government were lifetime appointments? If only the US had "elections" where some of these officials could be voted out of office...

If only the government didn't have so many safeguards against votes threatening the status quo.