Government of the Elderly, by the Elderly, for the Elderly

If you’ve ever felt that government policy is excessively focused on the needs of older Americans, you’re not alone. Despite spending which is incredibly focused on the elderly, most Americans–including older Americans–believe more of the budget should be focused on the young, as Derek Thompson notes:

At a time when education is absorbing huge cuts and Medicare and Social Security spending continue to grow faster than the size of government, it’s a question worth asking: Is Washington biased toward old people?

The easiest way to answer the question is: Of course it is. Older Americans show up disproportionately at the ballot box, in Congress (the average age of a senator is 63), and in our budget. Fifty percent of federal benefits flow to the 13 percent of the population over the age of 65, David Leonhardt reported in the New York Times last weekend.

But Americans of every age group think that the federal budget should focus more on young people than old people, according to the American Values Poll, from The Atlantic and the Aspen Institute, which was released today. Asked if Washington should aim its spending toward the young, 73% of twentysomethings and a plurality of senior citizens said yes.

Of course, younger Americans could help themselves by actually turning out to vote.