How Older Americans Hoard the Future

American leaders are staying in office past their prime. Boomers are reluctant to relinquish control — from political offices to corner offices — to the detriment of their juniors. In a society where the elderly hold so much power, should younger generations revolt? 

My guest today is Samuel Moyn, a professor at Yale Law School, and he argues that American democracy is distorted by the power of the old. We discuss how seniors have hoarded wealth and influence and how Americans can renew an intergenerational compact.

• 0:00 The Tyranny of the Elderly
• 2:01 From Joe Biden to Mitch McConnell
• 4:19 Europe's Anti-Gerontocracy
• 5:15 Politicians are the ‘Tip of the Iceberg’
• 7:07 The Dark Side of Longevity
• 9:40 How Age Impacts Policy
• 15:10 The Age Wealth Gap
• 20:21 How About Millennials?
• 23:28 Age Limits and Youth Power
• 38:14 Care Hoarding and Family Burdens
• 44:54 The Assisted Suicide Debate
• 50:14 Personal Stakes

(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)

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