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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Why Won’t America’s Aging Elite Retire?

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

Why Won’t America’s Aging Elite Retire?