It’s a question that’s creeping into political discourse more and more. Should people in their 70s and 80s be deciding the future for people in their 20s and 30s? From climate change policy to student loan forgiveness, the choices being made today will largely affect generations who didn’t vote those lawmakers into office and who will have to live with the consequences for decades to come.
It’s not about ageism. It’s about accountability, representation, and whether our current political structure reflects the people it’s meant to serve. So let’s talk about why this conversation matters, why it makes so many people uncomfortable and whether it’s time to rethink who gets to shape the laws of tomorrow.
Who’s Really in Charge of the Future?
Right now, the average age of a U.S. senator is 64. The average age of a House representative is 58. Many of our most powerful leaders are Baby Boomers—some even part of the Silent Generation. Meanwhile, Millennials and Gen Z make up a growing share of the workforce, consumer base, and electorate. Yet they hold a disproportionately small amount of political power.
This disconnect becomes especially problematic when policies made today won’t fully take effect for another 20 or 30 years. Climate legislation, social security reform, AI regulation, and student debt policies are all forward-facing issues. So why are the people least likely to be around for their long-term impact making the bulk of those decisions?
When Experience Becomes a Double-Edged Sword
One argument often made in favor of older lawmakers is that experience matters. And it does, deeply. Institutional knowledge, decades of public service, and an understanding of how policy ripples through society are all valuable. But at a certain point, experience can become a barrier instead of a benefit, especially when it leads to outdated assumptions about what younger generations want or need.
For example, debates about higher education often come from people who paid just a few hundred dollars for college. Climate change policy is being shaped by leaders who won’t be alive to experience rising sea levels, resource scarcity, or extreme weather events at their peak. The generational lens isn’t just skewed—it’s often missing entirely.
The Trust Gap Between Generations
A 2023 Pew Research study showed that younger Americans, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, have a growing distrust in the political system. It’s not hard to see why. Many feel their concerns are either dismissed or politicized to the point of paralysis. There’s also the sense that older generations are voting based on nostalgia or personal preservation, while younger generations are voting with the future in mind.
This dynamic creates resentment. It fosters the belief that Boomers are using the last few decades of their influence to cling to systems that worked for them, even as they collapse for everyone else. And when younger people do try to make their voices heard, they’re often told to “wait their turn.” But how long is too long to wait, when decisions made today are actively shaping the next 50 years?
What Representation Could (and Should) Look Like
No one is saying we need a government made entirely of 25-year-olds. But intergenerational balance matters. A Congress that looks more like the actual population, not just in terms of race or gender, but age too, might craft more equitable and forward-thinking policies.
This also means making space for younger candidates, reducing the barriers that prevent them from running, and shifting the narrative around who’s “qualified” to lead. Age doesn’t always equal wisdom, and youth doesn’t equal inexperience. Some of the most visionary leaders in history took office well before they turned 40.
We also need to reconsider lifelong appointments in the judicial system, and whether term limits or age caps might help shift power more democratically. Because if the people affected by legislation aren’t the ones shaping it, what exactly is the system representing?
A Future That Belongs to Everyone Or Just a Few?
At its core, this question isn’t about Boomers as individuals. It’s about a structure that continues to prioritize seniority over sustainability, and tradition over transformation. If the people holding the most power are the ones with the least at stake in the future, we risk crafting laws that serve only the present.
And let’s be honest–climate change, housing, healthcare, reproductive rights aren't theoretical debates. They’re real, urgent, and deeply personal for younger generations. The laws we pass now will determine what kind of planet, economy, and society they inherit. At the very least, we can ensure they have a seat at the table.
Should there be age limits or term limits in Congress? Or do older lawmakers still have a vital role to play in shaping the future?
Read More:
Why Younger Generations Say Boomers Had It Easier—And Might Be Right
Influencers Are Becoming Political Leaders — For Better or Worse
