Is the US a gerontocracy ?

 Hi All,

As I've said before I feel that POTUS Biden is showing signs of dementia and ill health. It is not that I am opposed to 'old' people being in positions of power. Indeed as we age we should grow in wisdom and experience, but as we know there are people who suffer ill health in old age and those who seemingly have bounds of energy and life. My grandparents and great uncles certainly fitted into this catergory. 

What is interesting is that people talk about military industrial complexes and beltway elites, but the fact is the US seems to be a gerontocracy, the 2 likely candidates for next years elections are in their late 70s and early 80s. The US Senate is a gerontocracy writ large- note the age requirement is 30 to be a US Senator  - 

34% are aged between 60-69

30% are aged between 70-79

22% are aged between 50-59

8% are aged between 40-49

4% are 80 plus 

2% are aged between 30 -39 

Given that the average life expectancy is lower in America than Europe, two thirds of the US Senate is on 'borrowed' time and makes the old hereditary UK House of Lords look like spring chickens. It also makes you wonder, how, in a sophisticated population of 330 million people, it is a particular generation that seems to be unwilling to give power over....