Oldest Congress Ever May Be 'Youthenized'

The Washington Times ^ | 6/11/06 | UPI

[hispanarepublicana]

The collective age of the U.S. Congress is one of the oldest in history because voters want seniority, but is setting the stage for a youth coup, experts say. The average age in the U.S. Senate is 60.4 years old, the oldest ever, and the average age of 55 in the House sets records dating back to at least the first half of the 20th century, USA Today reports. With an average age nationwide of 36.2, voters appear to enjoy seniority. Nancy Thompson of the AARP said people want to stay in the workforce longer, although that could be more out of financial necessity for the everyday older worker. Still, as age landmarks are set, like Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.V., who on Monday will become the longest serving Senator ever at more than 47 years, the older legislature may be overhauled soon. Senate rules dictate those with the most seniority get the most coveted committees and younger would-be Senators want in. Researchers William Strauss and Neil Howe looked at generational roles in U.S. history and found the older an institution is, the more likely youth will launch a successful takeover campaign. There is no age maximum to serve but the minimum is 30 for the Senate and 25 for the House, which means the middle of Generation X is ready, and maybe willing, for the job.

[hispanarepublicana]

Strauss and Howe wrote the book, "The Fourth Turning", which chronicles generations throughout American history, and describes how 4 different generational archetypes just keep recycling themselves. For instance, my generation, which is "Generation X", although I prefer to call it "Generation Reagan", corresponds back to the Flapper generation, if I recall. The full generational archetypes are described here: http://www.fourthturning.com/my_html/body_generations_in_history.html. The way I see it, the sooner we get the Boomers out of Congress, the better.

[hispanarepublicana]

Generation Reagan ping

[Darkwolf377]

Wow, they're so desperate to get people in mind to "throw the bums out" they're actually using AGEISM.

[Mikey_1962]

Senate: from the Latin word Senatus.......

[true_blue_texican]

I thought it said "euthanised"!!

[hispanarepublicana]

Well, if you'll look at the Howe & Strausse table at the link I listed above, Generation X, which corresponds to the Flapper generation and the next one, which is the Millenial generation and corresponds to the Greatest Generation, sound like they'd be more hardworking and conservative than the Boomer generation that's there now.

[WL-law]

... voters appear to enjoy seniority.

Baloney. The true meaning of the facts here is that the power of incumbency is stronger than ever, more gerrymandered districts, more $$ backing incumbents, etc.

The US Supreme Court really blew it when they found term limit legislation to be unconstitutional.

[CGTRWK]

The collective age of the U.S. Congress is one of the oldest in history because voters want seniority ...

No, it is one of the oldest in history because incumbents are protected like never before. Over the past four election cycles, congressional incumbents have lost 4% of their races.

[umgud]

Hey, I'm from the metallic generation. I got silver in my hair, gold in my mouth and lead in my a$$, but I would like to see at least some of the oldsters go.

[Rummyfan]

They are all residents of Incumbistan! It's almost impossible to get bums out now, especially in the Senate.

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

[Frontierman]

Generation Reagan. Yes.

I agree...the Boomers are causing most of the problems (not just in Congress but elsewhere in the Country -Politically and Policy-wise).

We need some fresh blood (fresh ideas) in the House and Senate.

Senator Byrd will be venerated for his long years of service. YAWN. Forty-seven years of public service means the last time the man had to actually make a living in the Private Sector was during Eisenhower's Administration. He's been on Government Welfare for FORTY SEVEN YEARS!!! Not exactly something to be proud of, in my opinion.

But I guess for a liberal, that is quite an accomplishment.

[kalee]

ping

[old republic]

The US Supreme Court really blew it when they found term limit legislation to be unconstitutional.

"Yeah the Supreme Court screwed up...again. Every state has the right to decide how it will give out its Congressional votes. The Constitutiona gives the reapportionment powers and so forth completely to the states. Not a word about the Feds being able to regulate it. The Constitution does set minimum requirements on Congressman, but it never says that each individual state cannot add its own additional requirements tailored to the desires of the people of the state. Let the states experiment with different methods of apportionment or restrictions on their own representatives and if they work other states can follow suit. If term limits turn out to be a bad idea then the individual states can hammer out the problems themselves.

[RoadTest]

This is interesting, because Michael Savage theorized that they're on prescription drugs and that's why their so lethargic about everything.

I was thinking of senility among an "old" congress, but the average age of 60 kind of obviates that; but it might account for all the prescription medication among them.

[DM1]

"Hey, I'm from the metallic generation. I got silver in my hair, gold in my mouth and lead in my a$$, but I would like to see at least some of the oldsters go."
lets start with Robert Byrd

[Hildy]

I believe it's called a "PLAY ON WORDS."

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

The Fourth Turning was one of the more interesting and truly prescient books I have ever read. It predicted the oncoming "great trial" of Islamofascism - simply based on the cycles of history.

Thanks for the read - as a fellow Xer, the sooner our troops move in, the better.

[hispanarepublicana]

I need to get their new book-- "Millenials Rising".

[uglybiker]

Senate: from the Latin word Senatus.......

Gee. And I thought is was from the Southern word Senatah!

As in:

Uhinst Hollin's.
UUUUUUUUnitid Stits Senatah!

Okay. I'll shut up now.