American political power is increasingly centralized among older citizens, a trend reflected both at the ballot box and in personal finance. The median Senator is 65, while the median general election voter is 52, but primary voters skew older still at 59. Furthermore, half of all political campaign donations originate from Americans aged 66 and older, creating a clear electoral incentive structure.

Economic analysis reveals a stark shift: Americans over 55 now control 74 percent of national wealth, up from 56 percent in 1989. Conversely, the share held by those under 40 has nearly halved to 6.6 percent. This intergenerational inequality is exacerbated by broad entitlements like Social Security and Medicare, which now exceed $2 trillion in annual payouts.

Local policy decisions further entrench this structure, particularly concerning housing. Zoning meetings in areas like Boston frequently feature longtime homeowners actively opposing new development to preserve their asset values. This homeowner preference, codified in measures like California's Proposition 13, directly limits housing supply for younger workers.

While younger generations earn more in real terms than their parents did at the same age, housing affordability has cratered—the typical home now costs five times the median income, up from 3.5 times in 1984. Young Americans feel increasingly locked out of wealth accumulation due to these systemic barriers.