Gerontocracy in America and What to Do About It

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The author (a Yale Law School professor) explains his work.

DEBATE: Should Old People LOSE Voting Power?

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[Leap1]

@flyerboys

Exactly, but not enough. Democratic Republics require a reasoning and reasonably knowledgable Demos,

Actually we require an informed public. But I’d be damned if any of the critters are educating anyone. We have counter cycical economics. The critters are figuring out who should be left holding the bag. All of that assumes no leadership and ignorance all around. I am not sure any education changes that.

We are not having the tax debate we need. We are going nowhere. So where are the top economists? Corporate puppets. Where are the leaders? Shoveling crap into their pockets. Where is the public? Backing all of this.

We are delaying a great depression with higher tariffs and aiding the shutting off of oil. We are creating the inflation we need. Yet talking about slowing inflation. Either way ruins await.

The economy from 2020 to 2024 was better, even with COVID.

[McLovin1981]

@MarkR

In that case, may as well make each vote worth proportional to the taxes paid by that individual. It’s been proposed before.

I think we should make it proportional to your effective rate. School teachers and carpenters would have multiple times more voting power than Elon or Theil.

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@McLovin1981

I think we should make it proportional to your effective rate. School teachers and carpenters would have multiple times more voting power than Elon or Theil.

The real solution is overturning the Citizen’s United court decision equating unlimited, Big Money campaign contributions to “free speech” on the Federal level. Or passing and enacting legislation that does the same.

Several states are limiting big money campaign contributions in State and local elections on their own.

State-Limits-on-Contributions-to-Candidates-2025-2026.pdf

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[DrBob2]

@intercst

One solution the author proposes is to give the elderly less of the vote (like the 3/5ths the Founding Fathers used for black people.)

I suppose that would mean no more ride services on voting day.

So much for one man, one vote.

DB2

[MarkR]

@McLovin1981

I think we should make it proportional to your effective rate. School teachers and carpenters would have multiple times more voting power than Elon or Theil

So the bottom 48% of folks votes count for zero? And the bottom 10% votes count negative (somehow)?

[McLovin1981]

@MarkR

So the bottom 48% of folks votes count for zero? And the bottom 10% votes count negative (somehow)?

Don’t be mislead by the talking point that the bottom 48% don’t pay taxes on income They do. They pay payroll taxes. Most them them pay state income taxes as well.

Combined, they are paying a higher effective tax rate than Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg.

I’m being tongue-in-cheek of course. I’m not seriously proposing this. But the typical working American proportionately has a lot more skin in the game than the ultra-wealthy.

I think it is time to stop coddling billionaires out of fear they might stop creating jobs for us.

[MarkR]

@McLovin1981

They pay payroll taxes.

So does everyone who is employed at some point. It’s almost universal around the world. But payroll taxes are more of an insurance and retirement plan than a “tax” per se. Not only that, but because of the two “bends”, the bottom 48% get a LOT more out of social security than the top 10% or so.

@McLovin1981

Most them them pay state income taxes as well.

That’s fine. Then their state vote can be proportional to their taxes paid.