Voting Old

In the analyses of the recent election, many commentators noted that young voters helped Democrats win, especially in close races. It shouldn’t be surprising because research has shown that younger adults tend to be more liberal and vote Democratic while older folks are more conservative and vote Republican.

Yet it’s hard to grasp because I had assumed that my generation of baby boomers would carry our liberal politics into old age. We were the generation that opposed the Vietnam War, supported civil and women’s rights and started the first Earth Day celebrations.

In my (adopted) hometown, I remember in my 20s seeing that tidal wave of change. A city council that consisted of white men was replaced with two women, an environmentalist, a black man and a gay man. At the time it seemed revolutionary. Yet somehow those young voters who threw the old white guys out are now getting more conservative. How does this happen?

Research shows that as we age, we process information slower. I was shocked to read that our mental capabilities peak in our 20s and head downhill since then. However, even though we might not be as smart as our younger selves or the younger generation, I was glad to read that we compensate with wisdom accumulated over decades.

Because we need more time to comprehend our ever-changing world (like figuring out our new cell phones), we resort to old patterns of thinking because it’s easier than processing new ways. If we grew up thinking that tattoos only belong on sailors, we might still wince when we see our niece with tattoos all over her body. Or if we grew up with prejudices, like believing that fat people are lazy, it might be harder to get rid of them. In other words, it takes more brain power to process new information. It’s easier to stick to our habitual patterns.

And at this stage of life, we have so much change already: our bodies are letting us down, friends are dying or facing serious health issues, new technology is confusing and sometimes scary; and we often don’t recognize our own towns as the pace of urban renewal quickens. Because life is too hard already, we cling to what’s familiar. No wonder we’re drawn to politicians who reinforce our prejudices and who promise stability and order.

And yet I’m happy to see a new generation (most in their 40s and 50s) take power after the last election. The younger legislators perceive the world differently than my generation, are comfortable in the new world that they partly created and are ready and willing to try new approaches. I welcome their energy and new voices—just as long as they occasionally listen to the wisdom of their elders.