The aging of the population in Iowa and in the United States is controlled in large part by the lost generation (born between 1929 and 1945) and the baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). All of the former (one of the smallest population groups) are over 75 today, and all of the baby boomers (a very large population) are over 56 today--the reason the under 60 group is declining while the over 60 group is growing.
It is also controlled in part by the fact that people are living longer lives now than they were 25 and 50 years ago.
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I worry that all these 65 people are voting for many things that will not affect them as the younger - for ex climate change being one of them. Just like some people saying why older folks should not be allowed to run by the same vein why should we allow old people to vote?
I am over 70 and support Warren (not Biden). I would like to see a woman President elected before I depart and I think she is the best choice of the large field of candidates. I like Biden but think he is too conservative. My husband likes him because of just that fact. He thinks it will take a conservative to beat Trump. I loved Obama and thought Biden was a good VP, but I would prefer Warren over him. Then again, almost anyone is preferred to DT. My young relatives like Warren and Klobuchar. They are Democrats as well as Republicans so it gives me some hope.
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Native Iowan here, currently living in California - I'm one of the "young" folks who moved out of the state to find opportunities outside of my rural community.
It is important to remember that we are talking about Iowan Democrats here - the ones who will be attending caucuses in the state. No, Iowa does not represent the demographics or diversity of the rest of the country, but I find it erroneous to assume that the Democrats in Iowa do not consider larger social issues when they go to the caucuses tonight. Throughout my time growing up in Iowa, my parents, teachers, professors, and community leaders, who were strong democratic supporters, and considered many viewpoints and legislation that affected diverse voters from other states. Iowa has some of the best education in the country, and many Iowegians make informed, not only for themselves, but by considering everyone we share America with. Not to mention that much of the older, rural crowd will not be attending the democratic caucuses.
Every person is limited by their own experiences in life, and I'm sure Iowegians are no different. But in my opinion it's a mistake to make assumptions about people, and to assume the democrats of the state will not consider larger issues when they head to their caucus sites tonight is largely short-sighted.
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Aging population?
And I thought it was because of Iowa's love and heavy use of Socialist principles, as the Government sends US taxpayer funds to prop up Iowa's farmers.
That's a GOOD thing for all of us, but stop accusing Saunders and Warren of being "Socialists," when Iowa leads the way!
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@Wilson Woods Sanders - not Saunders
@Kris It's the content that counts, not the format, but I do apologize for my spelling error.
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The purpose of humans in the US is to make the wealthy people more wealthy. The good serfs of Iowa know this and will deliver confirmation to their corporate overlords that the brainwashing process has been successful.
The people of Iowa, like most US citizens have been bred and educated to be good corporate supporters and they are incapable of overcoming this training to be free and think for themselves.
Truthfully, most people are better off as slaves rather than being responsible for making their own decisions. For them life under a dictator is way better than living with the results of their own poor decisions, which are based on their feelings rather than thought through.
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I've already commented once before on the superficial nature of NYT reporting on my state, and here it is again. Your own chart on % of 60 & over shows the rest of the US coming very close to Iowa, so that the stereotype of older Iowa no longer really works. We all know that the trends on this statistic are due to longer life expectation (tho many younger people bring it down with their overdosing on opiods), so what's to decry here? Older Iowans, like those in many states, know what they want. That's generally a good thing in our politics of voter whiplash every 4 yrs (tho too many older people are Fox News viewers).
Enuf with this nonsense about Iowa doesn't reflect the rest of the nation. Our job growth has been stymied by Republican rule since 2010. Only 85% white isn't a bad thing, not a sign we are racist or unable to see value in diversity.
If the rest of the nation wants to dethrone Iowa of its first-in-the-nation status every 4 years, I at least am willing to share, if only from an economic argument. But, without special pride, I assert that Iowans are representative of some of the best values in this nation, and we don't need this criticism from the NYT or any other Dem candidate loser to tell us we don't deserve our current status in the political pecking order.
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@Tom
I grew up in Minneapolis, and have never met an Iowan who wasn't highly intelligent and well educated (not to mention the droll sense of humor). I've lived all over the country, including NY, and am so bored by the uninformed characterizations of "the Midwest" in general, and more specifically (every four years), Iowa. In addition to having only a slightly older population overall, it is my understanding that about 41% of Iowans are college educated. Compare that to NYC's 21%. Like most states, Iowa has young people and old, farms, small towns and cities, educated people and uneducated people, informed voters and under-informed voters. Yes, Iowa is mostly white, but that does not imply utter obliviousness to the issues of other groups. I'm glad to have acquired a balanced view of the layout and demographics of the continent by having grown up in a region that's halfway between the coasts.
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@Tom ??? The piece stated that the graying of the rest of the nation was happening at an even faster rate than in Iowa.
You’re trying too hard to be offended, Tom.
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Iowa doesn't have to have the outsize influence it does in the primaries. Just ignore the outcome of the Iowa caucuses and vote for the candidate you like the best. Iowa may be first, but it only has the extra influence if non-Iowa voters give it to them.
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People over 60 control this country not because their numbers are growing. Millennials outnumber boomers and people over sixty are dying at a faster rate than millennials. People under 60 can take their rightful turn (1) by voting in general and (2) by not throwing away their votes when they do vote, for example, by voting for Sanders. A vote for Sanders is a vote for Trump.
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@Alexander Beal
If you can imagine Donald and Bernie on the stage, the gentleman from Brooklyn would "wipe the floor" with the one from Queens, in my humble opinion.
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@Alexander Beal Good points. Older people have more time to attend political events, since many do not work. Here in California, with a diverse population in age and ethnicity, it's still people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s who show up. They--we--are also the most reliable voters; sad, because young people have much more at stake in the long run.
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One of the main reasons our population is trending older is because many women of childbearing age are choosing not to have children. I have three daughters in their 30s and only one has chosen to be a mother. The reasons they give is that it is very expensive and it’s a big change in lifestyle. The United States talks about being supportive of families but in reality is not. We are one of a couple of countries in the WORLD not to offer paid family leave. Many women don’t take the 12 weeks allowed by the Family Medical Leave Act because it is not paid. Many European countries offer 4-12 months of paid leave. Then there is daycare and we are one of the few developed countries not to offer a government program of subsidized daycare for all children. Our private system is expensive and inconsistent. Some daycare is excellent while some is substandard. Since it now almost always requires two working parents to support a family, it would be important for the US to catch up to the rest of the developed world in the support of children.
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Balance the ticket by excluding both extremes. Scratch Biden, Bloomberg, Warren and Sanders. Pick from the remaining younger candidates. I'm 79 BTW.
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@John
A Buttigeig/Klobachar ticket? Interesting. Forward thinking and Andrew Yang as Sec of Education.
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It’s interesting that you talk about an older citizenship as it was SS and Medicare that helped most seniors survive the repub Great Recession and that it is trump and the repubs who keep talking about undermining those programs. That should be the main story today.
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I can't understand why winning the caucuses in a state like Iowa would give anyone momentum in the election. I hope that Bloomberg's strategy upends the whole ridiculous process we currently have for picking candidates.
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Maybe we should just let Bloomberg buy the Presidency outright. Save him from having to even advertise, much less muddy his shoes actually campaigning.
It's not against the law to be old.
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Not surprised that the audiences in Iowa are mostly seniors...everyone else is working.
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I’m disappointed that age and length of service aren’t being more emphasized in this campaign season. I’m 66 and I think that anyone over 65 should not be allowed to run for president. The job is (or should be) too demanding AND we need fresh ideas. Decisions today will affect the future and those decisions should be made by the generations to be affected. How many big corporations allow their executives to stay past 65 and why don’t they?
I cannot believe that there isn’t more uproar over the number of legislators that sat through both the Clinton and Trump impeachments! In office over 22 years? How much power is enough? Mitch McConnell 77, Nancy Pelosi 79 and on and on!! Saw Mitch McConnell on tv the other day and it appeared that he couldn’t even get in his big black SUV without help! Power and money - one can never get enough, I suppose. I’m disgusted by it.
#votethemallout2020
#termlimits
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@Pam Just totally agree..we need term limits!
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@Pam Just
It is so ironic to me that if you are nearing 55 or over you can conduct a serious job search but still fail to get hired for positions you are well-qualified for because of your age. But you can be 78 and still be considered a serious candidate for the president of the United States. It's ridiculous.
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@Pam Just I totally agree and I’m 62.
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Every state should have the same primary date, period. That would stop the endless, harmful and profitable candidate speculation. It would be a good start to leveling out the playing field; if we’re really serious we could limit campaign contributions and abolish the Electoral College as well. Don’t we want a working democracy??
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@J Greene A really bad idea to have a national primary. We need to vet our candidates thoroughly because otherwise we could end up with the mother of all buyers' remorse.
I have no idea what you mean by "endless, harmful and profitable candidate speculation." No matter, it's a bad argument for a bad idea.
Limiting contributions and eliminating the EC are very good ideas.
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Trump has done nothing for the farmers and Miners that backed him en masse in 2016, yet as far as I can tell they still love him.
He has changed this from a Land of Opportunity and a welcoming place for the "tired and poor the huddled masses yearning to breathe free to a Nation divided and paranoid, armed to the teeth and ready to use those weapons.
This election should be a snap for the Dems but as usual they are ready to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Bernie lost this election when he declared himself a Socialist. Warren and Yang, along with Bernie, are trying to buy votes.
The best Candidates are Klobachar and Mayor Pete and I have little hope for either. Biden? Well Joe is Joe isn't he?
I'll vote for whomever is opposing the orange menace but I fear 4 more humiliating years for this Country.
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@T Finan he's a democratic socialist not just a socialist. He isn't 100% socialist.
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@KayCee That isn't what I heard him say though he may since have altered his statement. But like accusations what is said first is what is remembered not the clarification.
Seniors are concerned about Social Security, but that certainly does not mean that they are concerned mainly about themselves. In fact, most proposals to change or diminish the benefits (even proposals from the GOP) tend to exempt those over 55. Seniors know better than anyone else how vital Social Security is to having a decent old age. Even those of us lucky enough to have other resources depend upon those monthly amounts for a decent quality of life. We also tend to know folks who have little or nothing else beyond that government check. They have to move when the rent goes up, cannot fully afford the meds they need, and worry about having food throughout the month. Without it millions of our seniors would be living in dire poverty. Since we are usually exempt from discussed cut, the main concern is for future generations.
That said, the ageing of our population along with declining employment and increasing healthcare costs to the nation is exactly why the Trump administration's push to cut and cut immigration is such a short-sighted, self-defeating idea. Immigrants tend to be young, have young families, and to be hard-working and invested in community. In short, they are what this country increasingly needs.
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@Anne-Marie Hislop
Immigrants...and hiring people over 50 who are by no means ready for retirement (but are increasingly marginalized and driven out of the workforce.) We enter a "valley of the shadow" from 50 to 62/67: "too old" to be employed; "too young" for Social Security. Our notions about what constitutes "prime" working age are based on the days in which most labor was manual and physically taxing. Work is no longer predominantly manual labor, but our prejudices about what constitutes fitness for the job market have lagged woefully behind.
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Another excellent comment Anne-Marie, but remember, Joe Biden was willing to cut these programs to balance the budget.
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@Anne-Marie Hislop
Your last paragraph is on target. Now how do we make everybody my age understand that and throw Trump out! it seems my cohort is easily taken in by bulls__t!
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Why no mention of Medicaid? Without Medicaid many, many, if not most, of our seniors don't srtand a chance of maintaining a lifestyle needed to survive today. It's that simple.
But Republicans want you to equate those who need to rely on Medicaid as being lazy and shiftless. They're wrong. Many, if not most of 'their' parents or grandparents rely being on Medicaid. Why in the world did arch-conservative Republican Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal sign his state up for receiving Medicaid Benefits?
And just like the Republican's aim to get rid of many needed Social Services Programs like Food Stamps and Planned Parenthood by their Death by a Thousand Cuts Strategy, Medicaid is clearly in their cross hairs as well eagerly getting Medicai initiatives to their chopping block.
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I think you mean Medicare. Medicare is the program of healthcare insurance for seniors age 65 and older paid by the federal government. Medicaid is the system of healthcare for low income people that is paid primarily by the federal government but also paid for by the states.
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So Joe Biden should kick you-know-what, at least until he doesn’t. Then the goalposts will be moved w/o comment or justification.
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A good reason to reconsider knee-jerk hatred of immigrants. Immigration has traditionally been how the U.S. kept its population vibrant and supported the elderly. Moreover, a country without enough children struggles to provide schools and the health services that children also need. And while Trump has kept all eyes on him, the infrastructure, response to climate change, and economy we need has not been built for neither the aging nor anyone else.
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Yes Iowa is old but what worst is this state is one of the most racist states in America it has one of the lowest Minorities population, why isn't this report.
It not a vote but a Caucuses, BIG difference. This is 2020 why is this state still voting with rules from the 1800? Do you really think this is far that a state expect every one who can vote to show up in some building between a certain time?
It time to put Iowa where it matter, dead last, how about a real state and someone who vote like NY, CA, TX, FL a real state with a mixed population a state with some Minorities and get a real understand then what Iowa and all these fake polls.
Time to get the press/media out of the election, end all polls. NO ONE group profits more then election then the press/media selling ad space in print or online. How can you give a fair opinion when you're taking some money from them. NO wonder the election cycle never ends the press doesn't want to lose it gravy train, plus it means they may have to get to real work.
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@Joe No press coverage of an election?!? Uh huh.
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@Joe
Can you provide source citations for your remark that Iowa is one of the most racist states in America?
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“And I’ve been to a couple town halls: Booker, Warren, Biden. And at every single one I was probably one of three or four college students.”
That’s because all of the young voters were at the Bernie Sanders rally down the street.
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The thing to remember about the ageing population is that they are reliable voters.
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Now we know who to blame?
Iowa is populated by a large amount of old White people. Yes this is a growing demographic in Our Country but it is Our diverse younger population that will be paying for the benefits that these older Americans are using. I, myself, am a 68 year old white American. I am also lucky enough to have a full-time job that I enjoy and can work at as long as I like. Not everyone has that situation. When it is time for me to vote in the Primary I will be voting for Our future. Who is best to lead us out of the Trump fiasco, heal The Country, and solidify my children's future? At the moment I am leaning towards Pete Buttigieg.
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I think it is also important to note that not only is Iowa aging, Iowa has one of the highest levels of obesity. Iowa also falls in the bottom half of all states in levels of higher education.
Why is this state given so much credence in our caucuses? There are many other states that represent the entirety of our country that would give voters a less tainted and misleading view of the best candidates.
It would serve both parties to have a clearer window into what the American people want. Another state should represent the first decision making process for election delegates.
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@cyn
It is my understanding that 41% of Iowans are college educated. I believe that is a higher percentage than that of Maine, and also of the nation. I can't fathom what obesity has to do with any of this.
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But for journalistic accounts like this one, one surely would not believe the rural working and growing elderly poor are in dire straights. We need only consult the administration's 2020 budget proposal and DT's last unscripted remarks about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid "on the table" to understand the threat to a large segment of the nation.
Memo to the eventual Democratic nominee: Just let Trump be Trump, and the man can't help revealing exactly who and what he is. As for Democratic talking points, read "pre-existing conditions," "slow wage growth," and "they are coming for your only support safety net--Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid."
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I'll be 69 the end of the month. I recently visited Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I was struck by how young the city is. Half the population, it seemed, was under 30-35, and a great many of those seemed to be in their early 20's.
I know cities tend to attract the young, (I visited San Francisco in my early 20's and stayed 30+ yrs,) and I live in an exurban environment, formerly rural-agricultural, that attracts many retired people, but I still see our nation aging.
I don't see that as a bad thing. We need to reduce the number of people on this planet, hopefully before Nature does it for us, so that's going to mean a lot of older people for a while.
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