[nostromo]

Sounds like a good theory, but I'm not sure the data backs you up. Obama is the 5th youngest president at 47. Clinton was the 3rd at 46.

Take a look at the average age of...

Republican congressmen in 1949: 54.9

Republican congressmen in 2011: 54.9

Democratic congressmen in 1949: 50.4

Democratic congressmen in 2011: 60.2

The democrats have gotten older, but not by much more than the general population. The senate has gotten older, but not dramatically so.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-CONGRE...

[cgshaw]

Great data, thanks for sharing.

I think one of the "problems" is that innovation is actually picking up speed dramatically. So even if the politicians aren't older, they are more likely to be removed from relevant business and innovation cycles and also more beholden to entrenched businesses.

Average term length has continued to rise as well. (see http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41545.pdf page 6)

In 1949, a Senator on average served just 1 term (6 years), and a Representative served 3 terms (6 years).

Now, in 2013, a Senator serves nearly two terms (12 years), and a Representative serves nearly 5 terms (10 years).

[saraid216]

I am honestly a little shocked that the two numbers for Republicans are identical to 3 significant digits.

Also, your numbers are for House Representatives, not congressmen.

[nostromo]

I'm not trying to be overly pedantic, but I was curious if I was misusing the term. Wikipedia says that in the US, "the term Member of Congress applies to members of both houses, the terms Congressman and Congresswoman usually refer only to members of the House of Representatives."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_of_Congress

[saraid216]

I have heard that, but I've never really noticed it. Your usage is probably more correct.

[VladRussian2]

>I am honestly a little shocked that the two numbers for Republicans are identical to 3 significant digits.

drives home meaning of "conservatism" :)