100 Ways Young Adults Are Treated Unfairly
YOUNG ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES...
Category: 21
1. cannot purchase alcohol
States were coerced by the federal government in the 1980s to raise the minimum age to 21
2. can be denied entry to a bar or club even if not drinking
A 20-year-old non-drinker gets stopped at the door while everyone 21+ is presumed responsible
3. increasingly cannot purchase tobacco or nicotine products
For example, the minimum age was raised to 21 in California in 2016 and in New York in 2019
4. are excluded from the trend to legalize cannabis
States are legalizing recreational cannabis only for 21+
5. cannot own a business that sells alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis
This is a commercial prohibition; actual use of the substance is irrelevant
6. cannot enter a casino
Meanwhile, young adults are the most skilled gamblers, based on World Series of Poker results
7. can serve in the military but cannot own a gun
At least 15 states limit handgun purchases to 21+
8. are subject to more onerous motor vehicle rules
For example, in-person license renewals are mandated in many states if under 21
9. may be issued a Scarlet Letter driver’s license
For example, an under 21 Arizona driver’s license is vertical orientation instead of horizontal
10. frequently cannot act as guardians
Many states will split families apart rather than give custody to a caregiver who is 18-20
11. face more barriers in getting a credit card
A 2010 law assumes everyone under 21 is irresponsible with credit, regardless of credit score
Category: Civil Rights
12. are subject to ageist laws written in 1789
The Constitution was once ageist, racist and sexist, but only the Constitution's ageist laws survive
13. do not automatically enjoy full constitutional rights and protections
The age of majority is set by the states and not constitutionally required to be 18
14. have their rights limited in 100 ways, but lack quid pro quo legal protections
For example, young adults are by law deemed immature, but are still subject to the death penalty
15. as a class have almost no equal protection rights under the Constitution
Courts have severely limited 14th Amendment protections for young adults as a class
16. are subject to discriminatory laws that are not based on science
For example, there is no scientific evidence that every citizen under 25 is unqualified for Congress
17. cast votes that are marginalized by older adults with political power
For example, college campuses are traditionally the number one target of jerrymandering
18. have superior cognitive abilities than the elderly, but still enjoy fewer legal rights
Cognitive ability may be lower on average at 18 than at 21, but are not lower than at 99
19. are treated by law as a homogenous group not competent enough for full adult rights
Conversely, elderly adults are declared incompetent not based on age but only by court order
20. have both fewer legal protections and less resources than the elderly
Young adults are the ones legally marginalized, yet the elderly have a 20x larger median net worth
21. suffer the most from the judiciary's deference to precedent
Courts have been slow to recognize rights that matter to young adults, e.g., LGBTQ rights
22. are more often denied the right to vote
For example, disenfranchisement of incarcerated persons disproportionately affects young adults
23. can be drafted
Registering for the draft, even if it never happens, can have adverse psychological effects
24. suffer the most in war
"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die." - Herbert Hoover
Category: Education
25. are denied affordable higher education
Every other developed nation has more affordable four-year public universities
26. pay exorbitant private college tuition rates
Systemic high tuition is frequently an insurmountable burden on young adults
27. are saddled with unprecedented amounts of student loans for decades
High school students are also denied adult rights, but at least they get a free education
28. pay higher than market rates on federal student loans
Private companies like SoFi have issued billions in loans at rates lower than federal loans
29. cannot eliminate student loans in bankruptcy
Virtually every other type of debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy
30. are denied financial aid based on income they don't control
Parental income determines financial aid even though parents can and often do refuse to pay
Category: Future
31. will be harmed the most from changes to the earth's climate
Climate decisions made today by older adults will impact quality of life for generations
32. will disproportionately bear the financial cost of climate change
Polluters are not being held financially responsible for the environmental damage they cause
33. will suffer the most from natural resource depletion
From fisheries to old-growth forests, natural resources are being depleted at record rates
34. will inherit unprecedented levels of federal government debt
Government debt as a percentage of GDP is at an all-time high and is expected to grow
35. will have to repay trillions of dollars of municipal debt
States and cities are borrowing to pay for current expenses instead of investing in the future
36. will be forced to pay for the public pensions of retirees
Very few states or municipalities have fully funded pension plans
37. will get lower pension benefits than their parents received
Defined benefit pension plans are dying, as boomers take out more than they ever paid in
38. will need to replace a crumbling national infrastructure
For example, the country's busiest bridge, the George Washington Bridge, is over 90 years old
39. will get diseases that could have been prevented
Most health dollars go to treatments or cures for older adults, and not long-term prevention
Category: Government
40. are banned from federal public office by the US Constitution
The word "senate" is derived from the Latin "senex", meaning old man. Senators must be 30+
41. are banned from thousands of less well-known state and municipal offices
For example, the Connecticut lieutenant governor must be at least 30
42. are almost never appointed to senior executive branch positions
If the US Cabinet actually looked like America, its median age would be 37
43. are disadvantaged, even as members of Congress or state legislatures
Committee appointments and chairmanships are based largely on seniority and not merit
44. are underrepresented in the judiciary
Lifetime appointments, cronyism and age biases work against young aspiring judges
45. are at a disadvantage when seeking public office
Election rules and financing systems favor long-serving incumbents
46. often have not chosen their government representatives
Six-year Senate terms mean someone age 23 may have never been able to vote for their senator
Category: Health
47. are denied access to Medicare
Must be age 65+ or disabled
48. are underrepresented in Medicaid
The majority of Medicaid resources are for children or senior citizens
49. are disproportionately denied access to private health insurance
The system favors full-time employment, except if under 26 and parents are willing to pay
50. have healthcare concerns that are low on the list of public priorities
For example, addiction and mental health treatments have been underfunded
51. will have health problems as a result of climate change
Problems will include respiratory, cardiovascular, and vector-caused diseases
Category: Housing
52. suffer from a shortage of affordable housing
The highest priority of politicians is older voters, most of whom already own a home
53. face exclusionary zoning laws that inflate housing prices
Older adults generally support restrictive zoning laws, which benefit existing homeowners
54. are disadvantaged by how the tax code treats housing
Mortgage interest is tax deductible, but rent is not, which helps prop up housing prices
55. are being forced to postpone home ownership because of unfair laws
Prior generations of young adults were able to build untaxed wealth through home ownership
56. are excluded from "adult" communities
Age discrimination laws in housing only protect older adults
57. suffer from age biases when trying to rent a home
Young adults are considered less responsible tenants even when credit scores are high
Category: Justice
58. are presumed to be more likely to be engaged in illegal activities
In 2008 one senior citizen, Bernie Madoff, stole more money than every US young adult combined
59. suffer the most from the criminalization of drug use
Drug law enforcement disproportionately targets young adults
60. are disproportionately detained by police
Police tactics like vehicle stops and stop-and-frisk disproportionately target young adults
61. are disadvantaged in a criminal justice system that favors the wealthy
Young adults are the least likely to afford their own attorney
62. are denied juries of their peers
A typical juror is a generation older than a young adult criminal defendant
63. are disproportionately convicted of crimes
Older adults are shown more deference by police, prosecutors, judges, and juries
64. serve the longest prison sentences
Older adults disproportionately benefit from probation and early-release policies
65. are severely punished for activities most of the world considers legal
California 18-20 alcohol possession is a year license suspension, more than an older adult DUI
66. suffer the most from having a criminal record
Employment is hard to find with a criminal record, while retirees still get pensions/social security
67. have inherited a long history of racial discrimination in the justice system
Young adults disproportionately carry the burden of America’s history of racial injustice
Category: Life
68. can be banned from private establishments
A typical minimum age for a private club is 25
69. are required to show ID if under 30
Alcohol and gambling age restrictions affect everyone under 30, especially those without an ID
70. do not have full privacy rights from their parents
For example, parents know the social security numbers of their adult children
71. suffer the most from anachronistic regulations
For example, because of a 2001 privacy law, medical records cannot be sent by email
72. are disadvantaged by old laws that govern new technologies
Recent innovations, such as cryptocurrencies, are subject to unsuitable old laws
73. are denied equal status and respect within their community
For example, large civic and religious organizations are almost always led by older adults
74. have lower consumer credit scores even with perfect behavior
Credit scores are based in part on lengthy histories
75. are forced to postpone parenthood for economic reasons
The median age of new parents is at an all-time high
Category: Taxes
76. do not qualify for many tax credits or deductions
For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit cannot be claimed by students under 24
77. pay higher property tax rates
Under California Prop 13, a new homeowner may pay 20x more tax than a long-time resident
78. pay astronomically higher taxes as a percentage of wealth
Income is taxed, not wealth, which disadvantages young workers and benefits retirees
79. pay higher income tax rates
Capital gains are taxed at lower rates than wages, which disproportionately benefits older adults
80. may pay higher taxes solely based on parental income
The so-called Kiddie Tax may apply if under 24
81. pay into a Social Security system that does not save the money
Social Security is literally taken from poorer young adults and sent to wealthier older adults
82. may pay 10x more Medicare tax than prior generations
Medicare taxes were capped until 1994, and were not subject to surcharges until 2013
83. pay Social Security and Medicare taxes with no promised benefit
These entitlements are not legal obligations of the US government and may be cut or eliminated
84. have their tax dollars redistributed to older communities
For example, New York City residents subsidize the rest of the state, which is older on average
Category: Transportation
85. are denied affordable transportation options
Public space is overwhelmingly used for private vehicles of older adults, and not for mass transit
86. can be prohibited from renting a car
Senior citizen drivers are also a higher-than-average risk, but are protected from discrimination
87. will bear the future cost of today’s fossil fuel-based transportation
Unlike in the US, high EU taxes on fossil fuels help compensate for environmental damage
Category: Work
88. can be legally discriminated against at work
Federal age discrimination laws only protect workers 40 or older
89. have both the highest unemployment rates and the least protections
Every protected group by race, sex or age has lower unemployment rates than young adults
90. do not enjoy equal pay for equal work
Seniority systems, where pay is based on length of employment, blatantly favor older workers
91. can be the best employees but not be eligible for promotions
No matter the level of achievement, job advancement is often based on years of employment
92. can be more easily fired
Tenure protects long-term workers, and disadvantages newer workers
93. are frequently not paid at all
Unpaid internships are still common in many professions
94. suffer from incredibly long periods of apprenticeship
It can take 25-30 years to be considered qualified to lead an organization, e.g., in the military
95. have fewer job opportunities because elderly adults refuse to retire
For example, at 80, Chief Justice Rehnquist missed 44 oral arguments but would not retire
96. face rising minimum age rules in the workplace
For example, LeBron's great rookie year won't happen again. The NBA's minimum age is now 19
97. are disadvantaged because so many people overrate experience
In reality, the correlation between long-term experience and merit is weak in most professions
98. suffer from ingrained stereotypes that equate leadership with age
Older adults are automatically assumed to be the boss
99. have to form their own companies in order to become CEO
Founders’ ages of the world's 5 most valuable companies: 19, 19, 21, 25, and 30
100. are fed a lie that opportunities are guaranteed to come later
There are no guarantees in life. "Wait your turn" is age discrimination