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avazhi • today at 4:08 AM • 2 replies • view on HN

Yes, in general people place a lot of value in the wisdom that comes with age so long as the person isn’t senile.

Obviously with autocrats this isn’t applicable but there’s nothing inherently nonsensical or inexplicable about why mostly old dudes rule much of the world.


Replies

Barrin92 • today at 4:38 AM

>Yes, in general people place a lot of value in the wisdom

I don't think that holds as an explanation given that 1. there's not a lot of wisdom going around among the geriatric leaders of the world, 2. this is a pretty rapidly increasing trend, not some fact of history.

Historical leaders used to be younger, including after accounting for increased lifespans. Just look at the founding of the American Republic. It's much more a sign of two things. Increased decadence and civilizations that are themselves at the end of their rope, and in democracies in particular a geriatric population that keeps voting itself into power based on their own interests.

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seemaze • today at 4:15 AM

'Dudes' is more of a historical artifact than an implicit requirement. But I'll allow dudes in the general form of 'enlightened persons'.