Both Democrats and Republicans are experiencing “significant” stress over the presidential election, according to an online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association.
But the demographic that is losing the most sleep over who next occupies the White House are the oldest voters ― those 71+. The reason, at least to us, is simple: Social Security and Medicare aren’t being discussed at all. While the public is bombarded with Trump’s overall awfulness and Clinton’s emails and we argue among ourselves about whose infidelities were more infidel, voters dubbed the “matures” by the APA are biting their nails down to stubs.
The study found that 59 percent of those “matures” called the election a “very or somewhat significant source of stress.” And yet, discussion about the issues that pertain most to them has been next to nil. Not a word has been mentioned about either Social Security’s future or the inconsistencies of Medicare coverage.
And here’s why it really should be mattering to the campaigns: When it comes to presidential voting, men and women 65 years of age and older have had voting rates higher than all other age groups. In 2012, the voting rate for those 65 years and older was 69.7 percent, about 6 percentage points above the next highest age breakdown, according to the Census.
What do you think? Are you more stressed than ever?
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