Partial List of Things an Aging Society Strengthens

Demographics sometimes is destiny.

As America ages, certain factions and positions will win favor relative to their opposition. It doesn't mean they will carry the day, but ceteris paribus they should enjoy greater support on net. These are not necessarily positives or negatives; although I would have my opinions for sure. Note also that the sentiment behind this support is oftentimes emotional rather than rational.

In no particular order:

• NIMBY

• Immigration restrictions¹

• Police powers and broken-windows policing

• The pro-life position²

• Support for capital punishment

• Physical space accessibility

• Drug prohibition among other bad lifestyle prohibitions

• Military intervention - as a projection of a protective front

• Anti-tourism stances (excepting the support for elderly-friendly travel)

• Nostalgia

• AI safetyism

• Prioritizing preservation over growth; status for that which appears to preserve over that which appears to disrupt - stability as a central goal

• Inward focus

• History's successful playbooks and strategies - resting on laurels at the expense of new experimentation

In short, FOOL (Fear Of Others' Liberty) and FOOM (Fear Of Others' Mistakes) are set on an ever-increasing path.

Noah Smith makes similar points here.

Too many Americans still fear the future

1. This is despite the fact that immigration is the quickest, surest temporary fix to impending entitlement insolvency.

2. At the margin from the age factor alone. Other factors push against the trend for sure, but age seems to be pretty clearly correlated with less support for abortion.