Weekly Opinion Editorial
Age is a 'state' of mind!by Steve Fair
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13.5% of Oklahoma’s population is over the age of 65. Nationally that number is 12.9%. It is projected that by 2020, the percentage of Americans over the age of 65 will be 16.1% of the U.S. population and by 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. We are a graying population.
*****
In Stephens County 16.9% of the population is over the age of 65. Of all the counties bordering Stephens, only Jefferson County has a higher percentage in that demographic- 19.2%. The other counties’ numbers are: Cotton County- 16.2%, Carter County- 15%, Comanche County- 11%, and Grady County- 12.6%.
*****
Forty-five rural counties in Oklahoma had higher percentages of aging population than the statewide number. More of Oklahoma’s younger population is residing in the metropolitan areas- the larger cities- than in years past. Why is that?
*****
Primarily, it’s because youth from rural Oklahoma are moving to metro Oklahoma cities because that is where the jobs are. If rural counties expect to compete, they must do it by recruiting jobs and industry to their area. If they want to retain their young people, they can’t just rely on kids that want to get involved in production agriculture. They must have place for all of their educated youth to work in non-farm related areas.
*****
Politically, an aging population means a higher voter turnout at the polls. According to blogger Bruce Bartlett who analyzed the 2008 vote nationally, voters older than 65 are three times more likely to vote than 18-24 year olds. Bartlett concludes this graying of America will make it increasingly difficult for Congress to reform entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare because the members will not be courageous enough to stay up to the aging voter block.
*****
An aging rural population in Oklahoma will result in less influence for rural areas in the state legislature. During the reapportionment process this year, virtually every rural House and Senate district had to gain population while every metro House and Senate district had to lose population. Districts are drawn by population and not by voter turnout, so many rural districts will have the same population as the urban districts but with higher turnout because of the higher percentage of 65 plus voters.
*****
The aging population in rural Oklahoma presents some interesting fiscal challenges for Oklahoma government- both state and local. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, because government is the largest provider of heath insurance, the impact of health care on the state budget in the next decade will be significant.
*****
In a study conducted the OSU Center for Rural Health, they found there is a significant shortage of doctors in rural Oklahoma. The study said in rural Oklahoma there is a primary care physician for every 1,535 people compared with one physician for every 740 in the state’s urban areas. The specialty where the largest shortage exists was in geriatric medicine- physicians treating the elderly. Some have described the impact on health care of America’s baby boomers hitting 65 to a health care tsunami.
*****
Another major factor is the amount of revenue available to Oklahoma government will likely decline in coming years due to the aging of the population. The Oklahoma Policy Institute says the declining percentage of the rural Oklahoma population paying taxes and holding jobs will impact revenues in such a way that it will force the legislature into making some hard decisions on entitlement programs and government services.
*****
Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. It you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” But an aging population does matter and it will impact Oklahoma in the coming years.
*****
Local and state leaders should be paying attention to these changing demographics before they look up one day and see their revenue down because a bunch of the population has retired. Local leaders in rural areas should be especially concerned because of the higher percentages of older citizens in their counties. By streamlining government and working to make it more efficient, they can prepare for the impact Oklahoma’s aging population will have on their budgets. It’s important government has a plan before that day arrives.
*****
In Stephens County 16.9% of the population is over the age of 65. Of all the counties bordering Stephens, only Jefferson County has a higher percentage in that demographic- 19.2%. The other counties’ numbers are: Cotton County- 16.2%, Carter County- 15%, Comanche County- 11%, and Grady County- 12.6%.
*****
Forty-five rural counties in Oklahoma had higher percentages of aging population than the statewide number. More of Oklahoma’s younger population is residing in the metropolitan areas- the larger cities- than in years past. Why is that?
*****
Primarily, it’s because youth from rural Oklahoma are moving to metro Oklahoma cities because that is where the jobs are. If rural counties expect to compete, they must do it by recruiting jobs and industry to their area. If they want to retain their young people, they can’t just rely on kids that want to get involved in production agriculture. They must have place for all of their educated youth to work in non-farm related areas.
*****
Politically, an aging population means a higher voter turnout at the polls. According to blogger Bruce Bartlett who analyzed the 2008 vote nationally, voters older than 65 are three times more likely to vote than 18-24 year olds. Bartlett concludes this graying of America will make it increasingly difficult for Congress to reform entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare because the members will not be courageous enough to stay up to the aging voter block.
*****
An aging rural population in Oklahoma will result in less influence for rural areas in the state legislature. During the reapportionment process this year, virtually every rural House and Senate district had to gain population while every metro House and Senate district had to lose population. Districts are drawn by population and not by voter turnout, so many rural districts will have the same population as the urban districts but with higher turnout because of the higher percentage of 65 plus voters.
*****
The aging population in rural Oklahoma presents some interesting fiscal challenges for Oklahoma government- both state and local. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, because government is the largest provider of heath insurance, the impact of health care on the state budget in the next decade will be significant.
*****
In a study conducted the OSU Center for Rural Health, they found there is a significant shortage of doctors in rural Oklahoma. The study said in rural Oklahoma there is a primary care physician for every 1,535 people compared with one physician for every 740 in the state’s urban areas. The specialty where the largest shortage exists was in geriatric medicine- physicians treating the elderly. Some have described the impact on health care of America’s baby boomers hitting 65 to a health care tsunami.
*****
Another major factor is the amount of revenue available to Oklahoma government will likely decline in coming years due to the aging of the population. The Oklahoma Policy Institute says the declining percentage of the rural Oklahoma population paying taxes and holding jobs will impact revenues in such a way that it will force the legislature into making some hard decisions on entitlement programs and government services.
*****
Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. It you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” But an aging population does matter and it will impact Oklahoma in the coming years.
*****
Local and state leaders should be paying attention to these changing demographics before they look up one day and see their revenue down because a bunch of the population has retired. Local leaders in rural areas should be especially concerned because of the higher percentages of older citizens in their counties. By streamlining government and working to make it more efficient, they can prepare for the impact Oklahoma’s aging population will have on their budgets. It’s important government has a plan before that day arrives.
No comments:
Post a Comment