Power in America is concentrated in the hands of people in their late 60s and beyond, and that grip is unlikely to loosen soon — bad news for younger generations waiting their turn.

• The people holding the most power worldwide are mostly aged 65 to 75, and longer lifespans mean they will hold on far longer than past generations did.
• Chuck Grassley, at 92, sits fourth in line to the presidency — a symbol of how old the top of American government has become.
• Nothing gets done about it because the same generation controls the money, the offices, and the rules for changing them.
• The projected result is sharper separation: fortified, privately guarded communities for wealthy older people while street homelessness spreads in US cities.

Outlook: Expect the age gap at the top to widen before it narrows, with no mechanism in sight to force a handover.