Question

Younger Americans tend to be μch more concerned than older people about economic inequality, student debt, and stronger environmental regulations. However, these issues are not often the highest priorities of elected officials who pass laws to deal with these concerns. Which of the following helps explain why that is?

a) Elected officials prioritize issues with immediate impact.
b) Older people are more informed about policy implications.
c) Younger Americans have unrealistic policy expectations.
d) Elected officials prioritize issues with broader public support.

Answer 1

Issues like economic inequality and environmental regulations are often not priority for elected officials because these officials tend to focus on issues with wider public support, often influenced by the higher voter turnout.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks why issues that are important to younger Americans, such as economic inequality, student debt, and environmental regulations, are not often the highest priorities for elected officials. The answer is d) Elected officials prioritize issues with broader public support. This is because elected officials need to cater to the preferences of their broader constituencies, which often include older voters who tend to have higher voter turnout rates, have different policy priorities, and may be more concerned with immediate issues such as Medicare. While younger Americans might prioritize long-term solutions and systemic changes, they are less likely to vote and their concerns are often not represented with the same urgency in the political sphere. Furthermore, the competitive nature of American politics encourages officials to focus on issues that appeal to the widest base, such as those affecting the largest voting demographics.