If you’re young, vote for a younger Congress

“Don’t trust anyone over 30.” — Jack Weinberg, 1964

 “I’m confident we’re going to win.” — Mitch McConnell, 76, Senate majority leader, during Kavanagh hearing

 “Do whatever you have to do, just win, baby.” Nancy Pelosi, 78, former House speaker, to Democratic candidates

 If you’re under 30 years old, then you’re one of nearly 60 percent of voting-eligible adults in the youngest generations in the United States. But you likely won’t be among the majority who actually vote. That’s a shame, and in this mid-term election, your failure to vote would be surrendering your future to political hacks and miscreants.

If you don’t vote Nov. 6, you’re risking your life. You’d be failing to hold accountable those who selfishly and foolishly put your life at risk — as well as those who refuse to act against such selfishness and foolishness.

The risks you face as a result of an incompetent, selfish Congress bowing to a president are many — a foolish emphasis on “saving” coal, attempts to weaken clean water regulations, curtailing regulations on uranium mill waste tailings, and numerous attacks on environmental regulations. All these, and many more, are risks to your health and longevity.

But the largest risk you face is the lack of congressional and presidential interest and action to curtail the coming consequences of climate change. Denial and rejection of science at the highest levels of American government mean that you — the young among us — will be those who face the outcome of uncontrolled climate change.

Should nations refuse to jointly address climate change — and the current American government has demonstrated it will not act in any leadership capacity — your ability to prosper, to enjoy life, to ensure a better future for your children will falter.

When 2050 arrives, you’ll be nearing retirement age. Today, you have about 325 million neighbors. In 2050, the Census Bureau predicts, the American population may exceed 450 million people. Your children will see the 22^nd century. More people facing a warming climate with consequences just becoming visible.

It’s important you vote Nov. 6. It’s equally important that you vote in 2020 and 2022. That’s how long it will take you to throw out every member of Congress — regardless of party — and replace them.

Why is that important? You are under 30 years old. Members of Congress average more than a quarter of a century older than you. More than half of the senators up for election this year are more than 65 years old. The Democratic House leadership averages 72 years old; the GOP leadership, 48 years old. Both parties’ committee chairs and ranking members are about 60 and older.

Because they are considerably older than you, they will be dead and gone when the harshest consequences of climate change descend on you.

You will be left — alive and hopefully healthy — to resolve the issues of finding electricity without generation of methane and carbon dioxide, dealing with the destruction caused by more frequent and stronger storms, and figuring out to best work with other nations in humanity’s common interest. That will cost trillions of dollars. (Imagine the impact of those costs on your taxes.)

Throw them all out. Every. Last. One. Members of the current 115^th Congress, one of the oldest on record, have failed to act in the nation’s best interest in regard to climate change.

Throw them all out. Replace them with younger members of Congress who understand and respect science. Replace them with your peers who seek humanity’s betterment rather than merely acquiring and holding on to power for self-enrichment. Replace them with those who will legislate wisely instead of obstruct foolishly.

Throw. Them. All. Out.