Daniel Pink explores a reader's idea for a National Department of Aging. By 2040, one in five Americans will be over 65. Most cabinet departments organize around what they do, not who they serve, making Veterans Affairs the rare exception that could be a model.
This is Daniel Pink. I write the Why Not column for The Washington Post, where we explore big ideas for remaking our country, our organizations, and our personal lives. We've gotten thousands of ideas from readers all over America. Here's one from somebody in Tampa who says, why not create a National Department of Aging, where professionals are dedicated to increasing the quality of life for the elderly? Interesting idea. It makes you think about how we organize cabinet departments, federal agencies right now. They're very rarely by the people who are actually being served, with the exception of, say, Veterans Affairs. They're usually about a domain— agriculture, commerce, something like that. Renaming them, reshaping them might reorient their focus. It's certainly a good idea given the aging of the population. By 2040, 1 in 5 Americans, myself included, will be above 65 years old. So Department of Aging, kind of like it. What do you think? Tell us in the comments.
