Oldest. Congress. Ever.

Even as we get ready for the inauguration of one of the youngest Presidents in history, USA today is reporting that the 111th Congress will be the oldest ever:

The nation's capital is about to confront a political generation gap: Barack Obama, one of the youngest presidents ever to take the oath of office when he's inaugurated Jan. 20, will be working with the nation's oldest Congress.

The average age will be 57 in the House and 63 in the Senate, according to the chambers' historical offices. In each case, it's the highest on record.

I don't note this to be ageist, or to be an unthinking booster of more young people in Congress. Experience - particularly in arcane policy matters - can be an asset, and youth isn't inherently a positive trait. However, older Americans are routinely on the wrong side of many issues facing our country. They were on the wrong side of Prop 8 in California. Many in Congress were wrong on Iraq and the Patriot Act. And older generations have been unbearably slow to recognize the threat of global warming and the need for a green energy economy. Younger members are far more likely to be on the right side of these issues and push for bolder action than older members of Congress. So yes, age does matter here.

All is not without hope. There is some young (Democratic) blood getting pumped into the House of Representatives this week:

• Jared Polis (CO-2) '75
• Glenn Nye (VA-2) '74
• Tom Perriello (VA-5) '74
• Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3) '72
• Martin Heinrich (NM-1) '71
• John Boccieri (OH-16) '69
• Dan Maffei (NY-25) '68
• Frank Kratovil (MD-1) '68

Irony of ironies, the 111th Congress will also see Republican Aaron Schock (IL - 18), seated in the House. Despite the GOP's trouble with Millennials this year, Schock will be the youngest member of Congress and the first Congressman to be born in the 1980s.