In most cultures, aging is associated with the increase of wisdom. The older one gets, the broader one's knowledge becomes, due to the richness of life experiences, and the elderly are often revered as guides for behavior. Therefore, the elderly usually enjoy the highest status, and only the elderly have the qualifications to hold power. However, in today's American society, aging has become a disadvantage. The use of surgical techniques, beauty creams, and injectables is making people look younger. When people reach their forties, it’s no longer seen as entering another stage of life, but rather as taking a big step closer to death. The young have quietly taken control of the national economy; they need less authority and show less respect for power.