Does this nation, despite its obvious drawbacks, seem a bit more peaceful these days? That's because we have fewer kids around than ever before. Congratulations! You're all doing the right things, reproduction-wise.

Currently, the share of children in the U.S. is 24 percent, falling below the previous low of 26 percent of 1990. The share is projected to slip further, to 23 percent by 2050, even as the percentage of people 65 and older is expected to jump from 13 percent today to roughly 20 percent by 2050 due to the aging of baby boomers and beyond.

For comparison's sake, in 1900 40% of our nation's population was children, and only 4% were senior citizens. Probably because everyone died young back then! This is progress personified! Of course, it means that for anyone who's a young adult right now, our Social Security is going to be a disaster. But it would have been a disaster no matter how many people were paying in, thanks to our nation's elected officials. And this way we at least have less shouting and carrying on outside after midnight.

God damn kids. We have you outnumbered.

[AP; photo via Howard Brier/ Flickr]