According to a paper written for the National Academy on an Aging Society by John W. Rowe, professor at Columbia University, shifting focus away from the negative aspects of aging and toward the positive potential of older Americans would benefit society as a whole. Rowe writes that aging should be seen as an issue affecting everyone, not just the elderly. The overwhelming attention paid to Social Security and Medicare leads to a perception that older Americans are taking resources from younger generations rather than emphasizing the contributions seniors can offer to society. According to Rowe, shifting how aging is viewed in America can lead to a cohesive and productive society rather than one where there are increasing gaps in quality of life and opportunity and an inability to provide the goods and services necessary for a progressively older population.