The leading candidates for the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, have differing opinions on almost everything. However, they do have one thing in common: they are both over the age of 75.
In the past year, Biden has tripped or fallen seven times in public. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up several times in a public address, intensifying questions about his ability to serve and his future in the Senate. Due to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s unfortunate passing at the age of 90, the Senate Democrats were down one vote while Congress was facing tightly contested votes in order to keep the government funded and operational.
Elderly politicians must realize when it’s time to give up their jobs and make room for representatives from younger generations to step in. Overstaying often tarnishes their legacies and impedes the flow of ideas from people who are actively involved in the fundamentals of modern society.
The last seven senatorial elections that Senator McConnell has won for his seat show a trend of support for gerontocracy, or an elderly ruled society. Furthermore, the current and previous presidents were the oldest and second oldest at the time of their first election. The lack of concerned voters is resulting in a decline in function of the U.S. Government, particularly noticeable in the Senate, where experience is becoming seemingly outweighed by composure.
Age plays a huge role when it comes to one’s health and overall well-being. As people age, they become more likely to develop certain health conditions that may affect their ability to perform their jobs. This is something that voters should consider when casting their ballots.
Social science teacher Brandon Burmeister expresses his concern about Senator McConnell’s public incidents.
“It looked very much like McConnell had two strokes,” Burmeister said. “It’s scary to think about.”
Although some people don’t seem to be bothered by the obvious correlation between politicians’ health and advanced age, younger generations are voicing concerns about these politicians becoming less familiar with recent advancements in our society. Former United States Representative Stephanie Murphy said she is worried about what their lack of connectivity will mean for the U.S.
“I have concerns about octogenarians running our country when we have so many new technological advancements that are a key component of our economy and our society,”
Murphy said. “I worry that some of our leaders are disconnected from the types of things that matter to the American people.”
In March the Biden administration introduced a bill that would allow them to ban foreign companies it considers a national security risk. The administration then announced its plan to ban TikTok, which quickly became a very controversial topic among its users.
“There are people in their 80s and 90s in Congress that are supposed to be writing laws that are going to help us manage more contemporary things like TikTok, but I think it really just doesn’t make sense for people to be in charge of things that they’re not familiar with,” Burmeister said.
The government is on a path to deterioration as elderly politicians remain in their positions of power, with nothing keeping them there except for greed and an irrational fear of what our country would be like if they are replaced. Faith needs to be instilled in the competence of future generations, because nothing will improve without an influx of new ideas.
Murphy provides insight on how we can access these perspectives and get the younger population more involved in politics.
“I think there are a lot of ways that we can make it easier for newcomers to get into elected office and that comes with campaign finance reform, the ending of gerrymandering, basically undermining of some of the advantages that come with incumbency that will enable fresh ideas and fresh perspectives,” Murphy said.
If nothing changes and octogenarians spend their days waning in their elected seats, the US government will continue to fail to reach the level of effectiveness that it needs to. Something needs to be done because as of right now, the U.S. Senate is, as 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley said in an interview with FOX News, “the most privileged nursing home in the country.”
