Protecting America From Aging Presidents

Politics & Elections
1

An average 79 year old American who took a job lasting four years would, according to insurance tables and easy calculation, have an eight year life expectancy and a 27% chance of not making it to the end of term. Starting at 83, the numbers change to 6.3 years and 36%.

I value elderly people and think they often make better politicians. But not every job is equally demanding. Enormous mental acuity is needed to properly manage complex affairs and understand modern developments. My personal opinion, of no consequence, meant without patronage, is both candidates are too old.

I liked this NYT opinion article - limited gift linked, which offered options, including age limits. Especially the first (of several) opinion below. To be clear, ex-Presidents have done much important diplomacy and charitable work. They have an important role to play. But the odds of finishing the job should be robust.

A problem with getting presidents to step down is that there is no incentive for them to do so. It is hard to plummet from being the most powerful person on the planet to nothing at all. Rather than just tossing them off the highway, you need to guide them to an off-ramp. They need a consolation prize.

In Britain, prime ministers can be “kicked upstairs”: promoted out of power by being ennobled and given a seat in the House of Lords. It’s a system that works well for smooth transitions. Because prime ministers conventionally sit in the House of Commons and not the House of Lords, the new prime minister is safe from intrigue from a vengeful predecessor.

The former minister gets a fancy title and robes to help cushion the blow of their political humiliation and a cheap, harmless sinecure as an excuse to hang around the Parliament that defined their lives rather than feeling they were consigned to oblivion. Even after she was overthrown by her own party, Margaret Thatcher was made Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.

If this is a problem, how do you think America should handle it, now and in the future?

https://wapo.st/3WtheJF

2

Sounds to me like they’re running out of ways to write “Biden old! Biden old old OLD!”

This is a solution in search of a problem.

3

It seems to me the easiest way to deal with it is make an upper age limit to running, like being 35yo(?) before you can run.

4

The problem will solve itself if Biden makes it four more months. He wins the election, turns it over to 60-year-old Kamala Harris. Several generations pass before another 81-year-old will even be nominated.

Done and done.

5

I like the British system. However, the Biden situation repeating itself is unlikely. Even low information voters will recall the drama we are living through. Barring relevant medical advances, a candidate in their 70’s or 80’s will be unelectable going forward.

6

There’s one assumption in there that could pose a problem.

7

OK, Trump wins the election, has a heart attack and 39-year-old J. D. Vance becomes president. Several generations pass before another 78-year-old will even be nominated.

Done and done.

8

Actually, everybody is looking at how to get a sitting President to resign or a first termer not to run again.

But the situation could equally apply to any President who completes their two terms. Clinton, George W., Obama all served two terms and then were kicked to the curb.

I know some of the problem with keeping them in politics is the idea of giving the reins to the new guy and not constantly meddling or second-guessing. Our political system had a longstanding principle to that effect, if not actually codified anywhere. Of course, Trump overthrew that precedent, too.

The last guy who was beat out of a second term was Bush I, and he didn’t get all pissy and throw temper tantrums all over Clinton.

But there could be value in finding a role that they could play other than motivational speaker and book tours.

Then again that’s probably more lucrative than being President, so they have that.

9

In some countries being president might enrich your family or keep you free.

It goes without saying that in my first post the statistics are slightly different for women.

10

NYT is biased, and what you are proposing is ageism, which is a form of Bigotry. Not to mention it would require a Constitutional amendment,- which aint happening.

We already have a protection from ageing or young or bad, or whatever presidents- voters.

No one wants Biden to resign- that would be a disaster.

A minority of Dems want Biden to step aside as the Candidate. Entirely different.

11

Exactly. The tradition here is that a defeated (or term-limited) ex-president leaves governmental service entirely. Speaking engagements, writing memoirs, running foundations, etc., is the norm. The last ones I can think of who did otherwise were:

  • William Taft, who served one term as President (1909-13), and was named Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court eight years later; in addition, he served as co-chairman of the National War Labor Board during WWI.
  • Herbert Hoover, who after being voted out of office in 1932, unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination again in 1936 and 1940.
12

I do. Rather than bring a disaster, I think Harris a safer hand on the nuclear football.

I previously linked, in my responses to your earlier posts, the names of two Democratic house members who seem to say it.

Multiple Republicans are saying it, but I do not think they are sincere. They are hoping that their favorite opponent, Joe Biden, stays in the picture. They know many Democrats will figure that if J. D. Vance says it, we should automatically do the opposite. Mistake! He’s a schemer.

13

I like Biden, but 70% of Democrats are said to have concerns. I was personally surprised by his appearance, not his spoken words, during the debate. I think many people were, and voter, fundraiser and party perceptions matter. As you say voters can decide. At the moment. But not before another four years.

If someone statistically has a 1 in 4 or higher chance of not finishing their term, there is valid reason to be concerned about this and these concerns cannot be fully dismissed by posturing about prejudice. There is a difference between the presidency and working as a professor or podiatrist.

In this case there are other factors. I would like to see the Democrats win this election, for many reasons, but their candidate is not specifically the subject of this thread. There are other threads for that. I share the above concerns about Trump as well.

14

The linked article is from the Washington Post.

15

My mistake.

16

Ageism when it comes to job performance is not bigotry at all, unless you are arguing that air traffic controllers or airline pilots shouldn’t be required to retire at age 65 or so forth.

By the same but opposite logic, we always have minimum age requirements for things - we don’t let people drink alcohol or drive cars before a certain age. Is that age-ism?

17

Yes, they should not. You should retire when your age or health effects your job performance. I would rather have a 65 yo Airforce vet with 45 years of flying than a 25 yo guy who just got out of flight school. The 65 yo pilot will have a younger guy as co-pilot.

No, they are not 40.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protects applicants and employees who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination based on age in any aspect of employment.

So yes, saying that someone is too old- just based on age and age alone- is bigotry and illegal under Federal Law.

and going back to the OP

Joe Biden is not average- he eats right, gets exercise, doesnt smoke, is trim, and has the best medical care possible. I would expect Joe to live well past 90.

Let us compare that to trump- eats fast food, exercise is golf- with a cart- is overweight, sleeps around, and thinks he is smarter than doctors. I am not sure why he is still alive. :crazy_face:

18

America has a long history of codifying bigotry into law and continues to do so today with a colorful variety of laws to oppress women, the LGBT community and minorities. Doesn’t make it right but also certainly doesn’t mean America won’t do it either.

Because God is a son of a bitch and a Republican, in that order.

19

That’s what people are afraid of.

20

Yeah, the problem is, your idea pretty much ensures a Trump victory, then his hand is on the nuclear football. No thanks.