Politicians and the Problems of Age

[mystery-ak]

March 11, 2023
Politicians and the Problems of Age
By Noel S. Williams

Increased age heightens the risk of developing dementia.  Dementia heightens the risk of slips, trips, and falls, resulting in physical incapacitation.  Stumbling, bumbling seniors who are physically and mentally incapacitated should probably not serve -- serve -- as elected leaders.

A centerpiece of Nikki Haley’s rationale for her candidacy for president is that we need a new generation of leadership.  Some agree with her call for mental competency tests for politicians over age 75.  Some disagree, including, naturally, the American Association of Retired People.  The AARP asserts that it should be unacceptable to discriminate based on age. However, age is sometimes a bona-fide occupational consideration for politicians.

Elected leaders need to show up, or at least be available. They need to vote; they need to visit constituents; they need to have stamina, and engage for long periods; they need to be able to concentrate, and to debate vigorously; they need to think clearly, free of brain fog.  In short, to hold public office requires vigor, and a candidate must, at a bare minimum, be ambulatory.

Discrimination has a bad name, but sometimes it’s necessary -- not based on a candidate’s sex, race, ethnicity, religion, orientation, or whatnot.  That’s forbidden, but discriminating tastes and choices concerning someone’s age, which demonstrably affects one’s abilities, can be a legitimate way to identify candidates with marginal mental competence, or dementia.  With dementia, the risks of injury from falling increases, something our senior politicians do a lot.

Studies indicate that persons with Alzheimer’s have gait and balance deficits. The National Health Service in the U.K. also documents that people with dementia are at greater risk of falling down because they, “are more likely to experience problems with mobility, balance and muscle weakness.” Unfortunately, our geriatric leaders are at greater risk of not remaining upright.

more
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/03/politicians_and_the_problems_of_age.html

[Fishrrman]

Solution:
Age limits included in the qualifications required to run for office.

We already HAVE THEM in the Constitution, to wit, for representatives, senators, presidents (minimum age requirements).

Let's go further, and include a clause that a requirement for elected office is that one must not yet have attained 72 years of age at the time of assuming office.

Same for ALL federal judges and Supreme Court justices:
Mandatory retirement upon attaining the age of 72 years.

Again, this IS NOT "age discrimination" if it's written into the Constitution.
It will be completely "Constitutional", as the minimum age requirements already are.