There are eight months until the next presidential election, but our top two front runners for candidacy is a match-up no American wants to go through again. Despite all of the differing opinions and arguments about politics throughout the past few years, I think it’s clear that voters across the nation don’t want our choice to be between two men over a decade past the standard retirement age.
President Joe Biden is currently 81 and the oldest person to hold office in American history. By inauguration time next year, he will be 82 and potentially end his second term at 86! Furthermore, Former President Donald Trump sits at age 77 which means he would join President Biden as the oldest President in office once the four years following his potential re-election finishes.
The constitution requires presidential candidates to be at least 35 years of age, but there is no age limit on how old they can be when they hold national responsibilities. Why is that?
According to the Pew Research Center, 79% of Americans favor age limits for elected officials in Washington, D.C. and while experience (and therefore older age) is preferred, 49% of Americans report that it’s best for a president to be in their 50s. I agree that this is the prime range for each candidate as they will ideally represent the younger generation’s views and also work in good health.
The maximum candidate, however, should not be older than 66 during the election process as they should not surpass the age of 70 while in office. A politician is not immune to the routine aging consequences every 70-year-old experiences, including hearing and vision loss, weakened bones, worsening memory and decision-making abilities, etc. A leader at this age will also generally not be able to successfully bridge each generation together as they are too out of touch with the younger American people.
In addition to age limits, there should be standard neurocognitive and physical health evaluations any candidate needs to pass before they are allowed on the ballot. Are their mental abilities considered normal? Are they psychologically sound? These answers would ensure we are handing over the keys of our country to the right hands no matter what any person has to say about their political party or belief. No matter what, we should feel safe.
Most arguments against making an age limit are the problem of “ageism”—prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s age—but can’t someone make this same defense for our current age requirement? Is it not ageist that a person younger than 35 can’t be put on the ballot either?
The only jobs that force a person to retire are firefighters, police officers, and military service members if their age has considerably impacted their ability to perform in their roles. In these cases, a person can not work to an ideal standard with impaired physical health. For someone who holds power over an entire country, I would argue that their mental health stands just as much weight as physical conditions for active positions.
To make this change would require a constitutional amendment, and as a result, bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress—something that does not seem ideal these days. But how can we continue to allow leaders in such a life-impacting position, who are clearly affected by their age, to hold so much power? It’s time to start putting some deeper thought into who exactly is going to be our next American president.
Leave a Reply