As you doubtlessly know, President Biden announced last week (by this video) that he is running for re-election in 2024. That was not welcomed by some Democrats, even many who are supporters of the President and voted for him in 2020 (as I am and did). The main concern is his advanced age.
President Biden is already the oldest President in U.S.
history—and it is still over 625 days until the end of his present term. If
re-elected, he would be expected to serve for another five years and 8½ months
from now. That would put him two months past his 86th birthday.
The President seems to be physically fit now with no major
health concerns. But what about 5.7 years from now? There certainly is a
possibility that he would be able to finish a second term with no major health
issue arising. There perhaps is a stronger possibility that he would not be
able to do that.
Yes, I know that people age at different rates. When I was
still teaching in my mid-70s, some of my students remarked on how much more
vigorous I was than their grandfathers who were the same age. But I wouldn’t
have enough energy to teach that once-a-week three-hour evening course now, and
I am not yet 85.
There are many things I was able to do when I was 80 that I
no longer feel up to—despite being in good health. I am not inclined to
think it will be markedly different for Pres. Biden. Of course, he would be
surrounded by aides, advisors, and a large staff of helpers we ordinary people
don’t have.
Does raising questions about Biden’s age indicate ageism?
According to Ageism.org, “Ageism is the
discrimination against an individual strictly on the basis of their age.”
Along with racism, sexism, and ableism, ageism is an ongoing
societal problem. People should not be discriminated against and denigrated
because of some personal characteristic. All people have equal worth and should
be treated with equal respect.
But there is a distinct difference between racism and sexism
on the one hand and ableism and ageism on the other. The former pair is based
on the idea that those of one race/color are superior to those of another
race/color and that males are superior to females.
Some “discrimination” because of the latter pair is not a
matter of worth but of needed abilities to perform certain tasks. If I were needing
brain surgery, I wouldn’t want a surgeon with Parkinson’s disease—or an
85-year-old surgeon, for that matter—to perform that surgery.
Does that mean I would be guilty of ableism or ageism? I
think not.
Similarly, to raise questions about Pres. Biden being too
old to start a second term as President at age 82 is an expression of
legitimate concern, not an indication of ageism.
Still, if Pres. Biden is nominated for a second term,
I will vote for him. It is looking more and more as if Donald Trump will be the
Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. If he is, I have no
doubt but that Pres. Biden, although older, has better physical and mental
health.
Some Republican politicians are, of course, saying that voting for Biden
would likely end with Vice President Harris becoming President before Biden’s
second term would be completed.
Last week it was reported (here, for example) that Republican presidential candidate
Nikki Haley said that Pres. Biden will likely die within five years and that
his supporters would have to count on Vice President Harris if he were to win
re-election next year.
And, of course, that could well happen. But that might not
be so bad. Last week, Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson posted an
opinion article regarding the Vice President’s hard job at the present and her
suitability to succeed Pres. Biden, if that should be necessary. (You can read
that article here without a paywall).
I close with this bit of levity. At last Saturday night’s White House
Correspondents’ Dinner, Biden joked about his age: he said he believes in the
First Amendment that protects freedom of the press, and “not just because my
good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it.”
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For some time now, I have thought that any number of people I personally know could have served at least as well, and probably better, than three, perhaps four, of the last five presidents. I refer to people of adequate experience, proven ability, and strength commensurate with their being "in their prime." I believe President Biden has accomplished far more, and more positively, than would normally be expected of an octogenarian. His legislative savvy and skills have had much to do with that.
ReplyDeleteI have seen other elders of such age kept in office (senators, representatives) years beyond their own capacities (dementia is one problem) and the time they should have stepped down for the good of the nation, never mind the extraordinary covering capacities of their administrative and political staffs.
Have we not arrived at the place where we should have recognized the dangerous, even destructive limits, of political presidencies and the need to find a greater measure of realism in selecting the leaders who hold the most powerful office in the world? Oh, for prudence, balanced character, and a public servant's attitude in the office! Could we stand that?
Thanks for your cogent comments, Jerry. I have thought that just as there is a minimum age for the presidency, perhaps there ought to be a constitutional amendment that would also set an age limit not only for the president but for senators and representatives as well. If 35 is the lower limit, perhaps 70, twice that, at the time of election would be a suitable upper limit.
DeleteAt the university in Japan where I was a faculty member for 36 years, an age limit for not only professors but for administrators and trustees as well was set at 70. I was not wholeheartedly in favor of that age limitation, for I knew of both professors and trustees who seemed fully capable of continuing in their important position even though they had turned 70. But I came to realize that that was probably a good decision for the overall effectiveness of the university system. If that is true for an educational institution, it is probably also true in the political world.
I read your Blog Leroy with keen interest and went to our Holy Spirit within us for Advice&Guidance and this is what I received: You said it well in your Blog-All Presidents have Multiple Aids&Counselors to assist them and I personally feel it should be up to us Voters to decide.
ReplyDeleteSince this is such an important issue in Any election, there will be much INFO in the News for us All to get plenty of Pros&Cons to make an intelligent decision.
This is my opinion Leroy and I'll be interested in reading the opinions of Others.
Thanks for Giving me the opportunity to Comment.
Blessings to All,
John Carr
Thanks for your comments, John Tim. And, yes, it will be up to the voters to decide who their elected political leaders will be. But in this connection, please read the comments above by Dr. Summers, a retired college professor, and my response to his comments.
DeleteI will be 91 at the end of this month, and I'm mentally as active as I was when I retired at 83. I will vote for Biden and hope for the best. As you well know, people in the Orient seem to respect age (and the wisdom that presuably comes with it) more than we seem to in the West. Noone seems to have a problem with the Pope's being 86!
ReplyDeleteVicki, it was good to hear from you again; thanks for commenting. I think it was great that you were able to teach until you were 83. I only taught until I was 77, and while I think I am certainly mentally alert enough to be able to conduct classes still, I don't think I could do that satisfactorily now because of physical energy/stamina limitations.
DeleteAs for people in East Asia respecting age, that is true, at least in theory, for past times, but I am not sure it is so widely the case now. As I just mentioned above, decades ago Seinan Gakuin prohibited anyone from being able to start teaching in a new academic year after their 70th birthday.
And then regarding the Pope: I'm not sure there are not those within the Catholic Church who have a problem with the current Pope being 86, but be that as it may, when it comes to voting for his successor, whenever that might be, only the Cardinals who are not yet 80 will be allowed to vote.
Vicki, Dr. Glenn Hinson, a Thinking Friend who is slightly older than you, sent this brief comment to my blog article: "I’m with you, Leroy. 11 years older than Biden! I will vote for him. Think of the alternative!"
Delete👍🏽 —Anton
ReplyDeleteHere are comments from Thinking Friend Eric Dollard in Chicago:
ReplyDelete"The presidency is an extremely demanding job, and I wonder if someone in his (or her) 80s has the stamina the job demands. Biden is an experienced politician, which has helped him considerably, but I would prefer a younger Democratic nominee, but I do not know who would be a good nominee in place of Biden.
"If the Democrats nominated someone younger than Biden, and if Trump is the Republican nominee, the Democrats would have a notable advantage as Trump himself will be 78 in 2024.
"Although I oppose age discrimination, the presidency is not just some ordinary job. I will be 75 later this year, and even though I am currently in good health, I doubt that I have the stamina the presidency demands, so I have serious doubts about Biden's physical ability to serve another term. He should pick his running mate very carefully."
Thanks for your comments, Eric. Regarding your last paragraph: I am ten years older than you, but still younger than Biden would be at the end of a second term. I am positive that I no longer have the stamina the presidency demands--or even the stamina to meet the demands of the job I had as chancellor of a large educational institution when my second term ended at age 65. So that's the reason I also have serious doubts about the advisability of Biden running for re-election. But regarding his running mate, I think there is no question that at this point Kamala is definitely his pick--and she will only be 60 on election day 2024.
DeleteThis afternoon, I received the following email from Virginia Belk, Thinking Friend was a college classmate at William Jewell College (class of '59); she now lives in New Mexico.
ReplyDelete"Despite all he has been unsuccessful in getting passed, Mr. Biden has accomplished a myriad of important tasks. Ms. Harris is fully qualified to succeed him as president, if the need were to arise. The GOP alternatives make me shudder. I will vote for Joe and Kamala in the primary election and hope that they are the Democratic candidates in the General one. In which case I will vote for them, then, as well.
"Age has less to do with calendars and more to do with abilities, interests, and motivation. ... I fully expect to remain able to continue at the present pace up to my 90th birthday, at least."
Thanks for your comments, too, Virginia. I am happy you are still so active. As for me, while I still have a plethora of interests and considerable motivation, I simply don't have the physical energy/stamina to do what I did up until the age of 80 or so. I'm glad you do, but as I wrote in the blog article, people age at different rates, and that is true both mentally and physically. Even in individuals the aging process of mind and body often varies markedly.
DeleteOf course, I don't know with certainty regarding Biden's stamina at his age, but it seems to me an odd leap to conclude that because you don't have the stamina at your age, he wouldn't have it at his. That's not ageism, but it is projection. I didn't get a chance to say it earlier this morning when we talked, but, for what it's worth, I'd mention that we have 80+ year-old softball teams in this town playing in national tournaments.
ReplyDeleteAnton, just as you were writing these comments, I was responding to Virginia just above, indicating that I realize that people age at different rates. And just before that, I responded to the "serious doubts" of Eric, who is the same age as you, and said that I have similar concerns. As for the 80+ softball teams, I don't question that at all--and am happy for them. (I wish I could join them--and I still could play softball which I greatly enjoyed back in the day, although now it would be only for a few innings each time.) But I'm sure the area hospitals also have many 80+ men in them who will not live until the end of this month. And in any given year, there are most likely far more 80+ year old men who die than who play in a national softball tournament.
DeleteYes, I saw your response to Virginia with the statement about variability among people of the same age but which you don't seem to be taking seriously in your blog or in this thread. And in this thread you've said that Harris is qualified to be president. So, I'm wondering why you're so concerned because clearly you've joined the ranks of those who believe Biden is too old to run for president.
DeleteWell, Anton, I thought I was taking seriously the way people age at different rates. That still doesn't mean that although Joe is "hale and hearty" now and currently meeting the physical demands of the presidency he will be able to do so for 5.7 more years. Perhaps so, perhaps not. Both possibilities have to be considered. But I am inclined to think that "perhaps not" is the more likely scenario.
DeleteThat being the case, it seems to me that it would be better for him to retire gracefully and to allow the Democratic Party deliberately pick a new candidate for the 2024 election. I would support Kamela, but it seems to me that it would be far better for her to become President by the nation's voters than by default. And if she didn't get the nomination after the primaries, perhaps the one chosen at the Democratic National Convention would be the better President.
I respectfully disagree with both you Leroy&Jerry that the upper age limit should be 70.
ReplyDeleteThere are several reasons and one is that when one gets older they have more Experience and Greater Wisdom.
Also, we are living longer and Healither lives.
Like I said in my original comments, let us voters decide who is competent to Serve..
Lastly, what was the ages of who GOD used to Prophesie to His people?
And then there is this from Psalm 90:10
DeleteWe live at best to be seventy years old,
maybe eighty, if we’re strong.
But their duration brings hard work and trouble
because they go by so quickly.
And then we fly off. (Common English Bible)
I'm slow posting these responses received by email two or three days ago from local Thinking Friend Bill Ryan:
ReplyDelete"Biden is younger than I, so I can have an octogenarian opinion based on experience with age. I found the NYT (Sun. April 3, p.17) article "Biden Would End a Second Term at 86 . . ." helpful in forming an opinion on the subject. It includes interviews with medical doctors who study 8 health factors which apply to anyone of advanced age. My conclusion is: Why shouldn't he run if he wants to? To paraphrase a once popular pop song, "What's Age Got To Do With It? But my follow-up question is, "Why would anyone who has worked hard throughout life want the stress of being President of the United States?!" Wouldn't retirement in good health be welcome? However, from a political point of view, if Biden wants to solidify the success of his agenda, he'll need another term."
Thanks for your comments, Bill. In reflecting on what you wrote, I realized that the question I posed was probably not the best one I could have chosen. Obviously, since Pres. Biden has announced that he is running for re-election, he doesn't think he is too old, and he has the right to make that decision, regardless of whether it is a good one for him or for the country.
DeleteThe proper question, perhaps, is "Should Pres. Biden run for re-election in 2024?" And since I think age has a lot to do with it, I am inclined to think that he shouldn't. (But as I tried to make clear, if he is the Dem. nominee, I will vote for him.)
I think Senator Feinstein is a good argument for why there should be an age limit for national elected officials. One problem with the debate so far is that we tend to compare too early limits with no limits. I think the limit should probably be somewhere between 80 and 90. Feinstein started her current term about age 85, and will end it at age 91. She has run into major health issues at 89. If we set the limit for a new term at age 84, then no Senator could serve past 90, and no President past age 88. Since Biden will be 86 at the end of a second term, I think that puts an 84 limit as the outside limit. Personally, I think age 80 would be a safer limit.
ReplyDeleteAs for those who love public life and want to continue to serve, there are plenty of non-elective posts they could occupy, such as Presidential counselor, or even a cabinet official. In sports we let people play as long as they can perform well (see Tom Brady), but there is always a manager around to pull them from the line up when the falter. As we found out with Trump, in politics there are few real remedies to a politician who wants to stay past their useful life.
Thanks for your comments, Craig--and for identifying yourself after you first posted this. (When I was first reading this, I wondered who could be writing such cogent comments.) I still think, though, that if there is an age limit it should be lower than what you suggest. Perhaps my suggestion of 70 is a bit too low, but ideally I don't think it ought to be above 75.
DeleteLast week I received notification from Clay County saying I was being summoned for possible jury duty. I called the number given saying that I am going to turn 85 this summer and I am not sure I would have the stamina to do jury duty. I was quickly told that Clay County does not require anybody over 75 to serve on a jury, so I was released from the summons. So, if people 75 and over are routinely excused for jury duty (at least in this county), why do we think that people over that age are young enough to serve as President and "leader of the free world"?
Ooops! I was not logged in! Craig is showing his age!
ReplyDelete