“The beer brewed here. It is used to make the brewed beer. During is define, oh, earth rider. Thanks for the Great Lakes. I wonder why,” said President Biden during a campaign stop at a Wisconsin Brewery, according to Fox News.
I am of the opinion that President Biden is unfit to serve a second term. While I think he has done an excellent job as president, playing a critical role in protecting our democracy from a seditionist, wannabe-usurper, he makes too many gaffes associated with age and overall shows signs of being less sharp than he used to be. Donald Trump also makes horrendous — often overlooked — blunders, such as believing his primary opponent, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, to be Nancy Pelosi in a recent speech in New Hampshire. Trump has furthermore had a long history of verbal gaffes, such as calling President Obama a founder of ISIS in 2016.
As the mental state of both presumed nominees has come under fire, many have been quick to insist on the age of candidates being the issue. At 81, Biden is the oldest president ever and would be at the ripe age of 86 at the end of a theoretical second term. It is worth noting that, of the 46 presidents in the history of the United States, only two have lived longer than Biden’s current age. Trump isn’t far off, coming in at 77 years old currently, and would be 82 at the end of his hypothetical second term. While this may be a grim concern, age truly isn’t the issue. In fact, I will argue that we stand to gain much more with an older leader than a young one. Gerontocracy should not be taken as a term of offense, but pride, as we stand to gain security in democracy, moderation and great knowledge from elders when they are in charge.
America, like many countries, has no national age limit on its leaders. The Constitution sets minimum age requirements, but not maximums. The median age of members of the 19 active senior judges on the Federal Circuit is 71, with the United States House of Representatives being 57.9 years, and the Senate’s being 65.3 years. Many Americans are rightfully concerned about this, with the vast majority of people in both parties supporting age limits for federal elected officials and Supreme Court justices. These come with their complications and drawbacks. There are several aged senators, judges and representatives in the United States who are in perfect mental condition. Furthermore, the creation of an age limit could be used as a political weapon. A party in Congress could raise or lower the age to disqualify their opposition by revoking an older member’s right to run for office.
Poland, which is itself a teetering democracy, saw the mandatory retirement age for judges lowered by the ruling Law and Justice Party in 2017. Though ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice, the act was a clearly partisan grab that used an age limit to suppress the courts’ ability to limit the party’s anti-democratic laws.
It is worth further recognition that many beloved American leaders are on the older side. Bernie Sanders, known for his sharp direct speeches and progressive social policies, is 82 years old. He’s allegedly considered a possible figure in the 2024 presidential race as well. A 90-year-old Sanders may be perfectly fit for office. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is a well-liked figure in the Republican Party and a strong conservative leader at 79.
Ultimately, the age of a leader is not an issue, but their competency is. While Biden and Trump may be deemed unfit or unqualified, age shouldn’t be the supreme criterion. Former Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg demonstrated immense mental competency in her role until her death from cancer at age 87. Former Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor remained active in judicial practice after retiring from the Supreme Court in 2006 at the age of 76. She died at age 93 in 2023. We should never forgo the experience and wisdom that our leaders can obtain through age. After all, as Biden said at the White House Press Dinner in 2023, who wouldn’t trust a president who served in the Senate for 270 years before beginning his term?
