During a recent press conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a momentary freeze, leaving him in silence until an aide intervened. This incident received widespread coverage from the establishment media, which is understandable given McConnell’s influential position. However, it would be fair and ethical if the same level of scrutiny were applied to our cognitively challenged president. He often engages in behavior such as interacting with imaginary leprechauns, struggling with stairs, and even forgetting the names of his cabinet members. It is apparent that people are growing frustrated with the advanced age of our top leaders. Despite this, age limits, as some have proposed, may not be particularly useful. Experience holds its own value, and there is little evidence to suggest that younger politicians are more apt at governing. Recent events indicate that they may exhibit the same unwise partisanship and perhaps even less respect for constitutional order.
Politicians are not responsible for ushering in new technologies or gaining popularity on social media; rather, their primary role is to govern the nation within the boundaries of the law. Would politicians like Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Marjorie Taylor Greene prove to be better guardians of Republican values? I remain doubtful. There are certainly situations where age should serve as a disqualification. For instance, California’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein, at 90 years old, has reportedly delegated power of attorney to her daughter. If an individual cannot be trusted to make personal decisions, how can they be entrusted with decisions impacting the lives of others? This seems like a reasonable threshold for removing someone from office. However, it is worth noting that even a person in a coma would likely be a better option for the country than figures like Adam Schiff or Katie Porter. Consequently, mental sharpness does decline with age, but humans do not age in a uniform manner. There are plenty of 80-year-olds who exhibit sharpness and many 60-year-olds who encounter cognitive challenges.
Arguably, age minimums for holding public office align with James Madison’s potential stance in The Federalist No. 62, as they ensure that individuals possess a “greater extent of information and stability of character” as they grow older. Most 25-year-olds may not possess the necessary maturity to vote. On the contrary, imposing an arbitrary maximum age limit makes less sense. It would be more logical to administer cognitive and civics tests rather than solely relying on age. Personally, I find it hard to believe that Sen. Chuck Grassley, at 89 years old, is any less competent or knowledgeable than Sen. Chris Murphy, who is 50 years old. Nevertheless, all of this remains theoretical, as implementing age maximums would require a constitutional amendment. Luckily, a solution already exists: voting. We often act as if we have no choice but to accept these septuagenarians and octogenarians in power when, in reality, we have the power to vote them out. If three-quarters of voters genuinely believed that President Joe Biden is too old for office, they would seek alternative candidates. However, Democrats prefer to portray the president, who is far from being a leading intellectual or physical dynamo, as a strong leader simply because they want to hold onto power. Deep down, they are aware that a fresh-faced politician like Mayor Pete does not provide a better alternative. The truth is that when it truly matters, voters across the country gravitate towards the experienced leaders. This may be because they are known quantities, they effectively bring resources back to their constituencies, or perhaps because people genuinely like them. If that were not the case, none of these seasoned politicians would find themselves in Washington.
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