Entrepreneur and megabillionaire Elon Musk called for an age limit on elected officials in the United States in a Thursday tweet, appearing to take a shot at President Joe Biden.
Musk is no fan of Biden, having previously accused the Democrat elder of “sleeping” after a SpaceX launch Biden decided to not address or recognize.
Biden is the oldest President in the history of the United States. His unpopular administration has been sagged by accusations of cognitive decline on the part of the 79-year old President, who often struggles to form complete sentences and speak in a fashion that’s fluid and cogent.
The United States is somewhat distinct in its public preference for aged leaders- a development some have traced to the country’s age of prosperity following World War II, a time in which the youngest generations were handed more economic and social opportunities than any time in history. It’s been common for several decades for politicians born in the years 1942-1950 to hold presidential and federal office, a distinction shared by Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Minimum age limits are a common feature of electoral politics throughout the democratic world, with most countries requiring candidates for public office to have met a certain age. To run for President in the United States, the Constitution specifies you must be thirty-five years of age. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that some states could impose upper age limits on political candidates, seeking to capitalize on the vitality of younger generation and dissuading eternal politicians from sitting in office after their prime has passed.
The Vatican is one exception, requiring bishops to retire at the age of 75.
This should be the case for all elected officials. Let’s say you cannot serve past 70 years old, and you cannot run for any office past the age of 65. This could also apply to state and local officials, and the Supreme Courts. In fact, the 70-year rule could apply to all government employees. Some companies have mandatory retirement ages, so why shouldn’t our government? Certainly there are some advantages to experience, but how much more experienced are you at 70 than at 60? If any more experience counts, does it count enough?
I totally agree. When I discuss politics with my children I always say “I have no future, I am 75 years old, my future is you (my children)” I also tell them vote for younger candidates because their future is your future. Do we need politicans who have been serving for 45+ years and who are 70+ years old making decisions on a future that they themselves will not be part of? I am not saying these people aren’t capable but their days have past, and truthfully some of them are no longer capable. Why are they not given cognitive test after 70 or 65, I see no harm in that.
I agree, but term limits is a better idea. NO long term people in office like Piglosi, Schumer and a lot of other congressmen and senators who have been in office WAY too long. Then age would not be a factor. Presidents can only serve two terms, it should be the same for all the offices in government.