If one is paying attention to modern American politics, one will notice a growing trend of politicians that seem to get older every year. This, of course, is a natural thing for people to age. Yet, the people in power have been in those positions for too long, which means that the politicians end up living most of their life in the position. For example, Danny K. Davis, a Chicago Congressman who has been in his position for 26 years, is currently 81 years old. This phenomenon of extreme age within U.S. politics is having a negative impact on the political landscape. The thing about getting older is that many times when people get older, they see things as it was when they were young.
However, things aren’t the same way when these 65-plus-year-old politicians were young. This cognitive dissonance between experience and reality creates politicians that have no idea how bad it is right now in America. Furthermore, past a certain point, the human body begins to wither as a result of natural causes. Why should America be led by those with minds withered with age? It is ok to get older but it isn’t to keep the younger generations away from political power for decades.
American Political Realities
America has become a garbage fire of a country within the last 30 years. People can’t afford homeownership or their rent. Everything is becoming more expensive, and many feel hopeless. However, this is not the America that the 65-plus-year-old politicians see. The America they see is the America they remember, where people could afford homes and pay rent with only one job.
This is why they always seem so confused when younger people are so passionate about how things aren’t how they should be. The politicians in power are limited by their perspective as people who were alive 60, 70, or sometimes 80 and 85 years ago. “The new Senate’s median age, on the other hand, is 65.3 years, up from 64.8 in the 117th Congress, 63.6 in the 116th, and 62.4 in the 115th,” according to Pew Research Center.
To Age Is To Wither
Aging can be a wonderful and fulfilling process, however, there are natural consequences of aging. One of the said consequences is the fact that one’s mind isn’t as sharp when one gets older. Unfortunately, the human mind waxes and wanes across one’s life span. What this means is that when a person gets to be truly old, their mind begins to slow down. In the chess world, it means that all the best chess players are younger than 40.
Yet, in politics, there are many politicians well beyond mental degradation. Both of the last presidents have been at least 70 years old. Additionally, certain senators are even older than the last two presidents. The oldest senator’s name is Dianne Feinstein, and she is 90 years old. This argument is in no way saying that elders aren’t capable of complex thought or intelligent choices. However, this is saying that America deserves the best and brightest, and many times those people are not over the age of 65.
New Political Generation
By the time it is time for Gen-Z to step up for electoral politics, several decades will have passed and Gen-Z will be holding a spot that Gen Alpha’s children are fighting for. Age limits are designed to make sure that when a generation’s time is done, they hand over the reins of electoral politics to the next generation.
Of course, anyone of any age can impact politics through protesting, unionizing one’s workplace, and other such activities. All in all, the boomers have consolidated their power, but need to give it up for the fate of the nation. An age limit to all positions of public office can be the policy that truly saves America.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
Sources
Pew Research: House gets younger, Senate gets older: A look at the age and generation of lawmakers in the 118th Congress BY AND
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
