Time to take baby boomers off the ticket - Washington Post

[Baconator]

George Washington was 43 when the Continental Congress placed him in command of the fledgling army that would eventually drive the British out of their American colonies. At 55, the general presided over the fractious convention that produced the most durable constitution the world has ever seen. He then served two terms as the nation’s first president, leaving office for the last time at 65.
...

If our four best presidents entered office at an average age of 50, why am I reading about potential candidates for 2020 who will be in their 70s? Former vice president Joe Biden says he is thinking about making a run. If he won, he would take office at 78. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been touted as a front-runner for the Democratic nomination. He would be 79. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) beams as throngs of Democrats chant her name. If she runs and wins, she would take the oath at 71.

Until Donald Trump came along, the United States had never sent a septuagenarian to occupy the Oval Office. (We did keep one there in 1984, when Ronald Reagan was reelected at 73.) We’ve sworn in more than twice as many presidents under the age of 50 as over the age of 65. That serious people are discussing candidates who would be pushing 80 is unprecedented — and sclerotic for our political system.

My point is not to disparage the elderly, for I am rapidly becoming one myself. But no thriving society finds its fresh thinking among its oldest leaders. The wisdom of years is a check, not an engine. Though age takes its toll in different ways on different people, in the aggregate the science is clear: Mental agility, executive function and creativity all tend to decline as we pass through middle age. A nice summary of the research, published by the distinguished Dana Foundation, noted: “Older adults tend to be slower in conceptualizing and less ready to change strategies when circumstances shift.”


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More at link.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/time-to-take-baby-boomers-off-the-ticket/2017/11/24/7b4aa97c-d154-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html?tid=sm_fb&utm_term=.0d3ba926cfde

[Freddie]

1. I couldnt agree more

And I’m 61.
Can we Dems PLEASE run someone at least well under 70 next time? We win when we run a young exciting candidate. Like JFK, Obama, Bill Clinton in 92.

[Tikki]

6. Also a boomer and I agree.

Please don't assume that those younger than the boomers can't fight, they can and will. Their future is at stake.


Tikki

[Me.]

2. Excuse Me If I Don't Form My Opinions Based On WaPo's Opinion

[Iggo]

3. Zero Tolerance is for stupid people. (n/t)

[drray23]

4. nonsense

This smacks of ageism and is a load of nonsense. First of all, back then the life expectancy was much less :

Life expectancy at birth was variable without trend between 1850 and 1880—ranging between 38.3 and 44.0 years for both sexes combined. Between 1880 and 1900, however, life expectancy at birth increased from 39.4 to 47.8 years (U. S. Model, both sexes combined).

source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885717/ decennial tables for the white population of america.


These people were elderly compared to the average life expectancy of back then.


Nowadays, people live much longer and with better cognitive capacities than back then.

What matters to me is whether or not the candidates are representative of our values and experienced. If its a younger person, then sure its a nice added benefit, if not so be it.

[jayschool2013]

5. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama will be 56 for most of 2020. Just putting that out there. And she was born in early 1964, or at the very tail end of the Baby Boom.

[Baconator]

7. No Bushes, Clintons or Obamas please...

We have 350 million people in the country...

[steve2470]

8. I'm cool with new blood in the party but...

there's a lot to be said for people like Nancy Pelosi. I want whoever can do the job best, and age is secondary.

[Iggo]

10. ...but making it a hard rule is fucking stupid.

Best person for the job. That's a pretty good rule.

[steve2470]

11. yes I agree

I think this author just wanted to stir the pot and get clicks. Guaranteed to annoy we boomers.

[Iggo]

12. You're about to go 33k.

[steve2470]

13. oh thanks my friend, didn't notice :)

woot!

[Iggo]

15. Woo-hoo! Yay! Woot! Woot!

[fleabiscuit]

9. I'm not fond of the idea of those mentioned running for president.

But he is full of shit.

[MuseRider]

14. As a boomer I will vote for one if that is the choice

but I dearly would love a young president who has been involved and knows how government is supposed to work in this country and has our well being in mind. Not that the older people do not, but we really need to change the dynamic in big ways.

[delisen]

16. Crowdfund Courses in Logic and

Understanding Statistics for David Von Drehle?

He doesn't need the course in Developing Solutions to Non-Problems. He has demonstrated mastery of that field.

[chowder66]

17. So if you are 51+ forget about it? Bullshit opinion. nt

[genxlib]

18. My opinion

I would like to see younger candidates but for slightly different reasons

To state the obvious, we are not hiring someone at the age they are at the beginning of the term. We are hiring them for at least 4 years. I want a candidate with the best opportunity to serve effectively for 8 years. That means alive, mentally sharp and not suffering some debilitating disease. It is simple fact that someone has a better chance of doing that during the 50-65 range than the 70-85. I am not worried about Bernie being 79 when he starts. I am worried about him being 87 when he finished. I want to back a candidate for the long haul.

Second, I think that a good candidate has a superstar quality about them that generates high energy and enthusiasm in supporters (ie the IT factor). Forty years of increasing levels of responsibility in government will build a solid resume but no amount of experience will get you the IT factor. The thing about those superstars is that they get tapped early to rise to the top. Obama could have spent 20 years in the Senate and run for President as a ultra-wise 65 year old. My point is that people with his level of political appeal don't stick around that long.

I am open to any Democrat and will support whoever gets nominated. But my preference is for an up-and-comer to come out of nowhere and really grab the party.

[Orsino]

19. Rather than imposing an arbitrary age limit...

...we need to groom and canvass for candidates of all available ages. Sometimes, the best one for a given job is going to be a septuagenarian.

[Iggo]

20. But it's more fun to say, "No old people, no Bushes, no Clintons, and no Obamas."

It's like they're not even trying anymore.