Democratic members of Congress know they have an age problem—and it’s hurting them.

  • Zephorah@discuss.online
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    3 days ago

    If you are 70 or will turn 70 while in office you are banned from running. In a perfect world.

    • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      12 hours ago

      I’d simply implement a 10 term limit. At 2 years per term, that’s 20 potential years in office. Still long enough to have a respectable political career, and it avoids having congress full of people who don’t know what they’re doing. But it also means that if you were first elected in the 1970’s, your time would have been up a long time ago. You could retire or move on to other ventures.

      And old people can’t screech about discrimination, because there’s no age cap; just a cap on terms. Elderly people want more elderly representation? Encourage old people to run for office when they’re in their 60’s and 70’s.

      • Zephorah@discuss.online
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        10 hours ago

        I wish we could trust congressmen and women, their families, and their colleagues to act decisively when metal infirmity hits, but, clearly we cannot. As such, a rule like this is the only backup plan.

    • imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      3 days ago

      Try 60. I feel that people who would lead us should be younger. 30-50 feels the sweet spot here. Still sane, while not going full on conservative. Still knows what’s up in the world around them.

    • logi@piefed.world
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      3 days ago

      In a perfect world that wouldn’t be needed since we would only vote for exceptional geriatrics.

      • Zephorah@discuss.online
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        3 days ago

        True. Bernie is a vibrant man in his 80s. There are 90-somethings who can run circles around 60-somethings, mentally and physically.

        And yet, we had Feinstein. Trump. Biden. It’s ridiculous. But oftentimes this is exactly why we end up with rules, dipshits require them or things get dangerous for those living around said dipshits.

        Think of the odd rules at your workplace. They didn’t get implemented in a vacuum.

      • Zephorah@discuss.online
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        3 days ago

        There’s the culmination of experience people in that decade. Those who retire from useful careers to bring that expertise to the table. Doctors, nurses, scientists, scholars.

        The primary issue is fossilized lawyers and the rest existing on inertia. When inertia is your driving force it’s time to leave the role. Instead, that is the majority of our politicians.

        This also guards against more Feinsteins & Trumps.

        • kurikai@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          you can have experienced people giving advice. thats what consultations for laws are. but they dont need to be law makers.