RE:Too old the be presidenting
Too old to be presidenting | Matt Glassman
I don't believe we need similar age limits in the legislature; I wouldn't have a problem with them---one huge distortion/bias in Congress is how old the Member are---but old people can do the job of representative. The problem on the executive side is that there are too many emergency decisions and too many situations where less-than-perfect faculties are a problem. I saw Bobby Byrd many times when he was essentially a corpse in a wheelchair in the Senate. Did it reduce his capacity to represent West Virginia? Sure, on on the margins. Did it endanger the nation? Not even close.
I agree with your post up to this point, and wanted to offer my perspective.
At what point do we consider a constituency endangered by their representative's inability to do their job? If we require the president to be fully capable of performing his elected duties, why shouldn't we require the same of the legislature?
In a stronger democracy, Congress is a co-equal branch with the executive. Their functions are just as consequential; their actions just as important. I understand the idea that Congress is a body of people. There are others around to make sure things get done when one, or two, or ten representatives are unable to perform (assuming the margins aren't razor-thin). The Presidency isn't like that, even when you consider the entirety of the executive branch. It's not the same. I'm with you, there.
But the US is a republic with a representative democracy. If you weaken the representation, you weaken the democracy. I think it's completely fair to say that the last several Congressional makeups have contributed to our current situation. Age isn't the only factor, but it is one of many. In my opinion, it's a factor worth addressing.
I do have difficulty with the idea of setting a hard-set age limit. But I think it is very reasonable to require electeds at every level and in every branch to have the ability to perform their jobs. Failures of representation are not new to our country, and age/capacity isn't the only concern. But I don't think we should wave it off as inconsequential, or marginal.
I know you said you wouldn't have a problem with age limits, but maybe a compromise with those that do could be an effective means of removal by the people, if they feel they aren't being represented. Whether it's due to corporate interests or incapacity, we ought to be able to meaningfully address failures of representation without waiting for the next opportunity at the ballot box.