Ageism

Sorry, I don't feel it's ageist to think that being the president of the United States is too much for anyone in their late 70s or early 80s. This isn't about withholding opportunities from elderly people, it's about what's best for the nation.

Our bodies and minds decline with age, it's just a fact. And no matter how much an outlier any one individual is, that role is incredibly physically and mentally demanding and is literally 24/7 for years. Look at how much it ages people who are much younger.

Not to mention, the statistical likelihood of someone dying while in office is much higher when they are of an advanced age and our country is already in enough turmoil.

You can't compare being the president of the US to our parents.

FTR: I'm pissed as hell at both parties that they let this happen AGAIN. Two very old white dudes. We lose either way; but far worse with one than the other. 

I agree with you busy My dad is 74 and is great mentally and physically. My grandpa lived to be 100 and in his early 90s was better than many in their 60s and 70s. But they are not running countries.

When the polls of do you think Biden and Trump are fit enough were posted I looked up Canada's prime ministers. These are the ages they were when they were done being PM. Harper 56, Martin 68, Chrétien 69, Mulroney (RIP) 54.

Trudeau is currently 53 and his biggest competition is Poilievre at age 44. 3 out of the last 5 PMs camd in to office in their mid 40s.

Elderly, sharp, not walking so well though.

I would not be interested in even considering the job of president!!

Considering ageism is built into our constitution, and frankly I'd rather see a 30 something than an 80 something person as president, I couldn't disagree with the OP more. I don't really have an issue with requiring some additional life experience so accept the 35 years requirement and would whole heartedly vote for an amendment to add an upper age.

Experience. The presidency should not be a first political effort!

I just read a great biography of churchill (by roberts).. Most of his great political work was done after the age of 65... and that is leading the british empire during ww2. his last years.. as pm were a bit wobbly.. but his long experience and understanding and his sheer knowledge saved the world in the war. and he didn't eat well, exercise, sleep well.. yet held it together. I think we get who we get.. and younger men and women may or may not be able to do a great job either..

Age is a requirement to run for office. One must be at least 35 years old. 

I agree with everything Busy wrote.

I like to look at what's likely.  Anyone can pass away, but it is statistically more likely that an 80 year old will die than a 56 year old.

Saying, "Many elderly persons in my life have lived very long lives and have been cognizant to the very end," is not data, nor does it have a direct correlation with the mental state of either candidate. Watching Biden dodder around and Trump become more deranged by the day, I don't think either of them is mentally fit to govern. 

DH and I are 68 and we can feel ourselves losing our edge. He readily acknowledges that he would have a hard time performing his very intense job now. We live in Florida so we see lots of other retirees and almost everyone declines after a certain age. Knowing someone who was sharp into their 90s doesn't make it likely. Ageism is assuming that someone is in decline without observing it, but when someone seeks to be the leader of the free world "slipping up from time to time" is not an option.

I wonder why USA seems to prefer older people as president? Pretty well all other ‘major’ democracies select people much younger…. The current British prime minister is 43. Canadian prime minister is 52. Germany’s president is 68 and their chancellor is 65. France is 46. Australia 61.

So leaving aside the merits or otherwise of the 2 main candidates, why (in your opinion) does USA favour much older people?

ETA:-   Please disregard this post - Katlady has pointed out that past presidents have been a lot younger, and of course I should have checked, and really should have realised if I had thought about it properly!

I think the media tends to portray only the negative aspects of age without talking about the benefits of experience and knowledge.

I'm perfectly comfortable voting for President Biden at his age. I trust the people around him will speak up if he is no longer capable of performing his job. And I trust VP Harris to step up, if that becomes necessary. He just had a fairly extensive physical and received a clean bill of health. He meets with a lot of different people, on both sides of the aisle, foreign dignitaries etc and no one that meets with him is saying he's not capable.

I do not trust the former guy, regardless of age. He is unfit for office for a number of reasons.

I recognize there are benefits that come with age, but at the same time, would like to see younger candidates in 2028. I think it's time for older generations (in Congress as well) to step aside and turn over the reins to younger candidates. I think young voters are discouraged that no one is representing them.

I don't know that they have presidential aspirations, but I would love to see Pete Buttigueg, Gretchen Whitmer, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, Jamie Raskin, Corey Booker, Raphael Warnock, Josh Shapiro or Jasmine Crockett run.

Regrettably, there are very few Republicans that I respect. I disagree with them, but the only ones I could potentially vote for are Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and Phil Scott. Given the current state of affairs, the probability that any one of them could be the nominee is very slim.

Did your generation do as well at all of that when you were a younger adult, working and raising kids? Or are you putting expectations on younger people that didn’t necessarily exist for your generation?

Yes, they need to vote. But also, at some point, our major political parties need to stop throwing all their support behind the oldest possible candidate.

I’ll say it again… the one year chances of an 80 year old man dying are 5x that of a 60 year old man. So yes, anyone could die at any point in their presidency, but by electing these very old men, we are running a much higher risk of someone dying in office.

Pete Buttigieg
Gretchen Whitmer
Gavin Newsome
Kamala Harris
Amy Klobuchar

There are plenty of excellent potential candidates.