Thanks for your always thoughtful analysis, Ken! On one hand, you’re right to describe “octogenarians exercising a death grip on their positions of power.”
On the other hand, that critique might be too broad and narrow at the same time. I wrote a few months ago to explore public concerns about gerontocracy in Washington, and how they both reach too far while also falling short of identifying the root of the problem. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/neither-mcconnell-freezing-nor-biden
In “Neither McConnell freezing, nor Biden rambling, is the problem” I explored the disturbing patterns visible across figures, including Biden, Feinstein, McConnell, and Trump, before explaining that:
“to describe Washington as a gerontocracy is frankly charitable.
Concerns about gerontocracy center on mental fitness, and the capacity of people as they advance in age to execute their duties. Each of the figures above have revealed their unfortunate incapacity.
But their individual incapacity is just part of the problem, ultimately akin to the part of an iceberg that looms above the water.”
That post continued by exploring structural impediments to meaningful democracy in America. I’d be curious to invite any thoughts you or others might have.
As a member of GenX,you have NO idea how many people are disgusted that we haven't even been given an opportunity to move up. Our grandparents were retiring at some of our ages! We need a forced retirement age. I'm sorry if that sounds mean. I don't want it to, but it's true.
Correction to offer, Ken. Biden didn't bow to public pressure, he bowed to his investors pressure. Public polling showed long before July most of us wanted a younger pair of boobs!
Age and length of time in Congress has to be addressed. The seniority aspect, I believe, was established in Congress and not the Constitution which should be able to be adjusted by sound minds.
Pilots and the military are two professions that have a limit on age. The military uses a system of rank and age to determine if the military still wants you to be of service for them which avoids the automatic retirement dilemma but if you are not a full bird after serving “x” amount of years... you are retired.
Seniority spawns power in Congress and as long as we have that qualification in place, we will continue to have old people screwing everything up.
Mitch McConnell's purple, bruised looking hands/skin show signs of him being on blood thinners, likely due to his several strokes- mini strokes are also likely the reason for him "glitching" and freezing up while speaking in public.
There isn't much to argue against here, except to say, that age is only one of the many, and serious problems currently affecting the US government. It doesn't matter how old, or young, someone is if the systems requires that the only ones whose behalf politicians are working for are their donors.
And I'm not just saying this because I'm scheduled to be joining the Octogenarian Club next year!
Pascrell was a real SOB dating back to 2004. "I am gonna make it rain on everyone if you don't give me my projects!" he screamed at New Jersey's Transportation Secretary at the time when we were pushing for a new New Jersey rail tunnel into Midtown-Manhattan. He also cut you out of meetings if you didn't 'donate' to him.
I like that label - mortocracy; sums it up even better than gerontocracy. Need to have age limits for ALL government officials - president, congress, courts, agencies, etc. I suggest 75 as the number, being 77 myself.
For even more context, I did some research following Sheila Jackson Lee’s death.
Since 2000, The U.S. Congress has seen 42 total deaths in office.
27 Democrats
6 Senators
21 Representatives
Avg age: 73.6 years
Avg tenure: 24.6 years
15Republicans
3 Senator
12 Representatives
Avg age: 69.1 years
Avg tenure: 17.6 years
Notable facts:
-Two (D) Senate seats and one (D) Congress seat flipped to Republican
-One (R) Senate seat flipped to Democrat
-Three (D) Representatives were succeeded by family members (a wife, son and grandson)
-N.J. (D) Rep Donald M. Payne died in office in March, 2012 after 23 years at an age of 77. He was succeeded by his son (D) Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who served for 12 years before also dying in office in April 2024.
Thanks for your always thoughtful analysis, Ken! On one hand, you’re right to describe “octogenarians exercising a death grip on their positions of power.”
On the other hand, that critique might be too broad and narrow at the same time. I wrote a few months ago to explore public concerns about gerontocracy in Washington, and how they both reach too far while also falling short of identifying the root of the problem. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/neither-mcconnell-freezing-nor-biden
In “Neither McConnell freezing, nor Biden rambling, is the problem” I explored the disturbing patterns visible across figures, including Biden, Feinstein, McConnell, and Trump, before explaining that:
“to describe Washington as a gerontocracy is frankly charitable.
Concerns about gerontocracy center on mental fitness, and the capacity of people as they advance in age to execute their duties. Each of the figures above have revealed their unfortunate incapacity.
But their individual incapacity is just part of the problem, ultimately akin to the part of an iceberg that looms above the water.”
That post continued by exploring structural impediments to meaningful democracy in America. I’d be curious to invite any thoughts you or others might have.
Keep up the good work!
As a member of GenX,you have NO idea how many people are disgusted that we haven't even been given an opportunity to move up. Our grandparents were retiring at some of our ages! We need a forced retirement age. I'm sorry if that sounds mean. I don't want it to, but it's true.
It’s wild they straight up skipped you guys over
Correction to offer, Ken. Biden didn't bow to public pressure, he bowed to his investors pressure. Public polling showed long before July most of us wanted a younger pair of boobs!
Great subject!
Age and length of time in Congress has to be addressed. The seniority aspect, I believe, was established in Congress and not the Constitution which should be able to be adjusted by sound minds.
Pilots and the military are two professions that have a limit on age. The military uses a system of rank and age to determine if the military still wants you to be of service for them which avoids the automatic retirement dilemma but if you are not a full bird after serving “x” amount of years... you are retired.
Seniority spawns power in Congress and as long as we have that qualification in place, we will continue to have old people screwing everything up.
Full disclosure: I am 71 years old.
Mandatory retirement age? YES! Allowing a bunch of people who think and understand the world as if St. Ronnie was still in charge is dangerous.
Mitch McConnell's purple, bruised looking hands/skin show signs of him being on blood thinners, likely due to his several strokes- mini strokes are also likely the reason for him "glitching" and freezing up while speaking in public.
There isn't much to argue against here, except to say, that age is only one of the many, and serious problems currently affecting the US government. It doesn't matter how old, or young, someone is if the systems requires that the only ones whose behalf politicians are working for are their donors.
And I'm not just saying this because I'm scheduled to be joining the Octogenarian Club next year!
Pascrell was a real SOB dating back to 2004. "I am gonna make it rain on everyone if you don't give me my projects!" he screamed at New Jersey's Transportation Secretary at the time when we were pushing for a new New Jersey rail tunnel into Midtown-Manhattan. He also cut you out of meetings if you didn't 'donate' to him.
Transportation Commissioner to be accurate, Kris Kolluri
The problem is, of course, the people.
They can't stay in office if you don't vote for them.
I do think a no confidence vote would be nice, though.
I like that label - mortocracy; sums it up even better than gerontocracy. Need to have age limits for ALL government officials - president, congress, courts, agencies, etc. I suggest 75 as the number, being 77 myself.
Thank you !!
Also -- very important:
The war of the worlds - a conversation with Alex Krainer -- Audio only -- EXCELLENT
A fascinating insight into the multi-spectrum wars that are gathering momentum globally
https://open.substack.com/pub/beeley/p/the-war-of-the-worlds-a-conversation?r=byea&utm_medium=ios
For even more context, I did some research following Sheila Jackson Lee’s death.
Since 2000, The U.S. Congress has seen 42 total deaths in office.
27 Democrats
6 Senators
21 Representatives
Avg age: 73.6 years
Avg tenure: 24.6 years
15Republicans
3 Senator
12 Representatives
Avg age: 69.1 years
Avg tenure: 17.6 years
Notable facts:
-Two (D) Senate seats and one (D) Congress seat flipped to Republican
-One (R) Senate seat flipped to Democrat
-Three (D) Representatives were succeeded by family members (a wife, son and grandson)
-N.J. (D) Rep Donald M. Payne died in office in March, 2012 after 23 years at an age of 77. He was succeeded by his son (D) Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who served for 12 years before also dying in office in April 2024.