March 16, 2024
By Ava Gonzalez
Staff Writer
The United States has a reputation as the land of the free with endless opportunities to fulfill one’s dreams. However, that does not mean these aspirations should continue indefinitely. When it comes to the presidency, the most important government position in the country, there should be an age limit.
President Joe Biden was sworn into office at 78 years old, making him the oldest president in U.S. history. Biden is now serving the country at 81 years old and seeking a second term.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average lifespan in the United States is 73 for men and 79 for women. Thus, Biden is serving the country above the life expectancy of the average American man.
On both sides of the political spectrum, Americans have expressed concerns about the increasing age of politicians. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 82% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats support a maximum age for elected officials.
Considering the most recent U.S. presidents, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reported that 77% of surveyed adults felt Biden surpassed what should be the maximum age limit for a president. Similarly, 51% said 77-year-old former President Donald Trump is too old to run again.
Studies prove that being of an advanced age negatively impacts one’s physical and mental health.
For instance, Alzheimer’s disease typically begins in a person’s late 60s. With this comes a greater risk for dementia.
According to Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School, as people get older, they can experience a decline in cognitive abilities. This can lead to a decrease in one’s ability to be aware of mistakes, focus and complete tasks in a timely fashion.
Studies prove that being of an advanced age negatively impacts one’s physical and mental health.
Furthermore, according to My Care Companions, a website that provides information for caregivers, older adults sometimes struggle to understand emotions, which makes them more argumentative and irritable. This can be dangerous when such a person is tasked with representing a country’s beliefs and mediating relationships with other powerful nations.
One need not look further than an incident involving 82-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to recognize the dangers of having an elderly elected official in a prominent position. In September 2023, he froze for half a minute while addressing reporters at a news conference in his home state of Kentucky. A similar incident occurred in July 2023 following McConnell’s concussion and rib fracture after tripping in March 2023.
As people get older, their bone density and strength can weaken. This can cause a lack of balance that can lead to falls and injuries.
While diet, exercise, family history, mental health and physical health all contribute to one’s overall well-being, aging must also be part of the conversation. Aging is a natural part of life, and in trying to pretend it is not happening, people create a toxic society that shames those who are unable to do what they once could, through no fault of their own.
Generalizing individuals can be damaging, but one must consider statistics and facts when those people hold positions of power.
Setting unambiguous age limits would also encourage younger generations to pursue leadership positions in government.
Having a more diverse range of generations running for office would lead to an increase in voter turnout because younger Americans would have a candidate to whom they can relate. Simultaneously, it would improve the quality of life for those who dedicated years to serving their constituents by allowing them to retire.
Article 2 Section 1 Clause 5 of the Constitution states that to run for president in the United States, one must be a natural-born citizen, a resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years and at least 35 years old. With this minimum age, there should be a maximum age.
Congress should amend the Constitution so that any candidate who has surpassed the age of 75 years shall not hold office. If approved by two-thirds of both houses, the amendment could go to the states for ratification.
It is critical that Americans be guided by elected officials who are competent, healthy and reliable. Setting an age limit on the presidency would be a step toward doing just that, thus helping to ensure the safety and prosperity of this nation for years to come.
