It’s been a common debate for years whether or not there should be an age cap on presidency. There have been many presidents in recent years that are above the age of 50, and that doesn’t always bode well in an ever-changing political climate. The people in office are old enough to be someone’s tech-illiterate grandparent, and some of them may in fact be that to someone. Though, these debates are typically conducted by the younger generations. What do the elderly citizens of the nation think on this subject?
Pennsylvania has been a historic battleground state in terms of elections, so it’s safe to assume that there are voters from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives that cause this divide. Yet even then, some seem to be in agreement in regards to the age of the current candidates. On the Democratic side, Larry Malinconico has told CNN that “[Biden] looks physically more frail than he did a decade ago or two decades ago. And unfortunately, I think people equate physical frailty with lack of mental acuity. And I think that is wrong.” This seems to be the view of many democratic voters, especially the older generations.
Across the aisle, even, concerns about age are still discussed and debated. An interview from CNN with Mickey Brown, an 80-year-old conservative, describes that he has concerns for Biden. Brown spends some time caring for his wife who has dementia, and he points out that Biden shares some mannerisms with her. Brown also mentions in this interview that his political stance does not have much of a play in his views on the matter.
Even with this, some people just don’t align themselves anywhere in this debate. In another interview with CNN, 94-year-old Pat Levin suggests that age shouldn’t be assumed to influence competence. In particular, Levin states “I don’t think they go together in any way, shape, or form. I know a lot of young people who are quite incompetent. I know a lot of older people who are very competent. And Joe Biden falls into that category for me.”
So, the debate continues, yet the views of those older than the current generation may need to be taken into account for further debates on this topic. Though some elders may be falling out of touch with the times and growing distant from the current social developments, they should still be called upon during these discussions. Who knows what insight they can provide.
