Should there be a age limitation on the presidency?

[Ronnie Roach]

One of the requirements for seeking the office of the president is you must be the age of 35. That is the minimum age. The question is, why don't we have a maximum age?
If any body knows about civil service, you are required to take a medical examination. Why don't we have that requirement on political offices? Some states require that senior citizens take a drivers test every so often for safety reasons. Air line pilots are required to take drug tests for safety reasons. This issue is not about age discrimination, it is about safety. Elderly people have more health issues than younger people. Senility can be a real problem. To be fair, I would want Gore Vidal to be president or even Noam Chomsky, they are too old! Does that make me a ageist? If I oppose to a blind individual flying a plane, does that make me a sighted supremacist?
What worries me about McCain is he poses health hazard to the USA. His mental alertness is highly suspect. Plus his political views are really convoluted. His irascibility could be the result of being a Vietnam POW or old age. If any of you vote for him because your candidate didn't win the primaries then the next time you fly on a airline, give your pilot a blind fold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp5Vun18Siw

[bluerum]

1. get lost - I hate McPain but age limits are hogwash - Gore Vidal would eat you for breakfast

btw - welcome to du

[Ddan]

5. The post wasn't completely about McCain

I would want the leader of the free world to be in good shape mentally and physically. I don't think it's a bad idea. You should read it again, they have a point.


PS. You don't have to welcome me. Someone already beat you to the punch.

[bluerum]

15. They have a point. And its on their head.

[havocmom]

2. Age does not say anything about competence

Some are very wise and capable young, others never get there. Some are sharp well into their 90s and some start degeneration in their 40s.

Age is an arbitrary standard. Competence is what matters.

[New Dawn]

3. No, some people are just stupid at any age (like John McCain). n/t

[HockeyMom]

10. Yes, that is a given

:)

[napi21]

4. I think the age limit should be set by the voters at the ballot box.

Every person is different, and I can't see any way to say XX age is too old to be elected. Look at Shrub. He was in his 50's when he took office, and IMO wasn't mentally competant, even back then, let alone now!

I'm not sure McBush is physically going to be able to handle the stress of a Presidential Campaign I rarely listen to him, but I do see news shots of him walking up on a stage, or circulating in the crowd shaking hands, and there have been quite a few times when he looked like a worn down and weary old man.

[goddess40]

6. I'll second that

It's the same argument I use for people that want term limits on every office - That's what elections are for. We can't help that the republican's like to vote for the mentally incompetent.

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. Agreed.....

but that is contingent on a intelligent populace. Its debatable that we have that in Murika anymore.

[Clear Blue Sky]

18. Agree

Bad precedent to have an upper age limit. Decide on a case by case basis, at the ballot box.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. There shouldn't even be a minimum age limit

Or a limitation based on whether you were born a citizen or became one.

Both of those restrictions are absurd.

[New Dawn]

8. I agree, and the arbitrary age limits for Congress are even more absurd.

25 for US House
30 for US Senate

[DavidDvorkin]

21. "Arbitrary" -- exactly

[HockeyMom]

9. 70 should be the age limit

Your reflexes slow down with age. Hell, you cannot even remember what you had for lunch yesterday, yet you can remember in great detail what you did 40 years ago.

I am 59 (Hillary's age). I say put an age limit on it.

[Ronnie Roach]

12. One intelligent human being understands my point.

Thank you Hockey Mom!

[selador]

19. age is probabilistic not deterministic

we don't judge people by how their GROUP performs. we judge them as individuals

sure, a random person at 75 has a better chance of X # of mental issues and physical issues than a random person chosen who is 35

but so what?

a randomly chosen man has a much higher chance of being a murderer than a randomly chosen female. same logic.

a randomly chosen male has a greater chance of IQ > 2 standard deviations from the norm (up or down) than a female. we don't make ASSUMPTIONS.

the point is that this is america. we don't JUDGE PEOPLE BY GROUP IDENTITY. we judge them by CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. as individuals.

[bluerum]

16. Speak for yourself.

I agree, in general age slows one down. I mean, lets master the obvious here.

But youth and vigor are not be pre-requisites for leadership.

[jgraz]

13. Trust me, McSame was just as stupid 15 years ago.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. How about maturity limits? And I do mean LOWER limits. nt

[Clear Blue Sky]

17. Should the same be said about the Supreme Court? Average age there is well into the 70s...

[Skittles]

20. no n/t

[momster]

22. Age limit no...mental fitness

yes. We are given reports on the physical health of presidents but nothing on the mental health. Ever since Reagan, I've believed that a mental fitness test should be given to presidents annually and candidates as well. The typical neurological surveys they give to elderly people or the head-injured. What year is it? Who's president? Count backwards from 17. Put these pegs into the proper place. Then the info should be released to the public. It is probably more valid than the physical health reports.