Janiece Saves the World, Part II - Term and Age Limits

Let’s talk term and age limits. 

I know Americans have been talking about term limits forever, and I think we can all agree they’re a good idea (except for those who have become rich over not having them). The problem, of course, is that those who make the law also benefit from the current law, so I don’t see this happening any time soon without a Constitutional Amendment. 

However, I’d like to go one step farther. Not only should we have term limits, but age limits, as well. 

Here’s how I would write the law:

• President: Two four-year terms.
• Senators: Two six-year terms. 
• Representatives: Four two-year terms.
• Supreme Court Justices: Two ten-year terms. 

But there should be a caveat: 

• If a candidate will be 65 years old at the time of their swearing in, they cannot run or be appointed. 
• If a candidate will be 65 years old at the end of their current term, but are not term limited, they cannot run or be appointed again. 

The reason I think there should be an age restriction is twofold. First, I’m tired of the United States’ future being decided by a bunch of old white guys who haven’t had to live in the world outside of Washington politics for the last 40 years. They’re out of touch with everyday Americans’ concerns, needs and wants.  And let’s face it – serving as a politician in DC is corrupting by its very nature. It takes someone with immense will and a strong moral compass to spend decades in Washington without compromising who they are and their values. 

The second reason is because everyone ages differently. Some people are as sharp at 75 as they were at 35, no question. But most humans’ mental faculties start to decline between 45 and 49. The University College London conducted a study which found a “10 year decline in reasoning was -3.5% in men aged 45-49 at baseline and -9.6% among those aged 65-70; the corresponding figures for women -3.6% and 7.4%.”

I want the public servants who control our country to have the best possible cognitive ability, not people who are demonstrably losing their shit.

::cough, cough – Reagan, Biden, Trump – cough, cough:: 

“But that’s age discrimination!” 

Damn right. Because science, bitches. According to these numbers, I’ve already experienced a 4.32% in my own cognitive function based on my gender and age. And I know for a fact my mind is not as nimble or flexible as it was in my thirties.

And as a side note, there’s already age discrimination in the constitution by limiting the minimum age of Presidents, Senators, and Representatives, which I also agree with. There should be a balance between judgement and cognitive ability. And I think we can all agree that twenty-somethings don’t always have the best judgement in the world.

I believe getting new people, new ideas, and more flexible brains into government is the right thing to do. They certainly couldn’t do any worse than the current occupants of the three branches of government.