It’s time to think about age limits for the presidency

TThe recent presidential debate was a debacle. It raises an urgent question: Is it time to consider an age limit for running for president?

The United States Constitution specifies a minimum age of 35 for presidential candidates, as stated in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5. The Founding Fathers established this requirement to ensure that a presidential candidate has the maturity, experience, and judgment necessary to effectively lead the nation.

However, there is no upper age limit for the presidency. The Founding Fathers valued the experience and wisdom that often come with age. They likely believed that older candidates could bring valuable perspectives and leadership skills to the office. Additionally, imposing a maximum age limit could be seen as discriminatory against older people. The Constitution is intended to provide equal opportunity for all citizens, and setting a higher age limit could unfairly exclude experienced and skilled individuals. Ultimately, the age requirement for the presidency is a balance between ensuring a candidate’s preparation and leaving the final decision to the voters. The Founding Fathers believed that voters would use their judgment to assess whether a candidate was too old to serve effectively. By leaving that decision to the electorate, the

The Constitution allows voters to examine the health, vitality and abilities of each candidate on a case-by-case basis.

The problem we face today is that we often have to choose between 80-year-old candidates who may not be physically or mentally fit to serve a four-year term. We have all witnessed the drastic aging of presidents during their terms. The immense responsibility of leading a country, making critical decisions, and managing crises leads to chronic stress, which affects physical appearance and health. Demanding schedules and lack of rest contribute to fatigue and accelerate aging. Constant media attention and public scrutiny add to the psychological burden. The combination of stress, lack of sleep, and intense workload can have detrimental effects on physical health, leading to visible signs of aging.

Running for president of the United States has also become increasingly expensive, with costs reaching into the billions of dollars. This severely limits the type and quality of candidates who have a chance of being elected. The combined spending of all candidates, political parties, and outside groups in the 2020 presidential campaign exceeded $14 billion, making it the most expensive election in U.S. history. Candidates from the major parties often spend hundreds of millions of dollars each. For example, Joe Biden’s campaign raised and spent about $1.6 billion, while Donald Trump’s campaign raised and spent about $1.1 billion in 2020.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know that there is a serious problem with our choices for president in 2024. We, the people, have little power to fix the situation. I can only pray that both potential presidents follow the old adage: “The best leaders hire and surround themselves with people smarter than themselves.”

NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES is the editor of the Pleasanton Express. You can contact her at [email protected].