Is mandatory retirement age good?

[Autumnleaf]

It seems like in most private lines of work people retire at a certain age and that is that. Yet, in public office such as the supreme court and congress we've got very old people who sometimes sleep during important meetings running the country. Should some of these folks be put out to pasture based on their age?

 

[stan1980]

If they're not doing their job properly due to old age then they should be put into retirement. I don't think there needs to necessarily be a mandatory retirement age though, it should be on a person to person basis. If someone is still doing a good job at 90 then I see no reason to retire them, unless it is voluntary.

 

[jayem]

It's a definite concern for me to have a President who'll be 72 when he starts his first term. 6 or 7 years past the age many people pack it in.

Though for elected officials, I favor term limits rather than a mandatory retirement age. 18 years, either consecutive or not. 3 terms for Senators. 9 terms for House members. Or service in both chambers totaling 18 years. The biggest benefit I see is maintaining fresh blood in the legislature and keeping career politicians from taking hold.

But I wouldn't oppose a mandatory retirement age for federal judges. Maybe 75 or 80. Would take a Constitutional amendment to impose it, though.

 

[wanderingone]

It's a definite concern for me to have a President who'll be 72 when he starts his first term. 6 or 7 years past the age many people pack it in.

I truly thought McCain was much older than 72... he sounds and looks older to me than 72... my mom is 73.. she seems much healthier than he is-- he looks like if you gave him a little push and he'll fall over.

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I truly do not believe in a mandatory retirement age- if someone is not able to function in their job then they should be let go, but nobody should be forced out simply because they have hit a certain age. A lot of elected and appointee folks need to be put out to pasture... and not because of their age...

 

[Autumnleaf]

I truly thought McCain was much older than 72... he sounds and looks older to me than 72... my mom is 73.. she seems much healthier than he is-- he looks like if you gave him a little push and he'll fall over.

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I truly do not believe in a mandatory retirement age- if someone is not able to function in their job then they should be let go, but nobody should be forced out simply because they have hit a certain age. A lot of elected and appointee folks need to be put out to pasture... and not because of their age...

Yeah. He looks really old. We should all vote for Obama because he doesn't look old.

 

[JustMeSee]

It is too bad that President Bush can't run another term.

 

[SallyNow]

You look at the House of Commons, or the Senate, or whatnot, and there's usually someone sleeping, playing on their Blackberry, doodling pictures of Pres. Bush in a Darth Vader costume...

And guess what. It's not based on their age. Sometimes things are just really, really boring.

So no, I'm not a fan of forced retirement. If someone still wants to do their job and is still good at it, let them do it. If someone wants to retire from their career and start working part-time at an organic co-op, or run for city council, why shouldn't they if they are capable?

I think it's terrible that some want to force those of a certain age to feel useless.

A lot of people in the over 65-crowd, the over 75 crowd, even the over 85 crowd are not ready to sit down in a rocking chair. Often their minds are sharp and their wisdom is great. Why should they be forced to be idle?

 

[wanderingone]

Yeah. He looks really old. We should all vote for Obama because he doesn't look old.

Absolutely not.... just ignore the comment I made about nobody being forced out because of age... seeing the comment about the potential future president and his age reminded me of when I heard McCain talking about offering some oddball reward for the person who invents a viable electric car battery.. I didn't realize it was McCain when I heard his voice... he sounded like... like my 93 year old grandmother the last couple years of her life... I don't mean the actual words ... .. more "wellbeing" for lack of a better word. I asked at work that day how old he was and thought my boss was lying when he said McCain was 72.

Anyway nobody I'm a huge fan of is running for president.. it'll be obama by default for me.. but I certainly don't believe in voting for someone based on their appearance or age, but I would be concerned to have someone in office who might be in need of regular major medical care.. regardless of their age. A local politician just announced he was not running again (I'm pleased .. he's a sleaze who has been around too long... Joe Bruno... I kind of think he made a deal with the folks to take out spitzer or something and then he'd go... but that's just me having rambling thoughts about local politicians) Bruno is older than Mccain...by about 8 years maybe? But he's definitely a "younger" man.

 

[wanderingone]

It is too bad that President Bush can't run another term.

I need a clutching my heart emoticon.. like I said.. some people need to be shown the curb regardless of their age.....

 

[Joykins]

It seems like in most private lines of work people retire at a certain age and that is that. Yet, in public office such as the supreme court and congress we've got very old people who sometimes sleep during important meetings running the country. Should some of these folks be put out to pasture based on their age?

Not just because of age.

On the other hand, I am sure that the body of Strom Thurmond was propped up in Congress a la Weekend at Bernie's long after the mind behind it was gone. The same seniority that made him president pro tem of the Senate made him 4th in succession to the presidency at the time. There should be some assurance of competence.