A recent health scare for Mitch McConnell has raised concerns about the age of America’s politicians.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The problem is demographics. Boomers have been the largest voting bloc and that’s only really changing now that they’re getting old and dying. (Currently boomers are 59-77 years. Biden and them are technically silent generation.)

      Gen x is to “quiet” to make a big fuss and boomers don’t respect millennials (nevermind gen z) so they’re never going to vote for some one younger than themselves.

      It was until ‘19 that boomers were finally outnumbered by a different generation.

      • elevenfingerfrk@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Most of us GenXers gave up on trying to make any significant change in anything. Those that are still active have already sided with the enemy.

      • kitonthenet@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        OK but even so, I don’t support the disenfranchisement of boomers so like, it is not improper that they vote for candidates they think represent them

        • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          using that logic… you’re disenfranchising anyone who isn’t a majority generation.

          also, keep in mind there’s already limits on age and who can run for office. saying a cap at, say, 65, is “ageist” is laughable… when there’s already a minimum age of 35. Nobody questions the wisdom of that minimum limit, so why do [* checks notes] Old People™️ get to insist on not having a maximum as well?

          any argument you make about 66 being okay also applies to 34. Or 75 and 25. Like I said elsewhere, the problem isn’t that they’re old. the problem is that they’re “senile”. their mind is going. It’s a problem.

        • Franzia
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          1 year ago

          I do. There are excellent politicians in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who have just sat on the sidelines because of this demographic bubble.

        • elevenfingerfrk@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          If you let people opposed to your ideology vote, they will inevitably vote against your interests. Disenfranchisement is the only real option available to producing meaningful political change that doesn’t involve violence. It’s the same strategy used against the rest of us by conservatives and neoliberals. We’re stupid for not using it against them.

          • SCB@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Disenfranchisement is the only real option available to producing meaningful political change that doesn’t involve violence

            Cool. No leftists get to vote.

            Wait you meant just disenfranchise people you don’t like?

    • elevenfingerfrk@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      The gerontocracy runs the political parties. The party determines the candidates. You will rarely see a candidate on your ballot that wasn’t approved by them. And they will only approve of other old people and those that agree with their policies… which are inherently conservative in nature.