I think your discounting of McCain based solely on his age is poor logic and here is why. It appears there are several people, mostly supporters of Barak Obama, that seem to think that John McCain is incapable of serving as President simply because he is over 70 years old. I have noticed several people questioning his ability, mostly his mental ability, along the line that he is so old he therefore must be senile and thus we should not vote for him, selecting the much younger and less experienced Obama instead. I personally find this line of reasoning laughable, but for the sake of argument, let’s take it seriously for a moment. Let us say that the Obama supporters are correct and we should question the ability of anyone over 70 to think properly. Since age is the only criteria, let me ask this; could the democratic supporters of Obama live in the world they are espousing? If we were to call into question the judgment of people over 70 years old simply because of their age, should we not then also call into question the judgment and fitness for duty of the following people:
US Senator Daniel Akaka, D-HI, age 84
US Senator Ted Kennedy, D-MA, age 76
US Senator Robert Byrd, D-WV, age 91
US Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, age 75
US Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA, age 70
US Senator Daniel Inouye, D-HI, age 84
US Senator Herb Kohl, D-MN, age 73
US Senator Maurice Landrieu, D-LA, age 78
US Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, age 84
US Senator Carl Levin, D-MI, age 74
US Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, age 72
US Senator Harry Reid, D-NV, age 70
US Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, age 71
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, age 75
Stephen G. Breyer, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, age 70
Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, age 72
Ruth Ann Minner, democratic Governor of Delaware, age 73
Under the world view of the Obama supporters, these people, due to their age, cannot be trusted with high office. They are OLD, and as such they must be senile, out of touch, and so forth. Why then are they not demanding these people, and many like them in state & local government, business, or academia to step down immediately? Or is it just republicans running for President that are unfit?
Taking this world view to its logical conclusion, should we not also call into question the fitness of anyone over 70? According to the US Census Bureau, about 12?f the population of the US is over 70. Therefore, since we cannot trust people over 70 to make important decisions, should we not then also remove from these people the right to vote? According to Obama supporters, old people cannot be trusted to think straight, right? Continuing on this line of reasoning, it would also be reasonable to take away anything that might involve important decisions from old people; we should not let them enter into contracts, provide testimony in court, or operate cars. Owning property, writing wills, making decisions about healthcare, or having a job should also be outlawed for people who happen to be over 70. After all, if just because someone is old we cannot trust them, this is the logical conclusion, is it not?
I think Obama supporters who hold the position that McCain is unsuitable to be President simply because of his age need to take a serious, hard look at what they are saying. They are saying that we should call into question ANYONE of this age. We have legal mechanisms in this country for dealing with people who, as a result of their age, injury, or whatever, are not mentally capable of performing as fully functioning citizens. If McCain truly is mentally impaired in some way, these legal mechanisms can be employed. But absent actual evidence of mental impairment, I think it is the height of ignorance to make a blanket declaration that old people are not capable of making decisions or serving as President of the United States of America.
Answered By: Tim - 6/5/2008 |