Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is running for re-election. The 82-year-old from Vermont announced Monday that he's seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate.
But no one, absolutely no one, is as sharp at 82 as they were at 62.
If we had a functional society no one would have to work past 62. But I had a coworker die recently and she was 86. Didn’t get a lot done, but she showed up every morning till she stopped waking up.
Politicians have the ability to retire before they absolutely need to, so it’s not hard to say they need to.
Bernie has spent so long building a movement larger than himself, it’s a shame he hasn’t put up a successor yet.
Let the new person have the Senate seat and Bernie can work on the movement if he still wants to work.
But no one, absolutely no one, is as sharp at 82 as they were at 62.
This is not sufficient argument for why he should give up the seat. Bernie at 82 is sharper than most people at 62 and that’s the truly relevant fact here.
Bernie at 82 is sharper than most people at 62 and that’s the truly relevant fact here.
He’s not tho.
But his heart is in the right place and he’s genuinely trying to to help people.
Both can be true, but there are people under 62 with the same.positive characteristics of Bernie.
That’s what I mean, he’s spent his whole life saying it’s not about him, it’s about the movement. He needs to let a younger progressive take his spot so that person gets “the experience” and run for president.
A 62 year old Bernie would have known 82 was too late to do that, but at 82 it’s hard for anyone to admit reality about their mental well being.
That’s what I mean, he’s spent his whole life saying it’s not about him, it’s about the movement. He needs to let a younger progressive take his spot so that person gets “the experience” and run for president.
Okay, so who? Name the person. What prominent 62-year-old (or 42-year-old, or 22 30-year-old, which is the minimum age allowed in the Senate) Vermont progressive should be running instead?
Maybe the problem is less Bernie being unwilling to give up the job and more that nobody else is stepping up to replace him.
No one is going be prominent enough to compare to Bernie, especially at the twilight of his political career, and be a natural successor.
It’s like saying where’s the next Obama, when Obama himself was no name, first term, junior Senate candidate from Illinois when he gave the 2004 DNC keynote speech, only four years before becoming president.
What I’m trying to say is, unless you’re already neck deep in Vermont politics, we probably won’t hear the name of the next prominent progressive out of the state until that seat opens up.
That’s what I mean, he’s spent his whole life saying it’s not about him, it’s about the movement. He needs to let a younger progressive take his spot so that person gets “the experience” and run for president.
Both can be true. He can continue to run, while looking for a successor.
As long as he’s capable, we all need his wisdom and his ethics and his experience.
There’s plenty of time for younger people to come up through the ranks and replace them.
And Bernie alone isn’t deciding legislation, no matter how great or smart he is.
It’s about the movement, not him
And what’s best for the movement would be him stepping aside for a younger candidate and him working with candidates for other races to beef up the numbers of progressives in house/Senate.
And Bernie alone isn’t deciding legislation, no matter how great or smart he is.
It’s about the movement, not him
You realize one single Senator can introduce a bill, right?
And that one Senator, if they’re knowledgeable and experienced, has a better chance of getting that billed introduced, and actually voted on, than one who is not.
You said Bernie’s too old, but not even once WHY he should not run.
Because he’s 82…
I understand it when Biden supporters or trump supporters pretend the scientifically proven effects of aging aren’t real.
But do you honestly agree with Bernie on most issues and think he’s not too old and should step down?
I don’t care if we’re talking Biden, trump, Pelosi, Warren, McConnell, or even Bernie.
If someone is over 80 years old, they shouldn’t still be working even if they want to. In a functional society none of them would have to, but this is America.
But especially not in a position there’s only 100 of in the entire country and it’s a spring board to president.
You ever wonder we keep hearing that no one under 60 has the experience to be president? It’s because the elected offices below that are filled with people in their 60s and over.
Seriously. The majority of Senators are eligible for Social Security.
It is a fucking problem unless you completely disregard science and virtually every study about what aging does to a human. Hell, it’s not like they’re just mindless office drones, if they’re doing their job it’s one of the most stressful jobs on the planet, you know what stress does to the cognitive effects of normal aging?
I’m not arguing that an average old person’s mental capabilities are deteriorating. But this is a candidate that has presented their views and that’s what you should be evaluating.
If I disagree with 2 people who’s ages I don’t know and one turns out to be Bernie and the other is a young candidate, they’re on equal footing on that one particular issue.
So let me ask you this:
Do you prefer a young president you agree with 20% or an old one you agree with 50%?
But no one, absolutely no one, is as sharp at 82 as they were at 62.
My dad was, did great until early 90’s, and then at 97 he tanked within 3 months and passed.
You never know, nothing is ‘absolutely’, especially on a case-by-case basis with human beings.
In either case, cognitive test, regardless of the age, will catch situations where that person should not be in a position of governance, because of lack of mental capacity to do the job.
To a certain point…
But no one, absolutely no one, is as sharp at 82 as they were at 62.
If we had a functional society no one would have to work past 62. But I had a coworker die recently and she was 86. Didn’t get a lot done, but she showed up every morning till she stopped waking up.
Politicians have the ability to retire before they absolutely need to, so it’s not hard to say they need to.
Bernie has spent so long building a movement larger than himself, it’s a shame he hasn’t put up a successor yet.
Let the new person have the Senate seat and Bernie can work on the movement if he still wants to work.
82 is just too fucking old
This is not sufficient argument for why he should give up the seat. Bernie at 82 is sharper than most people at 62 and that’s the truly relevant fact here.
He’s not tho.
But his heart is in the right place and he’s genuinely trying to to help people.
Both can be true, but there are people under 62 with the same.positive characteristics of Bernie.
That’s what I mean, he’s spent his whole life saying it’s not about him, it’s about the movement. He needs to let a younger progressive take his spot so that person gets “the experience” and run for president.
A 62 year old Bernie would have known 82 was too late to do that, but at 82 it’s hard for anyone to admit reality about their mental well being.
Okay, so who? Name the person. What prominent 62-year-old (or 42-year-old, or
2230-year-old, which is the minimum age allowed in the Senate) Vermont progressive should be running instead?Maybe the problem is less Bernie being unwilling to give up the job and more that nobody else is stepping up to replace him.
No one is going be prominent enough to compare to Bernie, especially at the twilight of his political career, and be a natural successor.
It’s like saying where’s the next Obama, when Obama himself was no name, first term, junior Senate candidate from Illinois when he gave the 2004 DNC keynote speech, only four years before becoming president.
What I’m trying to say is, unless you’re already neck deep in Vermont politics, we probably won’t hear the name of the next prominent progressive out of the state until that seat opens up.
Bruh, if Bernie didn’t run for his seat, do you think people wouldn’t vote for the person he campaigns for?
Especially if he said his reason was at his age he feels a younger candidate would be better?
Why?
Seriously, I want to know what makes someone think a young candidate needs national recognition to win Bernie’s seat when Bernie campaigns for them.
What?
You think it’s just Bernie by himself and he has no staff?
That’s just…
Well…
It’s certainly an opinion.
Both can be true. He can continue to run, while looking for a successor.
As long as he’s capable, we all need his wisdom and his ethics and his experience.
There’s plenty of time for younger people to come up through the ranks and replace them.
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One senator is one vote…
And Bernie alone isn’t deciding legislation, no matter how great or smart he is.
It’s about the movement, not him
And what’s best for the movement would be him stepping aside for a younger candidate and him working with candidates for other races to beef up the numbers of progressives in house/Senate.
You realize one single Senator can introduce a bill, right?
And that one Senator, if they’re knowledgeable and experienced, has a better chance of getting that billed introduced, and actually voted on, than one who is not.
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Can you even vote in Vermont elections?
You said Bernie’s too old, but not even once WHY he should not run. You’re just guessing there’s something not right about his mental well being.
It’s almost like the age part is not relevant.
Because he’s 82…
I understand it when Biden supporters or trump supporters pretend the scientifically proven effects of aging aren’t real.
But do you honestly agree with Bernie on most issues and think he’s not too old and should step down?
I don’t care if we’re talking Biden, trump, Pelosi, Warren, McConnell, or even Bernie.
If someone is over 80 years old, they shouldn’t still be working even if they want to. In a functional society none of them would have to, but this is America.
But especially not in a position there’s only 100 of in the entire country and it’s a spring board to president.
You ever wonder we keep hearing that no one under 60 has the experience to be president? It’s because the elected offices below that are filled with people in their 60s and over.
Seriously. The majority of Senators are eligible for Social Security.
https://fiscalnote.com/blog/how-old-118th-congress
It is a fucking problem unless you completely disregard science and virtually every study about what aging does to a human. Hell, it’s not like they’re just mindless office drones, if they’re doing their job it’s one of the most stressful jobs on the planet, you know what stress does to the cognitive effects of normal aging?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4490700/
I don’t know if you wanted me to debate what happens to humans in their 70s/80s, thats as productive as explaining science to any science denier.
If you want to learn, read studies, start with articles if you need to.
But human brains don’t last forever. Just like bodies don’t, but I bet you don’t ask why an 80 year old should be QB in the Superbowl.
Pretty circular logic, but that’s your right.
I’m not arguing that an average old person’s mental capabilities are deteriorating. But this is a candidate that has presented their views and that’s what you should be evaluating.
If I disagree with 2 people who’s ages I don’t know and one turns out to be Bernie and the other is a young candidate, they’re on equal footing on that one particular issue.
So let me ask you this: Do you prefer a young president you agree with 20% or an old one you agree with 50%?
Cognitive tests can be abused.
My dad was, did great until early 90’s, and then at 97 he tanked within 3 months and passed.
You never know, nothing is ‘absolutely’, especially on a case-by-case basis with human beings.
In either case, cognitive test, regardless of the age, will catch situations where that person should not be in a position of governance, because of lack of mental capacity to do the job.
It’s not the age, it’s the mileage.
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