We are entering that time of the political cycle in the USA when Presidents (or at least contenders) are made ....
In this case we have President Donald Trump as the incumbent and republican nominee.
But who the Democrats put up against him is still under debate .... however the two contenders appear to be the Vermont senator and self styled 'Democratic Socialist' Bernie Saunders and ex Vice President Joe Biden .... with the senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren a very distant third.
Now what struck me most about the Democratic race and indeed the presidential race generally is the sheer old age of the contestants:
Now whilst as a gentleman in the foothills of old age, I appreciate the wisdom that comes with age as much as anyone (hmm), I do have to ask whether the leadership of the free world should be held by someone who would, in any other occupation other than politician be classed as at retirement age?
On the side of the Western Democrats:
In the Non-Democrat corner:
So the US is running very much against the trend with its septuagenarian leadership race ... is that good or bad? I can't say but its an odd fact and at the very least must lead to a disconnect between a large proportion of the US population and the leadership. Its almost as though the US leadership will be concerned with tackling yesterdays issues, and concerns from 20 years ago, while the rest of the world deals with today's. Trumps views on climate change seem emblematic of this, as are his views on "foreign viruses" (which seem to be similar to his views on Hispanic immigration).
I can remember when we used to remark on the old age and conservatism of China's leadership but now it seems to be the US which is the odd one out ... Personally I think the US political system is sclerotic, and this aged candidate list is the inevitable result. It needs a reboot and some reform, but I guess that's something that only they can address.
However having a US political leadership that is a decade or more older than many other countries, has got to lead to some issues.
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| The Same Old Faces? |
In this case we have President Donald Trump as the incumbent and republican nominee.
But who the Democrats put up against him is still under debate .... however the two contenders appear to be the Vermont senator and self styled 'Democratic Socialist' Bernie Saunders and ex Vice President Joe Biden .... with the senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren a very distant third.
Now what struck me most about the Democratic race and indeed the presidential race generally is the sheer old age of the contestants:
- Donald Trump will be aged 74 by the time the election takes place (and was aged 70 when he took office).
- Bernie Saunders will be aged 79.
- Joe Biden will still be aged 77 (just).
- Elizabeth Warren would have been the youngster at age 71, if she had somehow become the Democrats candidate but she dropped out last week.
Now whilst as a gentleman in the foothills of old age, I appreciate the wisdom that comes with age as much as anyone (hmm), I do have to ask whether the leadership of the free world should be held by someone who would, in any other occupation other than politician be classed as at retirement age?
On the side of the Western Democrats:
- In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is aged 55, and the same age when he came in to office.
- In France, President Macron is aged just 42, and was aged just 40 when he entered office in 2017.
- In Germany, the soon to be retired Angela Merkel is still only 65 years old, and entered office in 2005 aged just 50.
- In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also aged 65 (in a country where old age is respected), but was aged a mere 58 when he came to power in 2012.
In the Non-Democrat corner:
- President Putin of Russia is aged 67, and was aged just 47 when he first took power in 2000.
- President Xi Jinping of China is aged just 66, and was aged just 58 when he became paramount leader in 2012.
- Kim Jong-un of North Korea is aged just 36, and took over the country aged just 27 in 2011.
So the US is running very much against the trend with its septuagenarian leadership race ... is that good or bad? I can't say but its an odd fact and at the very least must lead to a disconnect between a large proportion of the US population and the leadership. Its almost as though the US leadership will be concerned with tackling yesterdays issues, and concerns from 20 years ago, while the rest of the world deals with today's. Trumps views on climate change seem emblematic of this, as are his views on "foreign viruses" (which seem to be similar to his views on Hispanic immigration).
I can remember when we used to remark on the old age and conservatism of China's leadership but now it seems to be the US which is the odd one out ... Personally I think the US political system is sclerotic, and this aged candidate list is the inevitable result. It needs a reboot and some reform, but I guess that's something that only they can address.
However having a US political leadership that is a decade or more older than many other countries, has got to lead to some issues.
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