The Josh Lafazan Show

The Josh Lafazan Show on YouTube - Episode 131

Episode Notes

America Needs AGE LIMITS For Our Politicians

The Josh Lafazan Show on YouTube - Episode 131

Welcome to The Josh Lafazan Show. Today’s episode tackles one of the most urgent and uncomfortable truths in American politics: our leaders are too old to lead. The United States now holds the distinction of having the oldest elected officials in the industrialized world — and the consequences are piling up. It’s time to ask a question too many in Washington are afraid to answer: Should there be age limits for elected office?

Let’s look at the facts: In just the past three months, three Democratic members of Congress have died in office — Rep. Raúl Grijalva (77), Rep. Sylvester Turner (70), and another colleague whose absence flipped a critical vote in the House. Had all three been present and voting, a controversial bill would have failed by a margin of 217–215. Their deaths weren’t just personal tragedies — they altered national policy.

But it’s not just Democrats. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is 91 years old — and not only is he still serving, but he’s also third in line to the presidency. There’s even been a sitting Republican member of Congress living in a nursing home. Representative David Scott had a moment of confusion on Capitol Hill so alarming that it made national headlines. And we all remember when Mitch McConnell — once the most powerful Republican in the Senate — froze mid-sentence during a press conference, unable to continue speaking.

Then there’s the infamous clip of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, barely audible, clearly disoriented, being told by aides to “just say aye” during a committee vote. These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re part of a troubling trend.

Which brings us to the highest office in the land: the presidency.

In 2024, President Joe Biden, at 82 years old, was pushed out of the race for re-election after a disastrous debate performance that made clear to voters — and donors — just how steep his cognitive decline had become. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, at 78, reclaimed the nomination and will soon become the oldest president ever inaugurated.

These two men — Trump and Biden — have defined the last decade of American politics. But they’ve also become the symbol of a gerontocracy, a system where the most powerful decisions are made by individuals decades removed from the majority of the population.

Consider this: According to The Economist, the average U.S. lawmaker is 60 years old — a full 20 years older than the average American. In countries like Germany, Belgium, and Finland, legislators are only a few years older than those they represent. Here, nearly half of Congress is over 60, and a stunning number are over 70 or even 80.

This is more than a demographic quirk — it’s a policy problem.

How can we expect leaders in their 80s to effectively regulate emerging technology, artificial intelligence, climate change, or digital privacy? How can we entrust the future to leaders who may not be alive to see its consequences?

Age limits exist in other professions where focus, speed, and sound decision-making are essential:

So why are we OK with 82-year-old presidents and 91-year-old senators wielding enormous power?

This isn’t about ageism. It’s about fitness for office.

That’s why I’m proposing a simple, fair solution:
No one over 75 should serve in Congress. No one over 80 should serve as President.

Nearly 80% of Americans agree with age limits for elected officials. Voters from both parties are exhausted watching Biden and Trump stumble through high-stakes decisions. In fact, a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 59% of Americans believe both are too old to serve another term.

Yes, younger candidates can and should run. But let’s not pretend that’s enough. The system is rigged — through seniority, fundraising demands, gerrymandering, and closed primaries — to favor incumbents, even when those incumbents are no longer mentally or physically capable of leading.

It’s time to fix this. America was built by a generation that believed in passing the torch:

Today, we have an 82-year-old president and a 91-year-old senator leading a nation that desperately needs fresh thinking.

Let’s bring that spirit of renewal back.
Let’s pass the torch.
Let’s pass age limits for American politicians.

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