The biggest threat to Trump or Biden is a younger candidate. The RNC and DNC smugly assert "No problem - we choose the candidates." However, neither party has any control over the physical or mental health of their frail elderly candidates. Either candidate could be forced to drop out due to poor health or injury. As the average life exp…
The biggest threat to Trump or Biden is a younger candidate. The RNC and DNC smugly assert "No problem - we choose the candidates." However, neither party has any control over the physical or mental health of their frail elderly candidates. Either candidate could be forced to drop out due to poor health or injury. As the average life expectancy of an American Male us under 78, either candidate could just drop dead. At 77, several of my prep school pals recently did just that - here today and gone tomorrow. If either candidate is replaced, the new younger candidate will have a huge edge with voters, most of whom are well under age 75.
Thanks for the comment, Noah. I agree that age may not be a huge impediment to getting elected to public office. However, this is a unique election between two candidates of historically advanced age. If either one fails physically or mentally between now and election day, age will be a huge burden as the opponent will surely be much younger and hardier.
Once in office, age past 75 is a growing impediment to physical and mental health. Most of my career as an organizational psychologist has been providing direct support to top federal officials in DC - admirals, generals, agency heads, and 7-year detail to the White House. Unless one has worked on a daily basis with folks at very high levels of influence, it is difficult to appreciate the physical and emotional stress of their daily lives - POTUS especially.
Presidents and candidates travel a great deal locally as well as in the air nationally and internationally. Their lives are one meeting after another - often having to make deals and decisions that can have enormous consequences for public health and safety, not to mention the national economy. That sort of schedule is very stressful and hard on elderly bodies and minds. Most of those I worked with in government were ready to retire at 70 or sooner.
Everyone by age 70 has several chronic health problems (e.g., vision, hearing, high blood pressure, arthritis) as well as some cognitive-emotional deterioration. Neither Biden nor Trump are in good health even for their age. Both have shuffling gaits which indicate various chronic health issues that never go away - only worsen. Trump is a self-indulgent fat slob with a junk-food addiction who likely has a cholesterol reading off the chart. At his age many male executives have already been treated from stroke or heart attacks - if still alive. Biden's stiff gait, regardless of underlying cause, greatly increases his vulnerability to falls – Trump’s gait too.
Falls are the number one cause of death among the elderly not to mention disabling injury. The public has seen the President fall several times on TV. He and Trump both likely have had falls off-camera such as when getting out bed or the back seat of a limo. Thus, both men are indeed at risk of dropping dead right now. That risk will continue to increase over time.
The biggest threat to Trump or Biden is a younger candidate. The RNC and DNC smugly assert "No problem - we choose the candidates." However, neither party has any control over the physical or mental health of their frail elderly candidates. Either candidate could be forced to drop out due to poor health or injury. As the average life expectancy of an American Male us under 78, either candidate could just drop dead. At 77, several of my prep school pals recently did just that - here today and gone tomorrow. If either candidate is replaced, the new younger candidate will have a huge edge with voters, most of whom are well under age 75.
people biden's age in good health don't generally just drop dead; that's not a good summary of what life expectancy means!
and to the extent there's research on it, older candidates don't actually tend to suffer at the polls. Seth Masket is worth reading: https://smotus.substack.com/p/on-age-and-vote-shares
Thanks for the comment, Noah. I agree that age may not be a huge impediment to getting elected to public office. However, this is a unique election between two candidates of historically advanced age. If either one fails physically or mentally between now and election day, age will be a huge burden as the opponent will surely be much younger and hardier.
Once in office, age past 75 is a growing impediment to physical and mental health. Most of my career as an organizational psychologist has been providing direct support to top federal officials in DC - admirals, generals, agency heads, and 7-year detail to the White House. Unless one has worked on a daily basis with folks at very high levels of influence, it is difficult to appreciate the physical and emotional stress of their daily lives - POTUS especially.
Presidents and candidates travel a great deal locally as well as in the air nationally and internationally. Their lives are one meeting after another - often having to make deals and decisions that can have enormous consequences for public health and safety, not to mention the national economy. That sort of schedule is very stressful and hard on elderly bodies and minds. Most of those I worked with in government were ready to retire at 70 or sooner.
Everyone by age 70 has several chronic health problems (e.g., vision, hearing, high blood pressure, arthritis) as well as some cognitive-emotional deterioration. Neither Biden nor Trump are in good health even for their age. Both have shuffling gaits which indicate various chronic health issues that never go away - only worsen. Trump is a self-indulgent fat slob with a junk-food addiction who likely has a cholesterol reading off the chart. At his age many male executives have already been treated from stroke or heart attacks - if still alive. Biden's stiff gait, regardless of underlying cause, greatly increases his vulnerability to falls – Trump’s gait too.
Falls are the number one cause of death among the elderly not to mention disabling injury. The public has seen the President fall several times on TV. He and Trump both likely have had falls off-camera such as when getting out bed or the back seat of a limo. Thus, both men are indeed at risk of dropping dead right now. That risk will continue to increase over time.