The author next will probably present A Modest Proposal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal
It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
11–20 of 32 posts
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#12Modest proposal of 100% wealth tax at age 60, let's say with first 10 mln tax free. Can be used retirement for all 60 year olds. Immediately solves aging workforce problem as long as GDP doesn't shrink.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#13A president in his 80s. A Senate leader in his 80s. The Senate filled with people born in the 1940s. If it was the plot of a novel, the author would be laughed out of the publisher's office.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#14I agree, in general, with the point of the article. But why does everybody have to make fun of Biden's speech issues (Stuttering)? That's a pretty low blow, bro.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#15I agree, in general, with the point of the article. But why does everybody have to make fun of Biden's speech issues (Stuttering)? That's a pretty low blow, bro.
He’s stuttered his whole life. It doesn’t have to do with his age. Now that he’s old, people act like he suddenly has trouble speaking.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#16Well, that's nice cherry-picking. Older people rise to the top in institutions because they have the requisite experience, patience and people skills, and yes, sometimes, brilliance. Now, let's talk about the other 99% plus. Older people are throw-aways in society, and will be served, like anyone or anything else, when there's a buck to me made. Need I mention pharma? And forget affordable housing. I didn't have the…
> Older people are throw-aways in society, and will be served, like anyone or anything else, when there's a buck to me made.
There's a wide chasm between being a societal throw-away and "we need to indulge people into their 80s and even 90s having the power to impact millions of people's lives". No-one is entitled to a position of power or influence.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#17When do these arguments become agism? Are we assuming 70 year olds are less capable?
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#18When do these arguments become agism? Are we assuming 70 year olds are less capable?
Yes, in many ways a 70 yo is less capable than a 40 yo. Mental acuity, stamina/fitness, rigidity of thinking (the lack thereof) and general health (mental and otherwise). Never ending political terms may also come with a sense of entitlement and disdain for the democratic process. As can be observed when someone from their own political side dares challenging figures like Pelosi, McConnell and others. Knifes are out and playing dirty is the name of the game then.
Where a politician who has “served” for decades does have the edge is knowing from experience how to pull the strings, cut backroom deals etc. They also have a far-flung network of political relations, essentially people who owe them favours. I don’t think these qualities are to the advantage of their constituents or the nation. They certainly help to keep them in power though, which makes gerontocracy a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#19I agree, in general, with the point of the article. But why does everybody have to make fun of Biden's speech issues (Stuttering)? That's a pretty low blow, bro.
Since when does stuttering make you speak nonsense, be forgetful and tired?
Re: It'd Be Nice to Live in Less of a Gerontocracy
#20I agree, in general, with the point of the article. But why does everybody have to make fun of Biden's speech issues (Stuttering)? That's a pretty low blow, bro.
He’s stuttered his whole life. It doesn’t have to do with his age. Now that he’s old, people act like he suddenly has trouble speaking.
Apart from the stuttering, the constant lying (such as his speech plagiarism decades ago) has been something of a concern. Framing it as an old-age thing is an act of kindness.