Over three-fourths of Americans think there should be a maximum age limit for elected officials, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey.

  • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    Frankly I think this is something that needs to be indirectly addressed. We need to reduce the importance of seniority in Congress such that people won’t worry about new blood losing them influence. And, we need to make it easier for people to run for office. It’s all about encouraging turnover.

    The problem with a mental acuity test is that it can very easily be corrupted for disenfranchisement. After 2016 the idea of a basic civics test to vote might’ve seemed appealing for instance, but in practice it would almost certainly be used to suppress minority votes.

    • seitanic@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Why not make turnover the requirement with term limits? Give them a reasonable amount of time to get projects done, but after a set period of time, they can’t run anymore. Just like what’s done for presidents.

      • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        That’s not a bad idea. You can serve unlimited terms, but not three consecutive terms in the Senate or seven in the house. Every 12 years you have to transition to a different part of the government or leave entirely for one term.

        Maybe we could make this even more beneficial by having that skipped term be one where you stay in your district/state and spend dedicated time with your constituents. So after two terms in the Senate, you’d spend 6 years effectively as a community organizer and take notes.