American Presidents Thread I: What Went Wrong?

[Makko Oko]

I've seen some of the big threads here and I'd like to try and start one of my own, specifically about the American Presidential system. I'm going to start it off with one of my questions, do any of you think, honestly, that old people should be barred from the presidency to make way for younger candidates?

I have some prime examples here, how about President Eisenhower, who in 1969, died of heart failure and who can forget President Jackson who died in 1845 from heart failure and chronic dropsy, and not to mention he had multiple problems including rotting teeth, failing eyesight, internal bleeding in the lungs, etc.

[Sordhau]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

[Makko Oko]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

While we're at it, can be replace the people on the Supreme Court? Some of them are quite old, and lifetime appointments are questionable at best

[Umeria]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

Terrible take. Out-of-touch politicians aren't out-of-touch because they're old (many of them are quite young), they're out of touch because they're corrupt. Fill Congress with randomly selected boomers and I guarantee a better outcome than the current system. Besides, even if most old people were out-of-touch, why should we bar the few who aren't from holding office?

[Makko Oko]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

Terrible take. Out-of-touch politicians aren't out-of-touch because they're old (many of them are quite young), they're out of touch because they're corrupt. Fill Congress with randomly selected boomers and I guarantee a better outcome than the current system. Besides, even if most old people were out-of-touch, why should we bar the few who aren't from holding office?

I for one never said that, just for the record, not that you insinuated that at all but regardless, but I do still think old politicians are part of America's problem. To be frank, I've always been curious on what America would look like in a multi-party system, instead of a two-party system like we have now.

[The Alma Mater]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

Terrible take. Out-of-touch politicians aren't out-of-touch because they're old (many of them are quite young), they're out of touch because they're corrupt. Fill Congress with randomly selected boomers and I guarantee a better outcome than the current system. Besides, even if most old people were out-of-touch, why should we bar the few who aren't from holding office?

Electing the president by lottery sounds.. amusing. And cheaper than the current circus.
And indeed. It is not like elections pick the most competent candidates considering the utter loonies currently in the senate.

[Prima Scriptura]

Gerontocracy, regardless of country, is a terrible idea in general. Anyone older than 50 should not be holding any kind of office. The elderly--especially elderly politicians--are very often out-of-touch with society and incapable of grasping modern issues and the modern solutions needed to meet them.

Yeah, that is shit take and ageist AF. Millennials and Zoomers have to learn to learn to relate to older generations. Older generations have been making an effort, by embracing new technologies and new social constructs. Millennials and zoomers can learn some basic fucking respect.

Most 50 year olds still have their mental faculties. They also have the life experience that is needed for elected office

[Makko Oko]

Terrible take. Out-of-touch politicians aren't out-of-touch because they're old (many of them are quite young), they're out of touch because they're corrupt. Fill Congress with randomly selected boomers and I guarantee a better outcome than the current system. Besides, even if most old people were out-of-touch, why should we bar the few who aren't from holding office?

Electing the president by lottery sounds.. amusing. And cheaper than the current circus.
And indeed. It is not like elections pick the most competent candidates considering the utter loonies currently in the senate.

Oh don't even get me started on the electoral process...the Electoral College is in the nicest way possible...like if I were to freeze an apple and then try to take a bite out of it. It would be brittle and just snap off.

[Torisakia]

There's a reason why the youngest president in US history is the best US president in history and all but 2 others that were older are all tied for the worst. Make of that what you will

[Prima Scriptura]

There's a reason why the youngest president in US history is the best US president in history and all but 2 others that were older are all tied for the worst. Make of that what you will

What makes JFK the best President in history?

[Umeria]

There's a reason why the youngest president in US history is the best US president in history and all but 2 others that were older are all tied for the worst. Make of that what you will

What makes JFK the best President in history?

He wasn't, FDR was better by far.

[Prima Scriptura]

What makes JFK the best President in history?

He wasn't, FDR was better by far.

FDR was good, I believe Abraham Lincoln was the best President.

[Haganham]

creating concentration camps is, on it's own, a disqualifier for best president.

[Umeria]

creating concentration camps is, on it's own, a disqualifier for best president.

I didn't say best I said better. James Garfield was the best.

[Torisakia]

There's a reason why the youngest president in US history is the best US president in history and all but 2 others that were older are all tied for the worst. Make of that what you will

What makes JFK the best President in history?

You're about 60 years too far, but ok. Not as bad as the other 43, but not good enough to warrant not being called terrible.

[Page]

If there should be any exclusionary criteria for the Presidency, it should be wealth, not age. A 95 year old regular guy who has lived a regular life can relate to me much more than one of my peers who was born into a billionaire family. There is no bigger source of disconnection than extreme wealth. I would have a better time hanging out with a Tajik goat herder than with Mark Zuckerberg.

The other thing is that a President's physical and mental health only matters so far as it allows them to do good or bad things with their power. I'd rather have an old dude with terminal cancer and a bit of sundowning who's a libertarian socialist than a healthy and clear-headed fascist.

Shit, when the CIA and the army call upon Biden to drone strike a school in Somalia because there's a chance that an al-Queda guy will die alongside 20 kids, there is really no better to hope for than that Biden is too spaced out rambling about Cornpop to give the order.

[The Archregimancy]

Perhaps this is the right moment to gently remind you young whippersnappers that some people floating around the forums are over 50.

Unimaginably ancient though we might be to many of you, I'd posit that we're not wholly lacking in mental acuity.

[Bistritza]

Just need to necromance Andrew Jackson he'd fix all issues the US is facing, subsequently all negative impact Pentagon is creating globally. No cap.

[Europa Undivided]

Clearly an artificial intelligence should be in charge. Totally won't cause the extinction of humanity, trust me bro.

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

creating concentration camps is, on it's own, a disqualifier for best president.

There's a video by Knowing Better about this, you should watch it.

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

Perhaps this is the right moment to gently remind you young whippersnappers that some people floating around the forums are over 50.

Unimaginably ancient though we might be to many of you, I'd posit that we're not wholly lacking in mental acuity.

How did you escape the nursing home Grandpa, you know your not supposed to do that!

[Haganham]

Totally won't cause the extinction of humanity, trust me bro.

well now I don't want one

[Makko Oko]

He wasn't, FDR was better by far.

FDR was good, I believe Abraham Lincoln was the best President.

I have my doubts about Lincoln being the best President, because if he really was the best, why'd he get assassinated? I mean, sure, you could make the case that not everybody is going to like a President, there will always be dissenters, but none mad enough to kill them surely

Perhaps this is the right moment to gently remind you young whippersnappers that some people floating around the forums are over 50.

Unimaginably ancient though we might be to many of you, I'd posit that we're not wholly lacking in mental acuity.

Surely that means we can hear your opinions on old US Presidents, I'm quite curious actually

[San Lumen]

I've seen some of the big threads here and I'd like to try and start one of my own, specifically about the American Presidential system. I'm going to start it off with one of my questions, do any of you think, honestly, that old people should be barred from the presidency to make way for younger candidates?

I have some prime examples here, how about President Eisenhower, who in the fall of 1955, died of a heart attack and who can forget President Jackson who died in 1837 from congestive heart failure, and not to mention he had multiple problems including rotting teeth, failing eyesight, internal bleeding in the lungs, etc.

No age should not be factor if you can run or not.

Eisenhower did not die in office in 1955. He died in 1969 of heart failure.

Andrew Jackson died in 1845 of chronic dropsy and heart failure.

Where did you learn your history?

[Kerwa]

Harding was my favorite. I’ve got a picture of him in the library for lolz.