Books on ageism in case you think elder candidates should step aside.

[nolabear]

https://oldschool.info/#books

[Kurt V.]

1. i didn't see BF Skinner's book in there.

[Mme. Defarge]

2. A quote from Arianna Huffington

"Old man" isn't a bad word in Greek.
greece nap
The Western cultural stigma around aging and death doesn't exist in Greece. In Greek and Greek-American culture, old age is honored and celebrated, and respect for elders is central to the family.
Arianna Huffington described an experience of Greek elderly respect in her book, On Becoming Fearless:
"Ten years ago I visited the monastery of Tharri on the island of Rhodes with my children. There, as in all of Greece, abbots are addressed by everyone as 'Geronda,' which means 'old man.' Abbesses are called 'Gerondissa.' Not exactly terms of endearment in my adopted home. The idea of honoring old age, indeed identifying it with wisdom and closeness to God, is in startling contrast to the way we treat aging in America."

[NNadir]

3. The true inventor of the United States, though often not recognized as such...

...was a very old man when he invented this country.

That would be Benjamin Franklin, 71 when he put intellectual weight behind independence, and 81 when he gave authority to the Constitution.

In his time, age really mattered.

We should however, be aware that age affects different people in different ways. Ronald Reagan was senile toward the end of his Presidency and Trump was senile before he became President.

Both men of course are symbols of the pernicious effects of mass marketing.

My candidate is 69, older than I am, but man she thinks like a very sharp person in her thirties.

I have no problem with VP Biden's age. He's not my favorite candidate, but on the worst day of his life he has to have been infinitely superior to the orange sharpie wielding idiot on his best day, although it may be difficult to imagine a "best day" for someone with no redeeming values.

I will say this, my generation, the baby boomers, screwed the planet royally, and I have no objection to prominent roles being played by the Mayor of Gary. Although he's not my candidate for now, that impressive young man fills me with hope for future generations, that they will surely do better than we did.

[elocs]

4. I would never say that elder candidates should step aside because of their age,

but I would also honestly say that neither are they immune to the ravages of old age that impact many millions of the elderly.

But it's so very easy to simply smear anybody for whom age is an issue as being ageist.

[Tipperary]

5. Thank you.

Well said.

[loyalsister]

6. I disagree with "ravages"

Aging is a natural process and the bodily changes which are legitimately identified as decline are also natural and they are the norm.
Rather than an irrational discrimination or attempt to discredit, I think it is a realistic point of view to be wary of age, as it is a predictor of problems that are bound to arise fairly soon with some of our candidates as well as with the current POTUS.
I also believe that one of the most troubling situations is one where an individual with significant responsibilities denies a need for assistance.
So, I hope our older candidates would surround themselves with many trustworthy advisors, wear hearing aids and use canes or wheelchairs if it makes things easier. What I really dislike is when they try to pretend they are as physically capable as they were in their 50s.

[elocs]

7. Well millions of elderly who feel they are suffering the ravages of old age

might disagree with you.
I'm 67 and went on a 10 mile bike ride this morning at 2:30 but I'd be lying to say I'm the same person I was at age 50 with the same mental and physical capabilities as then.

[loyalsister]

9. Subjective experience aside, it happens to everyone - if they live long enough

I see it as a neutral fact, and would not impose a negative description on what is very natural and ordinary because it derails the conversation. Whether aging is a good or bad experience, the unavoidable reality is that our bodies change with age in a way that reduces our ease at participating in the mainstream social environment around us. And we are here considering nominating someone whose functionality is naturally changing to lead it - to replace someone who has probably always been too ignorant, narcissistic, and lazy to do it well.

[DrFunkenstein]

8. Two People of The Same Age Can Be Vastly Different

Some feel the effects of aging more. Some get tired more easily. Some lose track of memories, while others have a mind like a steel trap. Some go gentle into that good night, while others rage, rage against the dying of the light.

But sometimes it is just their way of thinking that is past its shelf life.