Marilyn Goldfarb

Boalsburg

An octogenarian wants to join an Everest expedition, and is told, “No; you’re too old.” No one asks, “Too old for what?” The meaning is clear: too old to meet the requirements to accomplish the job.

If the same octogenarian wants to be President, and a detractor says, “He’s too old,” it is reasonable to ask, “What essential functions of POTUS are impaired by advancing age?”

Some say, “Biden is too old; he shuffles when he walks,” but the ability to walk shuffling-free is not a POTUS job requirement. Similarly, “Biden speaks too haltingly.” Barack Obama spoke haltingly, and no one said he was too old. Measured speech is a sign of having thought through things. The opposite is to speak rashly.

Some say that advancing age impairs the ability to act quickly and decisively in a crisis. Presidents do face crises, but hardly ever of a nature demanding an immediate response. FDR waited a day after Pearl Harbor before asking Congress to declare war.

A crisis that did require an immediate Presidential response was the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, but it was not forthcoming. It is ironic to believe Biden is too old for making immediate decisions in a crisis, so let’s entrust the Presidency to one who, when such a decision was required, miserably failed the test.

President Biden’s tendency to consult advisors, analyze a situation carefully, and avoid too-hasty decision-making are hallmarks of a wise and mature man. These attributes come with age. They are assets.