Morning Jolt: Our Gerontocracy Is All Age, No Wisdom

On the menu today: The top level of the American government is a "gerontocracy," but despite having a whole lot of old men and old women around in powerful positions, we're lacking any figures who are broadly recognized as "elder statesmen." There is no trusted elder figure who can nudge liabilities to the door, help steer officeholders in the right direction, or articulate the case for making difficult but needed choices, and the country is worse off for the absence of those sage senior figures. Meanwhile, may you never find yourself in the situation where you're rejecting a family member over matters of politics or reputation.

An Era without Elder Statesmen or Authority

We have old politicians, but no elder statesman.

Over in The Atlantic, 67-year-old Eliot Cohen argues that Biden is too old to serve another term. This isn't that shocking; Mark Leibovich wrote something similar ...

WITH JIM GERAGHTY July 10 2023 WITH JIM GERAGHTY July 10 2023 Our Gerontocracy Is All Age, No Wisdom On the menu today: The top level of the American government is a "gerontocracy," but despite having a whole lot of old men and old women around in powerful positions, we're lacking any figures who are broadly recognized as "elder statesmen." There is no trusted elder figure who can nudge liabilities to the door, help steer officeholders in the right direction, or articulate the case for making difficult but needed choices, and the country is worse off for the absence of those sage senior figures. Meanwhile, may you never find yourself in the situation where you're rejecting a family member over matters of politics or reputation. An Era without Elder Statesmen or Authority We have old politicians, but no elder statesman. Over in The Atlantic, 67-year-old Eliot Cohen argues that Biden is too old to serve another term. This isn't that shocking; Mark Leibovich wrote something similar ...   READ MORE

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