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50 currently serving Senators are age 65 and over. Of those 50, 26 are age 70 or older. (Original Post) cornball 24 Mar 2021 OP
So? We have incredibly moronic and incompetent House members (25yo Cawthorne, for example) hlthe2b Mar 2021 #1
So what. With age comes wisdom! beaglelover Mar 2021 #2
Then why do the majority of older voters cast their ballots for Republicans? nt. Mariana Mar 2021 #7
Also stubborn viewpoints Calculating Mar 2021 #9
The issue is not their age, but how long they have served. I think it's time to revisit term limits Dream Girl Mar 2021 #3
Absolutely not! LiberalFighter Mar 2021 #4
Why there should not be term limits. LiberalFighter Mar 2021 #8
Years of service is a critical factor more than age. LiberalFighter Mar 2021 #5
Age should not be a negative factor. LiberalFighter Mar 2021 #6
Wait 'til brain surgeons and landscape contractors who'd always wanted to Hortensis Mar 2021 #10
I posted this as I thought it was an interesting stat. I am 79. cornball 24 Mar 2021 #11
We have term limits BGBD Mar 2021 #12

hlthe2b

(105,866 posts)
1. So? We have incredibly moronic and incompetent House members (25yo Cawthorne, for example)
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 12:33 PM
Mar 2021

34 yo. Lauren Boebert... There are those of questionable intelligence, cognitive clarity and sentience in every age group.

 

Dream Girl

(5,111 posts)
3. The issue is not their age, but how long they have served. I think it's time to revisit term limits
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 12:53 PM
Mar 2021

But that’s not happening.

LiberalFighter

(53,392 posts)
8. Why there should not be term limits.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:14 PM
Mar 2021
1) It puts more power in the Executive Branch.
There would be less effective oversight by the Legislative Branch when congressional members don't have the knowledge and interaction with the many different departments and agencies. It takes more than just a few years to gain that knowledge and know the people within those departments and agencies. Relationships with federal employees take time and is necessary to protect against corrupt officials.

2) It reduces the ability to transfer knowledge about Senate or House rules.
With fewer members with years of experience would result in members not having the knowledge about the rules and history to fight back against people like Trump.

LiberalFighter

(53,392 posts)
5. Years of service is a critical factor more than age.
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:00 PM
Mar 2021

From the Congressional Research Service
Congressional Careers: Service Tenure and Patterns of Member Service, 1789-2021

The average years of service for Members of the 117th Congress, as of January 3, 2021, when the Congress convened, was 8.9 years for the House and 11.0 years for the Senate. In comparison, the average years of service for Members of the 116th Congress, as of January 3, 2019, when the Congress convened, was 8.6 years for the House and 10.1 years for the Senate.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
10. Wait 'til brain surgeons and landscape contractors who'd always wanted to
Tue Mar 2, 2021, 01:30 PM
Mar 2021

bring their talents (real or imagined) to government, if they could only have afforded to, routinely retire and take it up as their next career. Inevitable with a lot more people living longer and healthier.

We need talented, principled professionals come out of duty and ideals, but the system should wring what they have to offer out of them and encourage them to want to move on. Right now many like their cushy positions so much they settle in for life.

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