Bob Neal
The pundits disagree, which means they are doing their job, as to whether 2021 was worse than 2020.
Starting today, they and we can look ahead to what may differ in 2022. And, especially to ways to make ’22 better.
Here are two suggested improvements for ’22, both in the realm of government.
As a certified codger — “an often mildly eccentric and usually elderly fellow,” says Merriam-Webster — I believe the time has come for my generation and many who came right after us to ease our grip on the reins of power.
It’s not that those of us past a certain age aren’t capable, and it’s not that we lack the experience that often tempers foolishness, but so long as we hold the reins, we’re holding back younger people with great talent and experience.
As America has begun concertedly looking at how past injustices shaped us — and, in many cases, is trying to scrap those injustices — we are depriving people who aren’t old, white men of the opportunity America promises to all.
To begin with, those of us 70 and older, according to the U.S. Census in 2010, make up about 9% of the population. Compare that to the proportions of old-timers in high office.
Four of our seven latest presidents were 64 or older at inauguration. Donald Trump was 70, Joe Biden the oldest ever at 78. If you saw Trump struggle down a gently inclined ramp at West Point or see Biden wander off script, you know that neither is at peak.
Congress is no better. Of the 100 senators, 11 are 75 or older, another 15 are 70 through 74. So, 26% are 70 or older. In the House of Representatives, 29 are 75 or older and another 46 are 70 or older. Nearly 18% of the House is 70 or older. Versus 9% overall.
No branch of government escapes gerontocracy. Of 294 U.S. Circuit Court judges, 155, or 55%, are 70 or older. Lifetime appointments guarantee an aging judiciary. The framers wanted judges to be independent, so they made appointments conditional only on “good behaviour.” Presidents and senators installing judges now use life tenure to seat judges who will apply their ideology long after the president and senators have left.
On the Supreme Court, three justices (Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito) are older than 70. Three picked by Trump are younger than 60, so you’ll see their names around for a long while. Assuming “good behaviour.”
For all of us fortunate enough to live into old age, it’s not that we can’t produce well, it’s that we can’t produce as much or as efficiently. At 81, most of my slowing down has been physical. I haven’t run a chainsaw in eight years, haven’t driven a truck in six.
But the mind slows down, as well. More letters must be retyped as fingers don’t work so well. Names come less easily. Ideas for columns pop into my head, then pop right back out, sometimes to return, sometimes not. Not to say everyone past a certain age is useless, but we should assess what we can do. Realistically.
Improvement No. 2. The Constitution lets each house write its own rules of procedure. So, one limits speaking time, the other allows filibusters.
Generally speaking, the House of Representatives allows as many members as possible speak on an issue. So it limits speechifying to five minutes in most cases. The Senate, on the other hand, has long claimed to be the “world’s greatest deliberative body,” a phrase reportedly first used by President James Buchanan.
In its zeal to foster debate, the Senate has adopted rules to protect not just the filibuster, but the threat of a filibuster.
It’s time that senators actually stand up and talk for hours if they want to filibuster.
I know, I know, that means subjecting anyone watching C-SPAN to watch Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, read “Green Eggs and Ham.” No video I’ve seen of Cruz doing Dr. Seuss shows senators were there as he tried (and failed) to defund the Affordable Care Act.
Any threat needs to be backed by action, so the threat of the filibuster should be backed by actually standing up and talking. As Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, did in 2017 trying to block the court nomination of Neil Gorsuch.
If senators had to really speak, even the most resolute would wear out, need a bathroom break (not allowed) or a bite to eat (also not allowed). How many can show such resolve?
While the two senatorial parties can’t even agree on whether an insurrection was staged 360 days ago, knowing that requiring rather than merely threatening a speech could in time serve the parties equally well. And it might help move a bit of the people’s business — remember that? — along once in a while.
Bob Neal would love to see a Congress that looks more like America and that behaves less like Fox “News” and MSNBC “hosts.” Neal can be reached at turkeyfarm@myfairpoint.net.
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