Amidst the flood of news stories last week, you may have missed this one: 81-year-old Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) has apparently been living in a dementia care facility [update: maybe in assisted living?] for the past several months and has not participated in a Congressional vote since June of 2024.
Could it be that the Democrats and the Republicans just kept their mouths shut when Granger didn't show up for 6 months as the Democrats didn't want to raise a ruckus that her absence put them closer to a Democratic advantage at every vote, and the Republicans didn't want the word of such a disadvantage to become public for such a ridiculous reason?
As I stagger toward 80 - 80!!? - I really question our lack of upper age limits on elected officers. Altho I am not at all ready for memory care, I do see a noticeable (well, I have noticed it) decline in the speed of my decision making, and much slower recall. Even ten years ago, I was much more alert. I am not saying that everyone over 80 is too old to serve, but that in our fast moving society, we really do need leaders and representatives who are mentally quick and sharp. While it is definitely important to have historic memory of our chosen fields, it is also important to move the yoiunger folks up into leadership ... and sadly the Dems are not doing that fast enough right now (in my opinion). An upper age limit or 75 or 80, would be good for Congress, as well as the Presidency.
Very sad situation. I lived in Fort Worth for 27 years and remember Kay Granger well. Such a sad end to a long and storied career. Cannot get my head around the ineptitude of our Congress and even the media. There have been so many stories about Biden's mental ability and others that it boggles the mind that this one "slipped through the cracks."
Could it be that the Democrats and the Republicans just kept their mouths shut when Granger didn't show up for 6 months as the Democrats didn't want to raise a ruckus that her absence put them closer to a Democratic advantage at every vote, and the Republicans didn't want the word of such a disadvantage to become public for such a ridiculous reason?
Goodgrief.
As I stagger toward 80 - 80!!? - I really question our lack of upper age limits on elected officers. Altho I am not at all ready for memory care, I do see a noticeable (well, I have noticed it) decline in the speed of my decision making, and much slower recall. Even ten years ago, I was much more alert. I am not saying that everyone over 80 is too old to serve, but that in our fast moving society, we really do need leaders and representatives who are mentally quick and sharp. While it is definitely important to have historic memory of our chosen fields, it is also important to move the yoiunger folks up into leadership ... and sadly the Dems are not doing that fast enough right now (in my opinion). An upper age limit or 75 or 80, would be good for Congress, as well as the Presidency.
Very sad situation. I lived in Fort Worth for 27 years and remember Kay Granger well. Such a sad end to a long and storied career. Cannot get my head around the ineptitude of our Congress and even the media. There have been so many stories about Biden's mental ability and others that it boggles the mind that this one "slipped through the cracks."
Does anything in Congress work properly? It's as if the teacher down the hall didn't show up to teach and no one noticed because the kids were quiet?!
Absolutely! My students all knew that was the best way to get a free hour or so during the school day.