North Dakota voters just approved an age limit for congressional candidates

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Support for Age Limits

  • Many see gerontocracy as dangerous; argue leaders in their 70s–80s are often out of touch with current realities and tech.
  • Some want far lower caps (60–70), equating eligibility for retirement benefits with loss of generational relevance.
  • Age caps are compared to mandatory retirement for high‑stakes professions (e.g., pilots) where health decline can quickly become a risk.
  • Supporters say incumbency and re‑election advantages keep very old politicians in office despite declining health or relevance.

Opposition & Concerns About Ageism

  • Critics call explicit age caps “arbitrary” and “ageist,” arguing individuals age at different rates and some remain highly capable into their 80s and beyond.
  • They note existing age minimums are tied to expected experience; maximums don’t map cleanly to competence.
  • Emphasize that voters, not laws, should remove unfit officials; better tools for evaluating performance are preferred.

Term Limits, Incumbency & Lobbying

  • Some argue term limits attack the real problem (career politicians and incumbency) better than age caps.
  • Others counter that term limits can empower lobbyists and special interests, since rotating legislators become short‑timers reliant on long‑tenured lobbyists for expertise and post‑office jobs.
  • There is disagreement whether long experience in office mainly benefits governance or entrenches corruption.

Constitutionality & Legal Constraints

  • Several note Supreme Court precedent that states cannot add qualifications for federal office beyond the U.S. Constitution; many expect the ND law to be struck down.
  • A few argue Congress or a constitutional amendment could impose an upper age nationally; state‑level attempts are seen as legally weak but potentially a “test case.”
  • Some suggest precedent could be overturned, but this is speculative within the thread.

Generational Relevance & Culture

  • Strong theme: very old leaders don’t “live in the same world” as younger generations, lacking lived experience with digital life, identity issues, modern work, and economic pressures.
  • Some say society should respect elders’ wisdom but resist being “ruled” by them; power should rotate as generations change.

Voting Age & Political Maturity

  • A side debate argues for raising the voting age (closer to 30) due to brain maturation and life experience.
  • Others defend lower ages on liberty grounds and cite past conflicts where people could be drafted but not vote.
  • Mixed views on whether changing the voting age would materially affect participation or outcomes.

Broader Systemic Critiques

  • Multiple comments blame party gatekeeping, money, gerrymandering, and a two‑party duopoly for giving voters unappealing, elderly choices.
  • Some see demand for age caps and term limits as a symptom of deeper structural failures rather than a true fix.