Is It, or Isn't It, Just Another Ism?

This past week we were presented with the alarming image of President Biden tripping and falling after a speech. He is in his 80s now, and the usual suspects among the pundits started in about whether he can make it through another term as President.

He tripped on a sandbag left on stage where he had just spoken. And, with a little help, he got right up, with no visible injury. You or I could have easily tripped on such an obstacle ourselves.

This is the same man largely responsible for making the deal to avert a catastrophe: defaulting on our national debt. Whether you think it was a good deal or a bad one, it got done, and Mr. Biden, with his years of experience as a negotiator, was there when we needed him. But what happens going forward? Is it ageism, or realism, to consider what the next few years might bring?

I said some time back in this space that I would have preferred that he not run again. But it has nothing to do with tripping or occasional mental lapses, which can happen to humans at any age. I do think, however, that when we look at a President, many of us might prefer to see someone younger looking back at us.

It’s legitimate to ask why Mr. Biden’s poll numbers have been so low, despite all his accomplishments as President. I simply don’t believe that it’s all about his policies.

We can’t argue that a clock isn’t ticking with older people. Even Martha Stewart in a bathing suit can’t stop it. And in Mr. Biden’s case, if something happens to him in a new term, Vice President Kamala Harris, who doesn’t poll very well either, becomes President. I’m not questioning her ability to handle the job, but it’s fair to say she has a lot of convincing to do.

Many of the “isms,” such as racism and sexism, are prejudices that have no practical basis. But some “isms” do, in certain cases, like “ableism” – we don’t let blind people drive cars, for example. In the same way, ageism is not without some grounding.

All of this said, we would do very well if we could find candidates at any level of politics who express the qualities shown to us by Joe Biden: decency, empathy, and wisdom, to name a few.  I’m just saying I would like to see them in newer packages.