It’s the flavour of the season.
Is it time to set a retirement age for politicians? Every other ‘occupation’ is made to retire by 65 latest. What makes politicians so special? Are they physically and mentally more alert at 65 than anyone else? Apart from empirical evidence suggesting otherwise, is there something in their occupation (or genes) that makes them age less…or slower? Yes, they are kind of slow on the uptake. Is it because of usage? Does a politician’s ‘job’ not require physical and/or mental faculties?
The old should especially see the writing on the wall. If they don’t do it to themselves (i.e. fix a retiring age), then someone – their younger rivals – are now going to do it for them. And that is not a pretty sight. Ask Jaswant Singh…or even Chidambram. And surely none of the elderly is waiting for a health moment! The message should be clear to all Parties. Karunanidhi is starting to feel the heat; Jayalalitha should start preparing. Let those with sons as heirs not sit pretty. Akhilesh could break free soon. And Sonia should know that Rahul will want to take charge the moment the elections are over – whatever the result. He anyway seemed to have set his eyes more on 2019 – till the ‘We want Baba’ parade-charade started. The old owe it to their young too – in family, friends and country. A set retirement should be their contribution towards harnessing the ‘demographic dividend’ of our youth. That dividend will not come automatically, as just a milestone.
Let Parliament fix the age of political retirement at 70 – they can still have the satisfaction of being the leaders! Let not a few (counted on one hand) exceptions try to prove any rule. Ronald Reagan is about the best global example of a 70 plus top politician (though even he began his Presidency at age 69 – and sounded quite senile by his eighth year). The ‘young at 70’ political retirees could become political advisors or Politicians on Special Duty (PSD) in their respective Parties. They can of course also be mentors – mentees willing!
Europe could make a very strong case for an increase in retirement ages – given a demographic ‘tax’ (of an ‘old’ population). Yet they have not.
Age cannot be ignored.
In fact the crying out need is probably to have Judges of at least the High Courts and the Supreme Court be given an extension till the age of 70. The number of pending cases is huge, and more than anyone else, almost all Your Honours seem to have sharp mental faculties even at their retirement (65 today).
Arvindji, why go down the path of the Congress & BJP? Instead of accusing them of trying to kill you (which would be the standard political response), can you not accept that perhaps a few aam aadmi are really upset that you ‘ran away' – deserted them? They believed you whole-heartedly and now feel angst and pain…and anger. Accept this and move on. There is a long journey ahead.
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