Do politicians need retirement after a specific age
Even the noble prize winning professors have
to retire after a specific age. But for politicians, there is no retirement age
in most of the countries. Even in all-powerful America, the president can serve
only two terms and has to retire, but no age limit for becoming a president.
Joe Biden, the president-elect, was one of the youngest senators but now the
oldest president. In India, the Supreme Court has barred convicted
politicians from contesting elections but not fixed specific age for
politicians to retire. Hence, it is time for many people to ask the question,
do politicians need to retire after a specific age.
Before answering the above question, it is
pertinent to know the answer to why politicians do not have retirement after a
specific age. Unlike other professions, politics is not a job attained by any
qualification. It is traditionally a way to serve people and gain their
confidence to win elections.
But now it has become more of a dynasty where
the politician parents bequeath their political clout to their children. Though
not all politicians come to power this way, nowadays it is more the norm. And
hence until death or seriously ill, most of the politicians do not retire. Even
in the US, only the presidents retire after two terms. Still, senators continue
in their posts for decades if elected again. . The main reason for politicians
to not have retirement after specific age is they want to remain in power as
long as they want or the people choosing them as their
representative.
The world is changing fast every year with
technological advancements, innovative inventions, and new challenges. But the
political system does not allow the politicians to retire at a specific
age.
It is because only the politicians are known
to the people in their specific constituency to become their representatives
repeatedly. With no other powerful alternative or only a choice between two or
three politicians, the people also do not have a choice to select a younger new
representative.
Most of the people worldwide answer the above
question that politicians need to retire at a specific age. It is because of
the following reasons, among others.
- To
infuse young and new blood in the political mainstream to utilize the new
advancements and changes in many fields to the benefit of the people
- Bring
in new politicians with new innovative ideas to change the existing old
system for fresh air into it to rejuvenate it for better benefits of the
people
- To
put an end to the vicious cycle of corruption, malpractices, and others in
the system by most of the seasoned politicians to win elections and remain
in power to continue it.
- To
bring active politicians who can work more for the welfare of the
people than the old politicians who are not so involved and physically fit
enough to be active also
For the above reasons and more, laws should
be enacted for politicians not to be able to contest elections after a specific
age for the betterment of the people.