Atlantic magazine had a recent issue that focused on the science of old age. Here are some random factoids from the featured article: Good news is that our country is not the most "grey"- Japan has that honor. Japan's median age is 45, while in the US it is 37. In 2040 Japan jumps to a median age of 55.
"The number of Americans 65 and older, 43 million today, could reach 108 million in 2050. That's like adding three more Floridas, inhabited entirely by seniors."
Congress is now the oldest it has ever been. "Average Senator is 62 years old; the average representative is 57."
"Now think of the Supreme Court as life expectancy increases. The nine justices on the first Court sat an average of nine years; the last nine to depart, an average of 27 years. John Paul Stevens , the most recent to retire was a justice for 35 years. If Clarence Thomas lives to,the actuarial life expectancy of a male his current age, he could be a justice for 40 years. "
"If democracy is to remain vibrant as society age, campaign laws must change to,help,challengers stand a chance versus incumbents, and the Constitution must be amended to, impose a term limit on the Supreme Court, so confirmation as a justice stops being a life time appointment to royalty."
AMEN!
I would add that the term limit should apply to ALL judges in the federal system who get life time appointments. It is an awful situation. We have created a royalty class in our judiciary and is un-American. Our founding fathers would be appalled.
We see this situation play out differently in the Presidency and in the Congress. The royalty is the few families who crate legacies for themselves by running and possibly becoming President. In Congress we need to amend our campaign laws to make it possible for challengers have an equal chance to be elected.
Congressional term limits might not be the perfect answer, but we need to find some possible solutions or term limits might become the sole solution.
America needs to debate these topics now.