Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 84, is back to work after a three-month health-related absence. But just because McConnell claims to be slightly healthier now doesn’t mean that he’s fit to be back in office, representing his constituents.
McConnell is clearly unfit to serve in his current state. This video, taken after McConnell announced his return to work, shows that the state senator seems too frail to do his demanding job.
McConnell has been a senator for 41 years.
He’s had lawmaking power for over four decades and is now a frail man in his 80s. It’s time for a new senator to take his place, but if he survives to the end of his six-year term, he can just run again, even if younger candidates would do his job better than he can.
That’s why we desperately need term limits for our senators. Currently, a senator’s term is six years — two years longer than the president’s term — and senators can run for unlimited terms. Our president, who holds the highest office in the country, can only hold their position for two terms.
We need to limit the number of terms that senators can hold office.
The law should require senators to take mental fitness tests at the end of each term. If they fail these cognitive assessments, then they should endorse other members of their parties to run in their place. This allows for new perspectives in our government and provides elderly senators the opportunity to retire when they can no longer effectively do their work. Limiting the number of terms that senators can serve would have the same effect.
If Mitch McConnell worked a typical 9-5 office job in his current condition, the company would let him go — no ifs, ands, or buts about it. McConnell’s role as a senator gives him a frightening amount of job security, though, even if his age and health could make effective decision-making extremely difficult.
McConnell is living proof of why senators need term limits and fitness exams. He’s elderly and is too weak to be a senator right now. With great power comes great responsibility, and sometimes that means knowing when to pass the torch.
Once we vote for term limits for senators, our government will be more effective than ever. Let’s know when to let the elderly retire and bring in senators who can provide years of strong leadership for generations to come.
