Old white men have always run the world and it’s a mess | Peter Goers

We all know and love many sharp, sprightly, highly active octogenarians. Unfortunately, Biden isn’t one of them, writes Peter Goers.

President Joe Biden has one great thing going for him. He’s not Trump. He also trumped Trump – beat him comprehensively although against all evidence, Donald Trump still believes he won. Sigh … only in America.

Joe Biden is a decent man and we need all the decent people we can get. He took the US out of Afghanistan, he’s improved healthcare, he’s done his best on climate change and he’s tried (but not enough) against all opposition to curb gun ownership. He’s opposed the anti-abortion movement.

Happily, he forgot Scott Morrison’s name well before the rest of the world. Scott who?

Uncle Joe will doubtless successfully nominate for a second term which, by convention, is the right and expectation of every president. Biden will be 82 if re-elected and 86 when he finishes a second term.

So how old is too old? Biden’s age is often used against him but Trump (currently raking in squillions in campaign funds from every moron in America) is only four years younger and his age is never mentioned as an impediment to his suitability as a candidate. That’s because it’s the least of Trump’s problems.

We all know and love, or know of and love, many sharp, sprightly, highly active octogenarians. Unfortunately, Biden isn’t one of them. He seems much older than his 80 years. He shuffles, stumbles, dithers and seems perpetually befuddled.

So do I but, fortunately, I’m not trying to run the world. But, here’s the rub, am I being ageist?

US President Joe Biden speaks about the economy at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77 facility in Accokeek, Maryland on April 19. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

Biden leads an ageing population. First-world populations are living much longer. In the ’70s when my grandparents were 80 that seemed incredibly old. Few people got to that great age.

Now 90 is the new 80. The average age of death in Australia is 82.3 years and rising. People often want to work for longer. Good.

Conversely, there are riots in France because the government is trying to raise the pensionable retirement rate from 62 to 64. Merde!

Should there be a compulsory retirement age for politicians? Does this give younger people a better chance to stuff things up, as is their right?

The Vatican insists bishops retire at 75 and no pope can be elected over the age of 80. Hereditary royalty goes on forever.

The dear old Queen of blessed memory was a trooper and worked almost until she died at 96. We’re about to have a very long run of very old kings ruling over Australia. We have no say in that. A surviving member of one non-Catholic, English family automatically becomes our head of state, no matter how old or unsuitable.

Biden has a lot more to offer than sitting on his porch or annoying his family at Christmas. He could be a great ex-leader like Jimmy Carter and Malcolm Fraser.

His ideal successor is the personable Pete Buttigieg. He’s a popular, handsome, intelligent, young liberal. He’s a former naval officer, he’s multilingual, plays guitar and piano. He’s married and the father of two. He’s also gay.

More Americans will prefer Trump – a dangerous, sexist, blowhard, gun-loving potential criminal who has come close to killing democracy – to a decent gay man or a decent president who’s a bit doddery.

Still, old white men have always run the world and look at the mess we’re in.

Is it time for younger people? Aside from Margaret Thatcher, surely women do a better job. Where is the American Jacinda Ardern?

One of the hardest things in life is knowing when to leave a job. You should always leave ’em wanting more, not leave ’em wanting snore.