Clifford Lincoln: Reflections on Biden, aging and political paradoxes

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Last week’s U.S. presidential debate debacle brings to mind the inconsistencies and paradoxes of politics. In politics, unlike other fields of occupation that require recognized standards of knowledge and competence as well as ethics and accountability — be they architecture or medicine, policing or firefighting, or other — electability is the main criterion for entry into the fold. Yet, unlike other occupations and professions, politics dominates every aspect of our lives. Indeed, from cradle to grave we are subjected to laws, regulations, and measures that impact our every action and behaviour.

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Perhaps this explains why laws and measures enacted by an irresponsible, autocratic or incompetent majority can be so regressive and at times even harmful to citizens, especially minorities. Several laws and decisions of our current Coalition Avenir Québec government are a clear case in point. The current U.S. lower house, another striking example, is beset by such majority partisanship and negativity that its positions even seriously impaired Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

Politics also differentiates itself from other occupations and professions, which ensure
replacement and renewal through age limits and incentives. With rare exceptions such as the Canadian Senate, which mandates retirement at age 75, politics leaves it to each individual to decide when to bow out, electability again remaining the one hurdle. Fortunately in Canada, the tendency has been for politicians not to linger in office unreasonably. The contrast is again quite striking in the U.S., where members casually overstay their mandate. For instance, Senator Strom Thurmond retired in 2003 at age 100. Currently, Senator Chuck Grassley is almost 91, while the minority leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, continues to serve at 82 despite a concussion following a fall and two recent episodes of freezing in mid speech.

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Which brings me to President Joe Biden’s debate performance last week. This is a striking illustration of why politics, whose impact permeates all reaches of our lives, should police itself to ensure its orderly renewal. The president fulfils a unique role in international leadership, due to U.S.’s global influence and its status as the world’s most powerful country and leading democracy. Thus the coming election is not only an American election, but one whose results have ramifications for all of us, Canadians, Swedes, Australians or Nigerians alike.

Not only could we expect the election of former president Donald Trump to bring an era of the most regressive and heartless autocracy within the United States, but it would shake the very foundations of the international order in ways frightful to contemplate. Standing between this eventuality and continuing normalcy in the U.S. and beyond is a frail and aging opponent in Biden, increasingly showing signs of senescence.

Should he decide to suspend his campaign (the choice of the majority, by all evidence), he would be honoured, justifiably, as one of the most successful presidents of the modern era. Not only did he bring in normalcy and stability after the cruel chaos of the Trump years, but he promulgated groundbreaking legislation to combat climate change, restore the economy, reinvigorate key manufacturing sectors, and renew decaying infrastructure in essential areas. More important, he brought about stability both at home and within the worldwide democratic alliance. For this, he deserves not only our praise but our continuing gratitude.

Unfortunately, he seems to succumb to man’s most common temptation, that feeling of hubris that one is irreplaceable and should stay on beyond all wisdom. In contrast, ceding one’s place in good time is an act of fortitude, humility and grace, which deserves the highest recognition.

May we hope that after a lifetime of achievement, Biden may find the wisdom and
fortitude to bow out graciously. Should he stay the course and fail, it will be not simply his loss, but far more importantly, the loss of stability, decency and peaceful understanding all across this world we share.

Clifford Lincoln, a former Quebec Liberal MNA and federal Liberal MP, retired from politics in 2004 at age 75. He lives in Baie-D’Urfé.

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