US President Joe Biden may be perfectly capable of serving a second term in spite of his age, a former Minister for Justice has said.
As The United States gears up for another presidential election in November of 2024, some members of the electorate have expressed their concern that President Biden is not fit to run for another presidential term – due to his age.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, former Minister for Justice Nora Owen said President Biden should not just be judged on his physical capabilities.
"You definitely can see that he has slowed a little bit when he's walking or coming down the stairs," she said.
"If his mind and if his alertness is still there, then he should be entitled to do what he wants to do with regard to running for President.
"Look at our own President, he's wonderful and he's not in the first flush of youth."
'A bit doddery'
If re-elected, President Biden will be 85 years old when he finishes his second term in office.
"It will depend on how he's managing it," Ms Owen said.
"At 85, perhaps there's a moment at which you say, 'Could I just be sitting in the sun or could I just be reading the paper or taking it a little bit easier?'
"But if he's up for it, let him at it."
President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting at the United States Mission to the United Nations. Sept. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)At the age of 70, Ms Owen said older people can become "a bit doddery" – but it does not necessarily mean they cannot contribute to the workplace.
"The ageism I sometimes worry about is the almost unspoken about ageism," she said.
"They say that when a woman reaches about 40, or a man reaches 45, in the work situation, a promotion seems to move a little bit further away from them.
"You don't hear very often of people in their 60s getting a promotion unless they're actually the boss."
Wisdom
Ms Owen said society does not put enough value on wisdom and experience.
"I was stitching up a little toy for one of my grandchildren, and I had the skill to do that," she said.
"Those kinds of skills, things that you've learned through your life, are still useful and important to people.
"My little grandchild was watching me and she was fascinated as I stitched a patch on a toy – so you know, there are things that as we get older, we should be sharing and we should be asked about and we can give some of our wisdom."
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