Why Don't Younger People Try to Run for President?

The current understanding of the average lifetime expectancy when the Constitution was written is often cited as around 38 years. However, a more accurate term is the median lifetime expectancy, which refers to the point at which half of the population is expected to be alive and the other half deceased. Notably, the age limit for running for the presidency is set at 35 years. This decision is informed by the understanding that, on average, individuals who reach 35 years old can expect to live for another approximately 60 years.

Understanding Mean vs. Median

Both mean and median are measures used to represent the average value of the values in a dataset. The mean value is calculated by summing all the values and dividing by the number of values in the dataset. On the other hand, the median is the middle value when the values are sorted in ascending order.

In some cases, the median is preferred, particularly when the distribution of the values is skewed. Unlike the mean, which can be heavily influenced by outliers, the median remains stable and is less affected by such extreme values. For instance, in the distribution of human lifespan, many individuals die in infancy or early childhood, while a smaller number live to much older ages. Hence, the median is often a better measure of central tendency in such datasets.

Demographics of Presidential Candidates

It's interesting to note that despite the constitutional limits, the Democratic party has both produced the youngest President in history: JFK (John F. Kennedy) and the oldest President in history: Joe Biden. This historical data suggests that the age limit for running for office is not a significant deterrent for younger individuals who are passionate about politics and aspire to lead.

Encouraging Younger Aspirants

Given the above context, I encourage younger individuals who aspire to run for the office of President to run as a Wild Card Candidate at the upcoming Democratic Convention. This could provide a platform for diverse voices and innovative ideas, and it might pave the way for greater engagement and younger leadership.

Moreover, the current nominee may lack the trust and confidence of the public, appearing more as a bumbling and demented old fool. Therefore, running as a wildcard candidate could present an opportunity to rekindle public support and bring about a fresh perspective to the political landscape.

It's important to remember that the constitutional limits do not prevent individuals from campaigning for the presidency, and encouraging younger candidates to challenge the system can lead to significant political reforms and representation.