In politics, is age nothing but a number?
In politics, is age nothing however a quantity?
Letters to the Editor
Might 12, 2023
To the editor: Kudos to Michael Hiltzik for his well timed evaluation of ageism and public service. I turned the oldest freshman constitutional officer in California historical past. At 85, I’m one of the energetic members of our five-member Board of Equalization overseeing the valuations of California property for tax functions, and my colleagues run to maintain up with me. This month we debate my quest to maneuver a number of of our month-to-month conferences out of Sacramento and into Southern California so we might be nearer to constituents. We are able to all the time do higher, and our most skilled officers typically lead the parade.
Mike Schaefer, San Diego..
To the editor: I used to be ready for this text from Hiltzik justifying the cognitive decline in Joe Biden that even a few of his supporters have acknowledged. His approval ranking lately hit an all-time low of 37%. The typical citizen is aware of once they see the chief of the free world stumble over his phrases, scripted and never conducting free-flowing press conferences. A nonpartisan article would deal with what the world sees and supply options to his candidacy. There are a lot of different candidates that may fill Bidens sneakers.
Jeff Butler, Coto de Caza..
To the editor: Hiltzik outdid himself in his Might 10
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column. He made many good factors, however maybe the perfect was his statement that information organizations corresponding to CNN have helped make [Bidens age] a sizzling matter. This describes many information retailers breathless reporting of trending subjects with none underlying evaluation of their validity. It jogs my memory of tv comic Jimmy Kimmels routine whereby his workers interviews passers
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by on Hollywood Boulevard, asking them what they consider a information story that the present writers have fabricated. Many interviewees earnestly convey their ideas in regards to the nonexistent controversy or information, glibly going together with a false premise.
Sadly, many media retailers merely parrot considerations which have been raised by the general public relating to the age of politicians, with out analyzing whether or not these considerations have any validity a lot much less elevating factors that contradict the premise of this sizzling matter. A lot of the medias strategy to questions corresponding to this isn’t that removed from Kimmels. Information reporting shouldn’t mimic comedy, however sadly, too typically it does.
Michael Krumme, Los Angeles
