Jul 6, 2026, 7:04 PM@eldersea Yeah, and I'm not even against older candidates in principle, but it really shouldn't be the case that younger generations get *no* representation, nor that candidates with major outstanding health issues that are directly relevant to their positions get in without mitigations for those issues.
We're not talking about employment here, after all, we're talking about the functioning of government itself.
Jul 6, 2026, 7:05 PM@eldersea I'd never want to say that if you're disabled or have chronic health issues, you can't serve in government. Only that if your disabilities or chronic health issues *directly* impact your ability to govern, it is relevant to make mitigations for that impact available, and for voters to be able to demand that those mitigations are used.
Jul 6, 2026, 7:07 PM@eldersea E.g. if your health issues might render you entirely unable to serve (I say as someone with chronic exhaustion due to long COVID), then having a clear criteria as to when someone else can take over, and making sure voters know who that person would be? Yeah, that's a reasonable mitigation, I think!
@xgranade I get that experience counts! But so does ability to function, as you well articulate.
I've also dreamed of some sort of system that grants more votes based on some combination of experience and expected remaining life. I know that functionally it'd be nigh impossible to implement, but I would love to see it. Those with a longer stake in the world should impact it more!
Jul 6, 2026, 7:16 PM@eldersea Yeah, though the flip side is that there's plenty of shitheels my own age or younger. I hate sharing a generation with Shaprio, Rufo, etc.
Also trashfires like the puriteen movement and what have you.
I take the point, though.
@xgranade Yeah, and they're a combination of educational failures and, um, biological failures? Whatever you call sociopathy. Plus, I suppose American culture encourages grifts, so that happens a lot more.
Jul 6, 2026, 7:20 PM@eldersea I mean, kids now are exposed to a truly overwhelming amount of propaganda and fascist-owned media bubbles. I do not envy kids trying to reach a kind and informed understanding of the world when it's not just TV and newspapers lying to them, but every way they have of even talking to their immediate friends, let alone YouTube radicalization pipelines.
@xgranade Thankfully, I escaped the current "need" for social media. I had some way back in the day, but don't do it on a personal basis anymore. Obviously I'm here, but this isn't forcing al gore rhythms on me, and it's very easy to block bad actors.
It's really kind of nuts how hard it is to find easily verifiable true information on the internet these days. UGH.
Edit: and most chat programs are mined for data to sell stuff to them. What a world.