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Sep
13
I confess that I’ve let my attorney’s registration fall into the “inactive” category, and I can’t recall precisely who can and cannot discriminate legally on the basis of age. I suppose voters always can, if they think it makes a difference, even though, technically, we’re an elected official’s employer, right?
Well, I remember being taught, when I was in a position to hire people, that I wasn’t allowed to use wording in a job description that discriminated against people over 40. I can’t say “needs to be youthful” or anything like that. I could describe the job in a way that demonstrated how demanding it was and that stamina and agility were important qualities a candidate needed to possess. But I couldn’t outright say, if you’re over 35, fahgeddaboutit.
I mostly agree with the Plain Dealer’s assessment of the candidates for Ohio House District 17 – Democrat Roger Goudy and Republican Josh Mandel. However, I find their citation to Mandel’s youth as a reason to give him the edge distasteful and gratuitous. Youth also cuts against you – naivete, lack of experience, excessive reliance on others for knowledge and opinions.
Personally, I wouldn’t look at the choice between these two candidates as an issue related to age at all. I’m baffled as to why the PD would use that one factor as the deciding factor. There are plenty of other reasons to tip toward Mandel (ambition, good use of the time he has had on this earth, earnestness, loyalty, hard-working) or toward Goudy (demonstrated ability to pursue his beliefs in ways that make a difference and ready now to apply that to a larger population).
So why the age thing? The PD’s sense that Ohio “desperately lacks” young political leadership is a little, not completely, but a little disingenuous. Why? Because, if we ask the question that’s begging to be asked: why is it that Ohio “desperately lacks” young political leadership, there is only one answer: because a handful of ridiculously inept, incompetent, deceitful and immoral politicians have been playing musical chairs with the top Ohio elected positions for sixteen years – that is, truly, almost an entire generation’s worth.
So think about it – why is Rob Frost appealing? Because he’s young and moderate and has some couth. Why wasn’t his party bringing him up instead of Bob Bennett?
I’m no huge fan of Chris Redfern, but look how far he’s brought this state as he tries to whip up Ohio’s citizens to the point where they will in fact help Turnaround Ohio? He deserves credit for that – and he’s younger than I am (he told me so anyway).
So, let’s be real here: the choice between Mandel and Goudy is not about age or the need for young political leadership. Yes, Ohio needs young political leadership, but in a race between two excellent choices, using the age card just seems thin.
(Oh – okay – and giving it to the Republican doesn’t make me like it either.)
Hattip to one of my blog’s readers, who shall remain nameless unless and until that reader wants to be outed.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:12 am September 13th, 2006 in Politics
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2 Responses to “Goudy v. Mandel: Does PD editorial board commit age discrimination?”
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If there were no term limits, perhaps it would be rational to prefer a younger candidatet over an older one. A young legislator would be more likely to stick around longer, thus accumulating seniority and giving the district a more influential voice in the legislature.
Now that state legislators are term limited, however, I don’t see any advantage in voting for a younger candidate.
Good point, Jason. Thanks. I happen to think term limits are one of the dumbest ideas Americans ever supported – my excuse being that I was out of the country when they swept in (true btw).