Q-TIPS

Notes of Concern…
…Jackson Blair


ADVICE FOR THE Q-TIPS



How many men or women are holding jobs of serious significance in our country at the age of 89?

Our traditions of retirement at age 65 began a long time ago.

There were many and good reasons for setting a retirement age. The best reason is that every piece of research I know of suggests that we begin to lose our mental capacities as we age. We are slower to reach decisions, slower to learn new things, and our response times are slower.

Could some people not encounter this at age 65? Of course, Perhaps some don’t encounter the diminution of their capabilities and capacities at age 70, or 75.

That said, I seriously doubt that anyone at age 89 has the same sharp mind that he possessed at 40 or 50. Science would concur.

The second best reason for a retirement age is to make room for the younger talent to move ahead in their careers and to allow the elderly some time to “smell the roses” in life before death or incapacity alters the landscape of their existence.

John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, continues to occupy one of the limited numbers of seats available on that august bench.

John Paul Stevens has been an extraordinary Justice. He has participated in many landmark decisions. He has led the court’s majority, provided the swing vote when the liberal wing needed it, and made a great record during his tenure.

It is time for Justice Stevens to retire. It is long past time for Justice Stevens to retire. He has made his mark. His name will be forever in the annals of jurisprudence. He had his chance to make his mark on the world and he did so with intelligence, dignity and great dedication.

The balance between conservatives and liberals on the court is always a matter of concern to America. An unbalanced court can make far-reaching changes in the political landscape of our country. Most liberals would love to see a larger liberal majority. Conservatives dream of a strong conservative majority. I personally suspect that we are best served when the court is more evenly balanced in ideology.

At the moment, we have a liberal Democrat occupying The White House. Elderly liberal members of the Supremes, who contemplate retirement, would be well advised to step down when their successor would likely have a similar philosophy. The current president would be very likely to replace Justice Stevens with a man or woman who sees the laws of the land the way he does.

The President took the very unusual step of calling out the “Supremes” during the State of the Union message for their recent vote on campaign finance reform law.

Some think this was the way the President wanted to prepare the nation for the philosophy of those he will nominate to sit on the court, should he have the chance, during his remaining three years.

More importantly, his underscoring the issue of this change in regard to McCain-Feingold highlights the important impact court decisions have on all our lives.

A Justice who is approaching 90 years of age needs to step aside.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, in her late seventies, has had surgery for pancreatic cancer. As another strong liberal voice on the court, she also needs to be attentive to the four-year presidential term and think through her exit strategy.

My own philosophy trends toward the conservative.

So for me personally, I hope these folks decide to sit tight until a more moderate president sits in The White House. Having said that, as a political scientist by education I value the checks and balances the Founders envisioned for our government and I can see that the court could swing wildly right if either or both of these Associate Justices choose to stay glued to their seats.

I have a friend who retired to Florida, a state where he contends all the “Q-tips” live. It took me a few moments to realize he was referring to white haired people of retirement age.

It is time for the “Q-tip” members of “The Supremes” to think about their exit strategies in the best interests of our nation.