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To the editor:
Regarding Hunter Woodall’s Aug. 12 news analysis, “A veteran Democratic congressman lost Tuesday. He’s not the only one to go down this election cycle.”
I am so grateful for this new trend. Since too many members of Congress seem hell-bent on clinging to office well past retirement age, they need to be forced out. Not only are older establishment politicians getting up in years, but they’re also woefully out of date with what the country wants.
A good example of this is some lawmakers’ refusal to admonish Israel over its unjust and immoral aggressions, which U.S. funding helps support. For many years, the general thinking was that being anti-Israel meant you were antisemitic. Younger generations are able to separate the two. Progressive candidates and Democratic Socialists appear to me more inclined to actually represent the people, whereas entrenched centrist or conservative politicians seem invested in antiquated ways of thinking or, worse, may have long ago been bought by special interests.
As for Connecticut Rep. John Larson, I’m 76 years old, and I know what that feels like physically, even if I’m still mentally sharp. Larson had no business running for a new term at 78. Did he want to be the next Mitch McConnell, Dianne Feinstein, Lindsey Graham — or, for that matter, Joe Biden or Donald Trump? (I believe Bernie Sanders deserves a pass in this category because he is singularly exceptional.)
Too many members of Congress seem unable to let go of the power they’ve tasted, giving in to a sort of blind self-importance, to the detriment of their constituents and, ultimately, our country. They shouldn’t be running again. And if they do, they should lose at the ballot box. May this good-sense voting continue! Chuck Schumer, are you listening? I fear not.
Jeane Weigel
Truchas, New Mexico
To the editor:
This article makes it sound as though something “new” was the driving force in ousting Rep. John Larson — as though new was simply better than old and voters didn’t really care who won.
Actually, it was a four-way race, and Luke Bronin, a former mayor of Hartford, won because Connecticut voters realized he has the background, knowledge and experience needed not only to represent our district but also to help America recover from the devastating effects of the current administration’s disastrous agenda.
Quinn Eurich
Wethersfield, Connecticut
To the editor:
What’s really needed is simple: term limits for all elected federal officials and the Supreme Court. I would also suggest making 70 the maximum age for all those holding elected office or members of the Supreme Court; we should require anyone in those roles to disclose complete tax returns each year and prohibit any external income unless it is arm’s-length income overseen by independent auditors.
Jervis D. Swannack
Parksville, British Columbia
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