Feinstein's refusal to gracefully resign

author: FutureCar Staff    

As the anniversary of my grandfather's death approaches this week, I find myself reflecting on him for two reasons. Firstly, he passed away 13 years ago on August 10 at the age of 86, and his yahrzeit is this Thursday. Secondly, the recent hospitalization of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate, has sparked discussions about her potential cognitive decline. At 90 years old, there are increasing calls for Feinstein to step down, with some of her Senate colleagues defending her by labeling these calls as sexist and ageist.

Personally, I find it insulting to feminism to consider it sexist to question whether a 90-year-old senator, who has missed months of work due to health reasons, should retire. However, that is not the focus of this piece. Both Feinstein and my grandfather were public servants, but my grandfather had to retire at 70 as mandated for judges in Massachusetts. He served as Hingham District Court's first justice for 32 years and had a deep love for his role. Although he may have felt a sense of sadness and unfairness in retiring while federal court judges did not face the same requirement, he understood the importance of respecting age and experience.

Age often brings wisdom and experience, but it can also make it harder for individuals to effectively express and utilize that wisdom in their public service. My grandfather chose to step down while he still had the ability to give his all and serve in the way he deemed appropriate. While I cannot say if 70 was the ideal retirement age or if it should have been later, I do know that his retirement was marked by respect and dignity. He stopped doing something he took great pride in while he still had the capacity to do so.

I am not suggesting that being a Hingham Court District Judge is equivalent to being a U.S. Senator, nor am I advocating for a mandatory retirement age of 70. I am simply highlighting the importance of recognizing when it is someone else's turn to serve. We can respect our elders, appreciate their service, and still believe that someone else should have the opportunity to serve. These two ideas are not contradictory; wanting someone to finish their service while they are still fully capable is a way of honoring their commitment and allowing them to retire with dignity.

There is nothing disrespectful about wanting someone to conclude their public service while they are still fully capable and intentional in their role. It is about prioritizing the conversation around their service rather than focusing on their age or faculties. I don't need to speculate on what my grandfather would have said about this matter. When he retired, he remarked, "I've been here long enough. Once you start reminiscing about how the old days were better, you know it is time to leave." The sentiment behind his words resonates with the notion of gracefully passing the torch to the next generation of leaders.

FutureCar Staff