Irish Examiner view: Joe Biden has realised it’s time to step back — but it may be too late
Doubts about the robustness of US president Joe Biden were circulating in Democrat circles long before the 90 miserable minutes he endured during his TV debate with Donald Trump. Picture: Patrick Semansky/AP
Recent research in the United States speculated why some senior citizens are ready and happy to stand down from their jobs, while others will never consider it.
As a timely piece of backstory to Sunday’s overdue decision by Joe Biden to relinquish the American presidency, it shed some light on the differing motivations.
Economists at the New York School for Social Research had a convincing explanation — people with authority and status and control over their jobs are much less likely than others to retire voluntarily.
In addition, said Teresa Ghilarduccii, a long-time retirement researcher, there is another meaningful factor. “People with authority in the workplace actually have less stress,” she claims. “Having a boss at older ages is deleterious to your health. But being a boss is good for you.”
Although conclusions can be represented as ageist, there are compelling reasons why Mr Biden should have stepped away from the 2024 presidential campaign much sooner.
Doubts about his robustness for four more years in the White House were in circulation long before his fateful TV head-to-head with Donald Trump at the end of June when 90 miserable minutes sent his Democrat supporters, and financial backers, into meltdown.
More than two years ago, dramatist Mike Bartlett was warning in his play, , that Mr Biden would not make it to a second term.
“The clock ticks loudly in my ear,” said his on-stage president. “The vast majority of friends not only are retired from their jobs, but from their lives.”
At the risk of a plot spoiler, Kamala Harris takes over from him in this fictional future drama, and that may still be the outcome yet, given her predecessor’s endorsement and the tens of millions of dollars already pledged to a Biden-Harris ticket.
Certainly, a divisive campaign to find a new candidate would be grist to the mill for Mr Trump. And the nation may feel that if Mr Biden is not capable of running for re-election, then he equally cannot remain in charge of the country for several more months, though the president won’t share that view.
It is a sad end to the Biden presidency, but it was foreseeable, and it has now provided a match advantage to the Republicans.
Mr Trump declared on Sunday that Mr Biden “was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve — and never was!”.
This is not true, but it has become so as this election started to be contested many months ago. This has been a major fumble by the Democratic Party, with further consequences to come.
If you had to write a screenplay to introduce hurling — described as “the sacred sport of Ireland” — then Sunday’s final at Croke Park would be the right place to start. And end.
The game, screened live on the BBC in a historic first, was a spectacle at its richest, with Clare narrowly vanquishing an unquenchable Cork team, scoring three goals to the one from the Leesiders, who had a huge chance to draw level with the last play of extra time.
It was a glorious advertisement for the national game and those watching overseas heard comedian and hurling fanatic Dara Ó Briain describe football, which was networked last year, as the amuse bouche of Gaelic sport. Others were on hand to share their enthusiasm, including Siobhán McSweeney, sporting a Cork jersey, and Belfast’s James Nesbitt, being studiously neutral.
For Cork, the great drought goes on. Interviewed before the game, team member Ethan Twomey said: “It’s tough all right, but you wouldn’t be doing it if you didn’t love it.”
Tough it certainly was, but to Clare and inspirational captain Tony Kelly go the laurels. The rest of the world outside the island of Ireland can treasure the insight it gained into a fast, compelling game where there were 59 separate scores and uncertainty reigned until the last beat of the heart.
“Are you not entertained?” the BBC asked its viewers while projecting Croke Park as the Colosseum of Dublin.
And the answer is self-evident. We’re glad the audience enjoyed it. But they’ll be wanting tickets next!
The time will come when a serious and prolonged major trial must be carried out into the provision of free, eco-efficient public transport and what
will be required to persuade people to give up their cars.
It is logical that this must take place in cities and major towns where the potential volume of users is highest. It is clear, also, that it must be a big carrot to encourage people to make the sacrifice.
Driving is one of the divisive issues of the age between those who value personal mobility, which is most of us, and those who believe it must be reduced to meet climate control targets, to improve health, and enhance quality of urban life.
In Dublin, there is controversy over a transport plan designed to ameliorate notorious gridlock and due to be implemented next month. There is a rising clamour among businesses and politicians for it to be delayed until next year and certainly after the election. There are concerns that the city centre will become hollowed out with citizens seeking retail and entertainment options out of town.
In Cork City, for the first time, a price has been put on providing a free bus service for a six-month trial on Fridays and Saturdays.
That sum is €8m in lost revenues, says the National Transport Authority.
These estimates were provided in response to a parliamentary question which was submitted to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan by Labour TD Sean Sherlock at the request of local councillor Peter Horgan.
In Cork, there is a chronic shortage of bus drivers and complaints about the reliability of the existing service. Although a recruitment programme is underway, there is little point in implementing any trial until those weaknesses are resolved.
Despite current obstacles, it is right to be planning ahead but we must be prepared to face the costs of solutions. While the example of London can be held out as an example of a successfully integrated transport network — many buses, subsidised travel, a high degree of control over cars — it comes at a high cost to taxpayers.
Trials in Ireland have to take place, but they have to deliver reliability, regularity, and safety.
More details please. And soon.
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