The world wonders why US President Joe Biden continues in office in view of his mental status and repeated public gaffes.

Why does his wife not advise him to stand down? Why does the Democratic Party not move to replace him? Why does it take a filmstar like George Clooney to call time?

Answer: it is a common phenomenon. Respect for the elderly can be over-rated and sometimes the elderly expect too much. Churches know it only too well – elderly ministers who do not know when to retire from the active oversight of a congregation. However, it is quite common in political circles.

Overstaying one’s welcome

There are many political leaders who have overstayed their welcome or utility. The list is long and so it is not new. If it is not new, why is it not being addressed?

Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe, over-stayed his welcome far too long. Instead of retiring in good time, when he might have had a more successful legacy, instead he ruined it completely. Contrast it with Nelson Mandela.

Vladimir Putin, current president of Russia, has also over-stayed his welcome. If he had stood down some time ago, he would have been remembered as the man who restored Russia to the international stage. Instead he will be remembered as an aggressive pariah. It is not uncommon for people to ruin their legacy by going too far. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was very concerned about his legacy, but he ruined it with the Iraq War. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who one month told us that she had “plenty in the tank”, was two months later rushing out of the exit door with a ruined legacy, leading to the recent collapse of the SNP in the 2024 General Election, losing half a million votes.

If Hitler had stopped after his relatively peaceful invasion of Austria and the Sudenland he could have been hailed as revitalising Germany and expanding its hegemony without violence and warfare. However, his grandiose and megalomanic ideas destroyed himself, his legacy and the peace of the world.

A partial solution

We should begin with candidates for the US Presidency undergoing mental health tests and the US President on a regular basis, with the result made public.

We could then educate people about the pride in the human heart and expose the grandiose delusions taught to young people that they can be whatsoever they want to be.

We might teach them that warfare has too often been in support of megalomaniacs who think young people should sacrifice their lives for “the fatherland” or “motherland”. In short, it is time for Christian values to be taught in schools and promoted in public life.

Updates:

1 Aug 2024: Donald Trump agrees with cognitive tests for the US President.