Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts made a rousing speech at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention and scored an enthusiastic endorsement of the party for Tuesday’s primary election. Representative Seth Moulton, on the other hand, garnered only a minimum amount of  votes to appear on the primary ballot in September. 

Age is unquestionably the major issue in this election as it is in so many other states. 

Many voters are donating and volunteering on campaigns of younger politicians, declaring that this country needs to replace long-serving legislators. And Massachusetts is a prime example with Senator Ed Markey being challenged by Seth Moulton. The most obvious reason to retire Markey for these supporters is that his age is a detriment, not his voting record and certainly not any unethical or hypocritical actions on his part.

Watching the opportunistic fawning of the much younger Marco Rubio, Mike Johnson, J. D. Vance, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and innumerable cabinet appointees of a president who is hell bent on destroying American democracy and creating an autocracy, there is no greater counter-argument that we need younger leaders in this country.

Unquestionably, and historically, many a long-serving, long in the tooth, senator or representative suffering senility has had a negative impact on this country’s path to equality and fairness and led us into 

failed foreign wars. However, many older, wiser and more experienced politicians and advisers have contributed to what made this country so respected, emulated and prosperous.

Hundreds of thousands of fired governmental employees, and a world facing financial disruption, can be attributed to these younger advisers who have played Trump by feeding his ego and providing him with ideas and actions that have brought us to this critical  juncture in our history.

Observing Senator Markey at any debate or rally confirms his dedication to the ideals of a country 

that serves all the people. His speeches are interesting, specific, inflected with humor and always consistent with his ideals.

It is imperative that we judge those whom we vote for based on their ethics, experience and integrity and their actual mental acuity, not by their age.

Betty Ussach

Dartmouth