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Punchbowl News reports that the former Senate majority leader, who is retiring after his current term ends in January, lost consciousness at his Washington, D.C., home at 8:36 a.m. on June 14, before a dispatcher sent over an Advanced Life Support ambulance. Journalist Desiree Townsend posted a recording of the call from the emergency dispatcher Tuesday afternoon to X.

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[-] diablomnky@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Maybe something along the lines of, if you're eligible to collect social security, then you're too old to serve in government.

[-] PurpleHawkeye619@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Dont do that. That just incentivizes getting rid of social security so congress can keep their power till death

[-] diablomnky@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

If it's coupled with term limits, mandatory voting, and making running in a primary like jury duty, it might work.

[-] PurpleHawkeye619@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Genuinely curious what you mean about making running in a primary like jury duty?

[-] diablomnky@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Similar to the concept of Athenian Democracy where all citizens were expected to report for a lottery and if their names were picked they had to serve.

[-] PurpleHawkeye619@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Worth noting Athenian citizens were only about 10% of the population.

Of them, only maybe 1/6th could actually serve, as military or any other citizens too far away from the Ekklesia were excluded.

Also worth noting the Ekklesia was limited in voting on items presented to them by the Boule, which was basically a smaller council made up entirely of rich folks

Athenian democracy wasnt as democratic as advertised

[-] diablomnky@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Right, but with modern technology there wouldn't be a distance restriction nor am I suggesting we reduce the citizen class to ~10% of the population. The primary similarity would be that citizens would be summoned to serve.

[-] PurpleHawkeye619@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

There'd still be a de facto distant restriction. As well as a job restriction

You still gotta go to DC to be able to vote. Which also means you have to be able to afford a place to live in DC

More importantly, how many people do you think are both willing and able to put their chosen career on hold for 2-6 years just because they get told they have to go do something else

I suspect most people would refuse

[-] diablomnky@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

There are more political offices than just at the national level. City, County, State, regional water and fire districts. Also, just because you've been chosen for jury duty doesn't mean you'll end up serving.

this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2026
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