The latest issue of Time magazine features 100 of the world’s rising stars; songwriter Kelsea Ballerini garlands its colorful frontispiece. The young people from around the globe featured in the pages of the magazine have all accomplished some great feats to deserve inclusion. Leafing through the pages, reading the stories of these outstanding youth and their amazing endeavors reinforced my conviction: the future belongs to the young. A worthy example is Wemimo Abbey, a first generation Nigerian American who built Esusu, a company that helps Americans to use their rental history to build credit scores. It’s serving millions of our hard working citizens who simply lack financial or other connections to build a credit history. Rethinking accepted ideas to recreate new possibilities for millions of people is the thread running through the life stories depicted in the magazine.

I have to admit that Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s “Beetlejuice” fiasco screeched out at me as I read the magazine. I found myself, perhaps unfairly, contrasting the youth described in Time magazine with young Lauren whose behavior from the outset of her congressional tenure has at times been reprehensible; often demonstrating inadequacies as a legislator and citizen of Colorado. It may be unfair comparing a young, rural Colorado woman, to globally selected youth. Still, hers is a much more important role: legislating laws that govern our nation.

A short distance from Boebert’s is Congressman Ken Buck’s 4th Congressional District. I may not agree with much of his political philosophy, but I find his demeanor, personal comportment admirable. He’s logical and a reasonable servant of the people of Weld County where he was the DA from 2004 -2015. I imagine that time served to shape the “content of his character.” It is this that I’m writing about — a young woman, a relatively empty vessel; and an older, wiser statesman. And the content of their characters.

Age is important but an impeccable character with leadership qualities will always be our choice. In many world cultures, age is important only because it is presumed to imbue one with wisdom and knowledge. The old are venerated and consulted. It is not pejorative as it is in American culture whose preoccupation with age is almost pathological. Often, there’s implied obsolescence and impending death. In Boebert’s case, her age is not helpful; while the content of Buck’s character is commendable.

The loudest debate today is about Biden’s and Trump’s age. The content of their characters takes a back seat. Biden, 3 years older than Trump is considered by some too old for the presidency. The age debate is carried out by folks with an axe to grind, with colorful exaggeration of Biden’s stumbles and his well-known neuro developmental stammering. Trump’s shoddy diction, tortured, unfinished sentences, and a history littered with falsehoods before, during and after his Presidency — his 30,573 lies by Washington Post’s count and more than 52 books about him published — are simply whitewashed. In fact Washington Post’s David Ignatius advised Biden not run in 2024.

Everyone should be measured using the same yardstick, be they young or old — on whether they are good, honest people. The best politician is one who truthfully serves all their constituents, no matter their political stripe. We can gauge a leader’s worth by viewing their histories and the content of their characters. Ken Buck’s long history of service, to Boebert’s meager life story; Biden’s long life of legislative work to Trump’s life of endless litigation and irrational exaggeration.

Until we change the way we elect our politicians, our current aged politicians will have to do; alas, politics requires very little physical adroitness. Humanity has sadly not done a good job at trusting its young with leadership. Luckily though, in America, a nascent movement of the young is ready to wrestle the wheels of power; Time’s 100 will certainly be tomorrow’s leaders.

Given an unwise young leader against an older wise one, I would choose the older person. With two older men, one wise and the other extraordinarily unwise, the choice is clear. That said, we must endeavor as a society to emulate Socrates and train our young in the art of wise leadership. Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech alluded to the content of his Black children’s characters. Unsaid but implied, he was also talking about those who would lead us, of all races. We must judge ourselves as others judge us, from the content of our character.

Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students ’STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, Huffington Post blogger, and past columnist for Denver dailies.