Why Address Politicians By Their Former Titles?

Emily Yoffe questions the practice:

[Robert Hickey author of Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address] says the best rule for any ex-official is, "Who are you at this moment?" If you’re a former senator who’s now a lobbyist on K Street, you should work your contacts as a private citizen, not as "senator."

Waldman nods:

There aren't very many other arenas in America where you get to make people call you by the most high-falutin title you were ever given, no matter how briefly you held the position or how many decades have passed since you did.