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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Author: albaby1 ✶❂🐝 GOLD
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Number: of 86289 
Subject: Re: Trump: Forget POWs, They Deserve It
Date: 10/23/24 1:24 PM
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Seriously, are you comparing JFK's babysitting skills to Trump's? I'd LOVE to have had JFK babysit my kids!

Really? How do you know he wouldn't invite some lady friend over and neglect your kid while he attends to other....business?

Now, I don't really think that would happen. He'd probably be perfectly fine. The point is that most politicians of any significance tend to be very egotistical, self-regarding bordering on narcissistic, ruthless and exceedingly self-interested people. Especially those who ascend to the highest level of government, like the Presidency. You almost have to be - it takes a certain personality to walk into room after room after room and believe (and convince everyone) that you're the best person in the country to be in charge. Very few of them would be an ideal choice for a babysitting gig - and certainly not if you think they'll bring the traits from their workplace into the the babysitting role.

I wouldn't want any U.S. President that I can think of, save perhaps Jimmy Carter, to babysit my kids. The sort of people that can get that job are certainly very charismatic, and their public image can often be quite good - but the personality you need in order to get and keep that job? Someone like George H.W. Bush has (now) a very avuncular and softer image - but if you've been the Director of the CIA (and in the 70s!), you've done some shirt that wouldn't make you a top choice for babysitting.

Many of the negative personality traits that Goofy listed are certainly true - I don't think Trump is qualified for being President. I also think, though, that a lot of people have left their kids with babysitters that are also impulsive, lack focus, use inappropriate language, have weird conspiracy-minded views of the world, etc. - they're called teenagers. Typically we expect that even though they're not up to running the country, even someone with those characteristics will hang together to just put on the TV and keep the kid from drinking dishwashing detergent.

I also think that a lot of voters believe that picking a President is very different than picking a babysitter. They want a bit of a warrior and tough guy, not a saint or schoolmarm. Especially the mostly young male voters that Trump is looking to put him over the edge. So the babysitting frame is a weird one.
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This community has written 86,214 posts about US Policy. The article-length ones it recommended most:
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