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I don’t think it makes sense to criticize Obama for going to one meeting at his kids’ school. Having an important job doesn’t mean you should spend 100% of your

by lacker 7y ago

I don’t think it makes sense to criticize Obama for going to one meeting at his kids’ school. Having an important job doesn’t mean you should spend 100% of your waking hours in that job. It’s good to sometimes do something else, to stay mentally fresh. Also, as a CEO it’s useful to talk sometimes to a broad range of your customers. Doesn’t it make sense for a politician to talk to a broad range of his constituents? If your philosophy is that people who care about their kids can’t be president, you will get a president who doesn’t care about kids.

onyva 7y ago
Not having or wanting kids does not mean not caring about them. Few of my teachers in elementary school were childless, and still incredibly supportive and important figures in my life growing up. I actually find parents selfish. Putting their own kids 1st, being offensively over protective and unsupportive of other, sometimes more deserving kids, which are not their own, ie when it comes to opportunities and investment etc. I guess that’s natural, but it also means a childless person will find it easier to “love” other people’s children and care about issues other than the ones of interest to themselves first most.
gist 7y ago
> It’s good to sometimes do something else, to stay mentally fresh. That's a judgement based on the idea that going to a kids meeting is a 'good' thing and nobody should question it. Let's say Obama in his first few weeks decided to walk to a house on the street (with secret service) and do some gardening for someone (without any benefit otherwise as an isolated event) most would probably think that was not only a waste of time but that he had some ulterior motive for doing that. I mean Presidents are well known for blowing off steam by golfing but they aren't going to golf in the first week etc. Sends the wrong message. Ditto if someone hired a CEO for the company and they spent time on some trivial relaxation time event (and the company was bleeding money) it would be seen as a bad use of time they should be focused. Go further with this. A company has been hacked and 'all hands on deck'. But the key person well he's off at a school meeting which could either be postponed or perhaps the spouse could handle. I don't even agree with the idea that they have an issue staying fresh mentally in the sense that that activity would even be the thing to do to do that. (Better to get more sleep and cut out needless meetings etc).

by lacker 7y ago

onyva 7y ago

Not having or wanting kids does not mean not caring about them. Few of my teachers in elementary school were childless, and still incredibly supportive and important figures in my life growing up. I actually find parents selfish. Putting their own kids 1st, being offensively over protective and unsupportive of other, sometimes more deserving kids, which are not their own, ie when it comes to opportunities and investment etc. I guess that’s natural, but it also means a childless person will find it easier to “love” other people’s children and care about issues other than the ones of interest to themselves first most.

gist 7y ago

> It’s good to sometimes do something else, to stay mentally fresh. That's a judgement based on the idea that going to a kids meeting is a 'good' thing and nobody should question it. Let's say Obama in his first few weeks decided to walk to a house on the street (with secret service) and do some gardening for someone (without any benefit otherwise as an isolated event) most would probably think that was not only a waste of time but that he had some ulterior motive for doing that. I mean Presidents are well known for blowing off steam by golfing but they aren't going to golf in the first week etc. Sends the wrong message. Ditto if someone hired a CEO for the company and they spent time on some trivial relaxation time event (and the company was bleeding money) it would be seen as a bad use of time they should be focused. Go further with this. A company has been hacked and 'all hands on deck'. But the key person well he's off at a school meeting which could either be postponed or perhaps the spouse could handle. I don't even agree with the idea that they have an issue staying fresh mentally in the sense that that activity would even be the thing to do to do that. (Better to get more sleep and cut out needless meetings etc).