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Do you think it is important for a president to be well read?

Do you think it is important for a president to be well read?


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In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

Rather than reading all day or playing golf, I would rather them spend their time making America Great Again.
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

I think it's important for every person to be well read
 
Absolutely. That said, I realize that while one is President there may not be much time for it.
 
Rather than reading all day or playing golf, I would rather them spend their time making America Great Again.

Being a well read person is a probably a prerequisite for that though. For example, Bush read as many as 90 books a year according to Rove, but I doubt he read all day long. He probably did like most readers and spent some time reading in bed at night or in the evenings.

BTW, both Bush and Obama waited months before playing a round of golf after they were sworn in, Trump is already doing it.
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

Obviously. Given the importance reading has for developing critical thinking and even self-awareness, the idea that we've elected a president who not only doesn't read, but who seems to have limited capacity to read, whether by lack of education or lack of mental discipline, is absolutely insane.
 
Rather than reading all day or playing golf, I would rather them spend their time making America Great Again.

I feel the same about them playing on Twitter and watching the talking heads on cable news.
 
I feel the same about them playing on Twitter and watching the talking heads on cable news.

Good then you agree that they should be spending their time making America Great Again.
 
Good then you agree that they should be spending their time making America Great Again.

Quite a contribution you are making to the discussion....

Once again, in general do you think that presidents should be well read?
 
Being a well read person is a probably a prerequisite for that though.

Maybe

For example, Bush read as many as 90 books a year according to Rove, but I doubt he read all day long.

And some would say Bush was the worst president so how did reading tons of books work out?

He probably did like most readers and spent some time reading in bed at night or in the evenings.

Thats fine

BTW, both Bush and Obama waited months before playing a round of golf after they were sworn in, Trump is already doing it.

Agree, but Obama made up for lost games.
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

Trick question. Just be honest and say it the way you mean it.
 
Being a well read person is a probably a prerequisite for that though. For example, Bush read as many as 90 books a year according to Rove, but I doubt he read all day long. He probably did like most readers and spent some time reading in bed at night or in the evenings.

BTW, both Bush and Obama waited months before playing a round of golf after they were sworn in, Trump is already doing it.

Yeah, while conducting diplomacy.
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

As a reader I don't quite understand people who don't like to read a lot, like my daughter, but I try not to hold it against them. Some people just don't enjoy it and it doesn't take away anything from a person. :shrug: I mean let's say a person reads 50 shades of grey five times a week, is that really going to make then better just because they are reading something? ​ I don't think so.
 
As a reader I don't quite understand people who don't like to read a lot, like my daughter, but I try not to hold it against them. Some people just don't enjoy it and it doesn't take away anything from a person. :shrug: I mean let's say a person reads 50 shades of grey five times a week, is that really going to make then better just because they are reading something? ​ I don't think so.

I doubt they would read 50 shades of Grey 5 times per week though. However, even if one only reads fiction, it does result in someone being much more self reflective than they otherwise would be. Moreover, it results in far more empathy towards others. You also can learn a lot from fiction. For example, I have learned more about what its like to live in contemporary Afghanistan and the toll that the Soviets and the Taliban took on the country by reading A Thousand Splendid Suns than I have from reading non-fiction books about the country.

I do understand what you are saying about some people just not enjoying reading. Our daughters like to read, but our son doesn't and we have to make him read what little he does. He is a smart kid just the same, but he has no business ever being president. ;)
 
Trick question. Just be honest and say it the way you mean it.

You only think its a trick question because you don't like the implications. I doubt most people would see it as being a "trick question".
 
You only think its a trick question because you don't like the implications. I doubt most people would see it as being a "trick question".

Maybe you're afraid to make your implications known? Because I would require you to prove them.
 
Maybe you're afraid to make your implications known? Because I would require you to prove them.

There is no implication. I believe it is important that a president is well read. I voted yes. The only bad implication would be if you think it is important for a president to be well read, but you supported Trump. If you don't think it is important for a president to be well read, then there is no bad implications there either.
 
There is no implication. I believe it is important that a president is well read. I voted yes. The only bad implication would be if you think it is important for a president to be well read, but you supported Trump. If you don't think it is important for a president to be well read, then there is no bad implications there either.

Who's going to say no to a question like that? Should people be well read?
 
Absolutely. That said, I realize that while one is President there may not be much time for it.

I've read that Trump spends his evenings watching TV. I think reading about history would serve him well.
 
Good then you agree that they should be spending their time making America Great Again.

US standing in the world has been greatly diminished since Trump got into office. He isn't making America Great Again...he's making our enemies great again.
 
In general do you think it is important for a president to be well read? Basically, should they be the type of person that typically reads a lot?

The only letters the President of the United States needs to know are "U", "S" and "A."
 
I dont care if Presidents read while they are in the White House, but for sure I want my Presidents to be readers by nature, inquisitive, someone who has soaked up a little or a lot of ancient wisdom and knows well lives other than their own. Reading current nonfiction books on ideas is less important, that can be delegated out, so long as Presidents have the right kind of people around them that time is better spent elsewhere.

I doubt Trump has ever been a reader, I was reading someone who spent time with him in the 80's at home and so forth who says that at the time they noticed that there seemed to be not one book in his house.

Trump is far from an ideal President.
 
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