Like a mega-vacuum cleaner, some people are total time-sucks. These individuals, for varied reasons, have no regard for the people or potential that abounds and continually direct all time and resourcs in their own direction.
I have experienced this kind of time-suck often. Perhaps I've even been a perpetrator of this behavior myself. Why does this happen? What can we do?
As a teacher, I experienced both parents and students who were like this. The students were children who continually made themselves the center of attention mainly with negative behaviors that required educator attention. This type of student interrupted lessons and caused problems in the lunch room and on the playground. My reaction was to try to figure out what this behavior was telling us, and then working from a strengths-based mindset to remedy the situation. I'd try to work with and for the student to find what they needed, and build from there.
The same was true for parents. Every year there were one or two parents who would take up lots and lots of time. I found that taking those parents seriously, listening to their demands, and helping them a lot up front, mostly created a sense of trust that eventually made the parents much more reasonable and helpful.
Of course, there were cases where no matter what I did, I could not satisfy a parent. These types of parents were typically a time suck for the overall system too as their advocacy for their own needs was relentless. In general, I found that most of these parents desired a meaningful role in the system or life, and when that happened, they were less worried. I also found that some of those parents had deep-seated needs that required greater attention from sources outside of the school system.
My leaders in education would probably say that I took up too much of the time and attention at times. In many ways, I was a relentless advocate for change in schools. I didn't like the ways systems worked and knew we could do better. I even told leaders that the best way to deal with me was to give me some leadership over aspects of school where I could work for positive change. Eventually that happened, and when it happened, I was happily busy working for positive change with less time to advocate for change in other areas. This was positive.
So what do we do about a President of the United States that is a time-suck. In general, his constant whining, propaganda-spreading, disrespect, and hate are a time-suck when it comes to the positivity possible in the United States. He takes up a lot of time and energy leading to lost potential, money, energy, and time with regard to the positive actions we can embark on. Why does this happen?
I believe Trump is a time suck for many reasons.
First, he simply doesn't want to or can't do the hard work of the Presidency which is to read the reports, collaborate with intelligent indviduals, create logical plans, put those plans in place, and review and revise on the way. He appears to replace hard work with lots of wasteful banter, threats, name calling, and hate. That wastes our time and potential.
Next, it's all about him. He is a time-suck because rather than do his job to serve the American people, he simply cries out via words and actions, DO THIS FOR ME! Trump can't get away from himself--everything he does, he does to prop up his pleasure, pocketbook, power, and privilege. Rather than work for the lives of Americans during a pandemic, he spent his time looking for dirt on Biden. He is an errant leader.
Further, he's afraid. He's cheated a lot. He faces upcoming prosecutions and debts-due related to this cheating. He's hoping that if he distracts and confuses us enough, we'll forget about the corruption he's created and the conequences he deserves.
Trump's persistent idle threats, conspiracies, and litany of hate, prejudice, and lies make up his time-suck agenda, an agenda that has resulted in little positive change, and lots of danger and destruction. We have to urge our lawmakers to recognize Trump's corrupt ways and keep him in check so that he doesn't continue to waste our time and money or put our lives in danger.
I do believe that Trump is a domestic terrorist who has worked against our country's laws, people, and potential in dangerous, destructive ways. Hie is a time suck that wastes our time, money, lives, and livelihoods. I will be so happy when Joe Biden officially takes over as President of the United States, and I am so thankful that he is already leading with the lives of Americans during a pandemic as his first priority as President-elect.