# A 17 day vacation? Are you shitting me? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 4, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787 "2017-08-04T17:14:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/61 "2017-08-04T23:09:21Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Look, I’m a deskbound drone in section 7G of D.C. I’m trying to make the world better in my own little corner of it, and sometimes I think I have successes. > > I’m starting to think I’ve been a fucking dupe for years. A sucker. An idiot. And it is all becoming clear to me now. Why? > > Because I’m not in charge of the whole country, and I haven’t played golf [21 times.](http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/apr/17/who-plays-more-golf-donald-trump-or-barack-obama/) I think it has been three times this year, and I think I am lucky to have done that. > > Nor can I possibly find time in the day to watch [five hours](http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/07/is-donald-trump-a-tv-addict-215346) of television. I have it on in the background just in case there’s breaking news or something, but there’s no way I actually track what all the talking heads are saying. And then maybe I watch 90 minutes of something funny in the evening, tops. > > But a [17 day vacation](http://www.gq.com/story/trump-17-day-vacation)? What the fuck? Look, everyone – from the lowest burger flipper to the top CEO in the world – ought to take vacations to enjoy life, spend time with family, get perspective on things. But this is re-fucking-diculous. The dysfunction in DC very nearly cost me my own planned vacation this year – for which I could have been out a lot of money for non-refundable tickets for dates that seemed perfectly safe when I booked them. But this isn’t about me, as Americans as a group could use only half of their vacation days last year, which even if they took them all, would probably not amount to 17 days in a row. > > What the hell am I doing wrong in my life that I can’t play golf constantly, watch TV constantly, and take two and a half weeks off? Please, Dope, tell me. (Underline added) Sometimes you think have successes? You don’t sound like an extraordinarily successful person. Nothing personal. I mean, you’ve not risen to a position where you can play golf more often, or as often as you’d like, since that seems to be important to you. I’m shocked that no one has placed you in charge of the whole country. Is it because you haven’t earned enough money yet? Is it because you haven’t gained enough power? Will any person of great interest play golf with you? Maybe they can find you a more successful, better paying, position? How many millions of bucks would it take for you to finally be able to play golf as often as you would like? How much dough would you need before you could watch television for 5 care-free hours a day? Does cruising the internet count towards TV time? How many Benjamins would you need to sox away before you could take 17 day vacations and not worry about paying your usual bills? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/62 "2017-08-04T23:09:28Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Yes you did. It was a direct quote 🙂 In that case, I must admit that I copied it from Bill Maher. I wouldn’t want to create a false narrative that I thought that up myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/63 "2017-08-05T00:58:42Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (Underline added) > > Sometimes you think have successes? You don’t sound like an extraordinarily successful person. Nothing personal. I mean, you’ve not risen to a position where you can play golf more often, or as often as you’d like, since that seems to be important to you. > > I’m shocked that no one has placed you in charge of the whole country. Is it because you haven’t earned enough money yet? Is it because you haven’t gained enough power? Will any person of great interest play golf with you? Maybe they can find you a more successful, better paying, position? > > How many millions of bucks would it take for you to finally be able to play golf as often as you would like? How much dough would you need before you could watch television for 5 care-free hours a day? Does cruising the internet count towards TV time? How many Benjamins would you need to sox away before you could take 17 day vacations and not worry about paying your usual bills? Nice try, troll. ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/64 "2017-08-05T01:45:13Z")
For the duration of Harry Truman’s presidential days the WH was undergoing emergency repairs. Did he skip out of town to a resort or his hometown of Independence? Nope, he simply moved to the Blair House (kitty-corner to WH) & did his job. tRump needs to learn he’s being paid to do his job, not promote his properties. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/65 "2017-08-05T01:56:43Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > … > And, to be fair, 17 days is not a lot of vacation in Europe, Austria say has 22 paid vacation days plus 13 paid holidays a year. **Americans have chosen a different path and therefore have the highest living standards in return**. Bolding mine. This being the Dope, there are standards for for making bold claims. (I realize there are many methods of measuring “standard of living”, here’s one) US is ranked 19th in this evaluation: [Social Progress Index: Countries With the Highest Standard of Life - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/19-countries-with-the-highest-standard-of-life-according-to-the-social-progress-report-2016-6/#19-united-states-8462-the-us-scraping-into-the-top-20-may-surprise-some-and-the-report-does-call-it-a-disappointment-saying-the-countrys-huge-economy-does-not-translate-into-social-progress-for-many-of-its-citizens-1) "The “Social Progress Index” collates the scores of three main indexes: Basic Human Needs, which includes medical care, sanitation, and shelter. Foundations of Wellbeing, which covers education, access to technology, and life expectancy. Opportunity, which looks at personal rights, freedom of choice, and general tolerance. The index then adds the three different factors together, before giving each nation a score out of 100. You can see the countries with the highest quality of life below." Another snippet: “Scandinavian nations scored highly in the “Social Progress Index,” but more surprising are the very large countries which came lower down the list — suggesting that a strong GDP per capita is not the only gauge for a high standard of living.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/66 "2017-08-05T01:57:35Z")
Trump needs the time off to finally finish _All Quiet on the Western Front_. On tape. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/67 "2017-08-05T02:22:54Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Trump needs the time off to finally finish _All Quiet on the Western Front_. Hopefully, members of his administration will someday run on the Trumps. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/68 "2017-08-05T02:28:05Z")
As noted in a previous thread, there’s [a long tradition](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/08/the-long-tradition-of-criticizing-presidential-vacations/243819/) of sniping at Presidents over vacations. > [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > It was a stupid criticism when leveled at Obama, and no better now. > > There are plenty of things to criticize about Trump - let’s stick to the substantial ones. > > That said, Trump’s own hypocrisy on the issue (such as it is) is fair game, if unimportant in the grand scheme, IMHO. As is the amount of taxpayer spending on his trips/resort time. However, snippy comments about how-come-the-President-gets-all-this-time-off-when-I-don’t sound kind of silly. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/69 "2017-08-05T03:09:06Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > I’m not a golfer, but a good friend is. He’s quite disdainful of how Loser Don drives his golf cart onto the greens. Apparently, this just isn’t done. > > I suspect that if he golfed somewhere else they might question him driving on the greens. Even if it is a DOD course and he’s CiC. > > After my friend said that about Loser Don’s golf cart issues, I wondered if the WH physician didn’t suggest that he play fewer holes but walk between holes. Even with a caddy carrying his clubs, it would be better exercise for someone who clearly needs it. I would suspect that anyone that gives Dolt 45 advice is met with either mumbles or a diatribe about how he beat Hillary. I’ve never played a round of golf in my life. I don’t watch it on TV, but I know that you sure as shit don’t drive a cart onto the green. And frankly that’s nothing compared to his daily fuck ups. Too bad Bob Barker wasn’t there to kick his ass. (Happy Gilmore ref) But it shows either dementia (he knows the rules I’m sure, he’s a golfer) or just how entitled that asshole thinks he is. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/70 "2017-08-05T03:28:24Z")
Excellent! **doorhinge** showed up! I just finished my eighth highball, and I was thinking a blow job might hit the ol’ spot. Make it a hummer, sweets! ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/71 "2017-08-05T11:00:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Ah yes, another fine example of libertarian orthodoxy: “Meh, don’t worry about it. The military will just step in and improve our democracy if things get too bad.” > > Oh, wait, that doesn’t sound right at all! I’m having a little bit of humor at your expense, but honestly, I would have never expected that response from you. You certainly keep me on my toes. I’m not sure why anyone still pretends that **WillFarnaby** has anything resembling a coherent political philosophy, or the ability to explain it in any meaningful way. The closest comparison I can think of is someone like Mencius Moldbug - sounds smart until you actually _listen_, and then it becomes clear that their political philosophy is inane bullshit. > [@doorhinge](#): > > (Underline added) > > Sometimes you think have successes? You don’t sound like an extraordinarily successful person. Nothing personal. I mean, you’ve not risen to a position where you can play golf more often, or as often as you’d like, since that seems to be important to you. > > I’m shocked that no one has placed you in charge of the whole country. Is it because you haven’t earned enough money yet? Is it because you haven’t gained enough power? Will any person of great interest play golf with you? Maybe they can find you a more successful, better paying, position? > > How many millions of bucks would it take for you to finally be able to play golf as often as you would like? How much dough would you need before you could watch television for 5 care-free hours a day? Does cruising the internet count towards TV time? How many Benjamins would you need to sox away before you could take 17 day vacations and not worry about paying your usual bills? Seriously, I have to wonder - you have to know what the response to this is going to be, right? Is it really that hard to figure out? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/72 "2017-08-05T12:18:17Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Every day he wakes up and realises he can do wonderful things to improve the lives of millions and millions of Americans. That’s got to be a strain. Yes, every day he wakes up and realises [sic] he can improve the lives of millions and millions of Americans by tweeting his resignation. Then strains on his porcelain throne while resisting the temptation of typing, “I QUIT!” \. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/73 "2017-08-05T13:03:03Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Nice try, troll. But he worked so _hard_ at it… doesn’t that count for something? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/74 "2017-08-05T13:39:00Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > realises [sic]. That’s how it’s [often] spelt outside the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/75 "2017-08-05T14:11:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Yes, but I think even you would admit that if the automobile of state is hurtling down the road at 100 mph, and it must turn to avoid a huge cliff, with Democrats are yelling at the driver to turn left and Republicans yelling to turn right, you would be one of the very few who might argue that it would be a victory if the car went straight and killed everyone on board. That’s a really good analogy but you need to add the fact that the person behind the wheel doesn’t know how to drive. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/76 "2017-08-05T14:18:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Nice try, troll. I think doorhinges idea of what it’s like to be wealthy is taken directly from Richie Rich comic books. He’s one of those rubes that’s actually impressed by the idea of gold-plated diamond encrusted toilets. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/77 "2017-08-05T14:34:20Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > That’s how it’s [often] spelt outside the USA. Good to know. Trump’s still a work-shy wanker. [Did I spell ‘wanker’ right?] ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/78 "2017-08-05T14:54:17Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > That’s a really good analogy but you need to add the fact that the person behind the wheel doesn’t know how to drive. And hates most of the people in the car. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/79 "2017-08-05T15:02:32Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Nice try, troll. Your OP reeks of jealousy but I suppose that’s the best you can do. Keep up the good work. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787/80 "2017-08-05T15:04:25Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And hates most of the people in the car. Doesn’t care much for the car either. It’s overpriced due too many intrusive safety and emissions regulations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-17-day-vacation-are-you-shitting-me/792787.md?page=5)