So I was wondering, Is it true that The USA works harder and longer hours then most other countries. I was complaining recently about how I get home from work and do side jobs and work and don't ever have time for anything else and the person I was talking to was like, well it is because of the society and in other countries they are a lot more laid back and don't work as many hours and enjoy life a lot more. She sited Australia as one countries and also England I think. She works for a large company that deals with clients over seas and they are so much more laid back and half the time they just close the office for the day 4 hours early and everyone gets paid the same.. Stuff like that . Is this true? Is the US one of the top nations because of so much hard work and hours? My guess is that the society has been molded and formed to be more "American Dream" oriented and more materialistic, which thus drives people to worked harder and longer. This is important because employers produce more because of this Driven society. More money is being exchanged and more is being accomplished because of what I will call a "Driven Society" It is a win win situation, sad but true. The employee gets the cash to get the car, cell phone, tv.... and works more hours for all that , and in turn drives a nation to produce more, driving the economy forward. The sad part is the people that do not work hard or work at all, but still get money through Welfare are the people that are hanging the hard working. Anyone have a take on this so I can further develop my view?
The Material Empire: USA
- Thread starter Quigly
- Start date
Funny, i have heard the opposite.
True, but quality over quantity. Brazilian sex sessions are by far the longest in the world with an average of 30 min per session followed by US at 27 min per session. In almost all orgasms were reported to be reached.
Yes I believe in spite of our hegemony Americans work harder than any other batches of citizenry. I hope that excludes Hawaii, because I kind of want to move there. But don't forget, you work as hard as you do because you choose to, it's your choice, you can quit and go do something else or do nothing at all. I know there are many factors involved in your line of work, mostly just paying the bills, actually making progress with a small paddle against society's current, but regardless, you still work this hard because you choose to. It isn't the same in the numerous sweatshops around the world, where children and adults have workdays that would horrify even the most asinine cehap-labor conservative. It all comes back to America these days...why are there sweatshops? American corporations! Why were the innocent [insert ethnicity]s vaporized? American unilateralism! Why do Americans work as hard as they do? Because socialism is evil!
Anyway, I bet you could find the statistics out there regarding how Americans work as hard as we do. I've seen them a few times now. As for welfare, I do believe there are moochers out there that are content to have enough money to "just get by," however I believe at the same time that there are exponentially more people out there who are just out of work and need a way to get by until they find a new job. I can't quote the source directly, however there was I think a New York Times/CBS Evening News poll that resulted in something like 65% of Americans favoring government taking care of people that cannot take care of themselves.
Plus, if you cut the money that's meant to help people, where will it go? Into the lungs of an Iraqi that had the guts to protest the foreign occupation of their nation.
So there you go. My liberal thoughts.
Anyway, I bet you could find the statistics out there regarding how Americans work as hard as we do. I've seen them a few times now. As for welfare, I do believe there are moochers out there that are content to have enough money to "just get by," however I believe at the same time that there are exponentially more people out there who are just out of work and need a way to get by until they find a new job. I can't quote the source directly, however there was I think a New York Times/CBS Evening News poll that resulted in something like 65% of Americans favoring government taking care of people that cannot take care of themselves.
Plus, if you cut the money that's meant to help people, where will it go? Into the lungs of an Iraqi that had the guts to protest the foreign occupation of their nation.
So there you go. My liberal thoughts.
Australia isn't much different these days particulary in the major cities.
I'm not going to argue that we're not a consumer driven society but how is it a win win situation? Could you elaborate on that please?
So it's the homeless, unemployed, low income workers that are ruining the economy is it? I'm sure the people mentioned in "Hunger increases among U.S. working poor would share your view.
I had a really long reply and it got deleted, so here is a shorter one.
Win/Win situation When both parties involved gain
Customer- Wants a new TV
Marketplace- Provides the TV
Customer- Works really hard to "get ahead" enough to buy it or takes on credit card debt.
Marketplace-doesn't give a crap whether you go into debt or have to work harder, because it is making money either way.
Credit card company- Loves this desire for things now and wins because the average credit card debt for ages 18-26 is $7500.00- $8000. This was from an article in Money Magazine, not sure what issue. Probably around 5 months ago.
Customer is happy because he can watch the superbowl on his new big screen and feel accomplished.(until the next toy comes along)
Customer wins, Marketplace Wins
Customer loses hours he could spend with family or friends because of working longer hours, but wins because his goal of the TV has been fulfilled.
Kazakhan. I know some people have a hard life. I know this and these are the people that deserve help. I don't necessarily think giving them money is always the right way to look humane though. Here is a welfare check, vote for such and such party in the next election. This will be burned at the stake, but I believe it is the Church that should feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked.... I agree that the church is not doing its job, and so I think the system of the government taking on this role is ok for now. My problem is this, why not take the tax dollars and build food and homeless shelters. Help aid the people into getting back on their feet. Don't just throw money at them. Throwing money at them will spawn laziness. I mean, lets say that somebody gave you enough money to pay for all your basic essential needs. Would you have a drive to still work a 40-60 hour work week at a job you hate? Even a job you love? I just do not thinking giving money is a good solution. Teaching somebody how to manage their money is a better solution.
Win/Win situation When both parties involved gain
Customer- Wants a new TV
Marketplace- Provides the TV
Customer- Works really hard to "get ahead" enough to buy it or takes on credit card debt.
Marketplace-doesn't give a crap whether you go into debt or have to work harder, because it is making money either way.
Credit card company- Loves this desire for things now and wins because the average credit card debt for ages 18-26 is $7500.00- $8000. This was from an article in Money Magazine, not sure what issue. Probably around 5 months ago.
Customer is happy because he can watch the superbowl on his new big screen and feel accomplished.(until the next toy comes along)
Customer wins, Marketplace Wins
Customer loses hours he could spend with family or friends because of working longer hours, but wins because his goal of the TV has been fulfilled.
Kazakhan. I know some people have a hard life. I know this and these are the people that deserve help. I don't necessarily think giving them money is always the right way to look humane though. Here is a welfare check, vote for such and such party in the next election. This will be burned at the stake, but I believe it is the Church that should feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked.... I agree that the church is not doing its job, and so I think the system of the government taking on this role is ok for now. My problem is this, why not take the tax dollars and build food and homeless shelters. Help aid the people into getting back on their feet. Don't just throw money at them. Throwing money at them will spawn laziness. I mean, lets say that somebody gave you enough money to pay for all your basic essential needs. Would you have a drive to still work a 40-60 hour work week at a job you hate? Even a job you love? I just do not thinking giving money is a good solution. Teaching somebody how to manage their money is a better solution.
Maybe, but I don't think so. What is 'the american dream' anyway?? It seems to me the knowledge that had been gathered since the birth of man was taken and used to create the United States, and it was intended to be the greatest country there has ever been. Because a new country was being formed this could be done efficiently, i.e. it is easier to have a clean break and build a country from nothing rather than slowly build an existing country into the desired form.
I don't think working is so much about materialism, rather it is a control of people. People work because they have to (eat and live), and the people who have enough money to not work have been deemed trustworthy, i.e they have spent a considerable amount of time in the society and therefore people know them etc, and they are therefore granted 'power'; they have been checked out. Thus a person who is born into nothing has to go to work, and therefore a degree of their free will is taken away, and a portion of their consciousness is taken too. The aim here is to stop people who should not have authority, from having it: anyone who has had their free will taken from them will find it hard to go to work, and they may even have trouble living under the authority, which is given at the work place.
Why do people work?? Because they have to.
But why?? For protection!
People don't really fight and die over money, people fight and die over ideas. Thus the world's gold has been stored in America, and people are granted power from it through banking systems etc., but only after they are deemed to be responsible enough. They are never handed any gold, but they are given more economic power through series' of ones and zeros on (a) computer(s).
So workers are given a certain amount of figures for their time, and then they pay out a certain amount as tax etc for the roads they use and for healthcare etc. An amount of this money goes towards the national army, which protects our country from being overun (by people whose ideas are different from our own).
I'll stop here because I think I'm just rambling!
river-wind
Valued Senior Member