Americans and the Japanese work significantly more than other cultures. Yes, our countries have more rich people but no real social healthcare, higher than average suicide rates, and so on, and the biggest prison populations.
2006-08-27 07:09:05 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
we're all slaves to the machine dude...
2006-08-27 07:11:22 · answer #1 · answered by princesstheruler 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is part of our heritage as Americans to work hard. When our ancestors came here they made this country from nothing. They had to work a lot harder than we do now just to eat & have a place to live.
We also have a lot of stress hence the high suicide rate.
Besides who is going to support all the illeagles and the free health care, food stamps etc they recieve, if we don't work hard & pay those taxes so they can have an easy ride... jmho
2006-08-27 07:21:31 · answer #2 · answered by fuzzylilhippiechick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several reasons why -
We, as a society, have been conditioned through media that we have to have it all and not just all, but the biggest, best and newest. We rate ourselves not by our actions but by our possessions. This is why people shoot each other over shoes and kill their spouses instead of divorcing them - we have taken the term "by any means necessary" and have perverted it to our gross overindulgence in consumer goods and monetary wealth. We feel that a "title" carries value to it - so we will work endlessly to advance thus gaining more money and more possessions while killing ourselves and destroying our souls by working and not living. How many times have you heard as an intro line at a bar - "What do you do?" "What kind of car do you have?" - we do not value the person, just the acquisition of goods.
That is not to say that there is not a group of citizens that have been disenfranchised by our system and resort to either working 2+ jobs or non-legal means to keep a roof over their families heads and food on the table. This is the "New American Great Divide". As a government, the US cares only about the retail sales index and not the people that can not contribute heavily to that.
2006-08-27 17:23:53 · answer #3 · answered by tk30606 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Social Security. Other governments (more socialist ones) will provide jobs for those without one, or they'll just send them a social security check. Either one works for them.
In America and Japan, governments and their people believe that you should earn your own way. In other words you either work hard or go hungry. This leads to more work done. But this also means that anyone who doesn't want to work hard will try to cheat the system or cut corners, hence a rise in crime, suicides, and of course prison populations.
Socialist countries don't worry about rising crime and what-not because they're people see little reason to steal when they can get money from the government. But this leads to a falling GDP, and eventually the government will run out of money (thus cutting back on social security).
2006-08-27 09:56:42 · answer #4 · answered by paladin_hammer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think your assumption that Americans work more is sound. But whether it is or is not, Americans work so much to assure survival, in the manner in which they see survival.
2006-08-27 07:16:45 · answer #5 · answered by Memyself 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know someone who sleeps 2-4hrs a day coz he has 3 jobs...
I guess because in most jobs, you get paid by the hour so the more time you work, the more money you have?
Or maybe it's the desire to "keep up with the Jones's"
2006-08-27 07:30:46 · answer #6 · answered by Keepingmycool 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Employers expect us to work a certain # of hours. There are Americans who would like to work less, but the job requires those hours.
2006-08-27 07:12:04 · answer #7 · answered by mollyneville 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't. The average Americans work as much as the average Albanians. Somehow, they are more talented at making money...
2006-08-28 03:24:05 · answer #8 · answered by mrquestion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think everyone wants to make their place in the world and the only way Americans know how is to work and save and buy things. everyone wants to be better off than the people before them and with the world as fast-paced as it is i think work is seen as survival.
2006-08-27 07:40:20 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's our ethic; like one poster said, our ancestors came here and had to work hard to make ends meet and that's why we do what we do.
2006-08-27 07:28:28 · answer #10 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To pay for things that they don't need but were convinced to buy. When it all boils down it comes out to this:
The person who dies with the most toys, is still dead.
2006-08-27 07:14:55 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋