Should the federal government advocate a four day workweek to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions?

Question

Recently learned that approximately 120 million Americans drive to work daily and 102 million of those drive alone. Wouldn't adopting a 4 day workweek nationwide help in the fight against global warming and assist in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels? Or would we use that day off to drive somewhere else?

Answer 1

It's not a bad idea. But there's a lot of other strategies that will o even more to reduce emissions. Here's two:

1) support current efforts by Congress to require an increase in automotive fuel efficiency from an average of 17 mpg to 34 mpg by 2020. That could cut our use of gasoline in cars by HALF ove r time--saving YOU and everyone else a lot of money as well.

2) Expand public transportation. This is many time s more energy efficient--and is also much cheaper for the public. America is the only developed nation in the world where the people are dened a choice of public transportation in many areas. That's not an accident--special interestes (mostly the auto companies) have blocked development of mass transit for decades.

Answer 2

Good thought, however, I think people would just drive somewhere else, especially with a long weekend they may drive further than work. There are a million things the govt could advocate for that would help reduce CO2 emissions. I personally think taxing would be the easiest and most effective. The taxes should then go toward alternative energy efforts or rewards for taxpayers who are low energy savvy.

Answer 3

I'm sorry, but this is nonsense unless you are talking about upping the number of hours worked from eight to ten. Otherwise, such a plan would mean that some work never get done. Then, you would have to deal with businesses staying open longer (to accommodate the longer workday) this would result in an increased use of resources/energy and not necessarily productivity. Since productivity is not necessarily increasing, overhead costs are increasing, and businesses would have to hire additional employees to cover the work-week (remember, they still are open the same number of days each week), this would ultimately mean lower wages/salaries.

And, yes, people might burn up even MORE gas on their day off...or maybe less, since they'll have less money to spend.

Answer 4

Although must agree that it would be nice to have a three day weekend every week and only have to work four days, but I don't think it would help. Most people when they have long weekends go to the lake, so therefore they are polluting more because they have to use their big trucks to pull the boats, and then their boats use gas, so there is more pollution. Or if it isn't the lake they are going to the dunes with their four wheelers and we all know that doesn't help nature or our environment.

Answer 5

That decision should be decided by the employer and not the government. I have friends who are working 6 and 7 days a week. How would that affect them?

Answer 6

How about a 3 day work week? That would save more! How about a 2 day week? A one day week? Outlaw commuting, requiring all employers to provide company housing within walking distance of work? Require telecommuting?

Or better, develop new energy sources, We will need those anyway when the world runs out of oil.

Answer 7

No. Just mandate a 50mph standard on all vehicles. Dump billions into alternative research. Put all oil execs on trial for price fixing and whatever charge we can add.

Answer 8

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RE :Should the federal government advocate a four day workweek to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions?
Recently learned that approximately 120 million Americans drive to work daily and 102 million of those drive alone. Wouldn't adopting a 4 day workweek nationwide help in the fight against global warming and assist in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels? Or would we use that day off to drive somewhere else?
Follow 9 answers

Answer 9

I am opposed to the government mandating anything of this nature. Let the market decide, it will always decide what is best.

Answer 10

absolutely not. it would be too hard on the economy