European Holiday - Europeans wonder why Americans have it so good. The answer: We work hard for...

The Weekly Standard ^

[Jorge]

...and we have the work ethic..no one can touch us.

Exactly. I have worked in several fields and am still amazed at the pride and dedication so many Americans have in being good at their jobs.
Nothing seems to the match the "can do" positive attitude of American workers. It's inspiring.

[Ronin]

Not arguing at all. But we could be improving on things a bit, don't you think?

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I agree with your points about spending more time with the kids. Yet, that is a matter of personal choice and there is little the government can do that is helpful. I know you didn't say the government should but, lacking that, it again comes down to personal choice. Some say it takes two working to maintain a certain standard of living, and in many cases that is true. However, the standard of living and the decision to have kids are personal choices.

It will be nice when the economy is booming again and everyone is making more. However, often in those cases more money just means more material goods to achieve an even higher standard of living. That is a personal choice but it often leads to no more time with the kids.

I know. I have been broke poor and I have been broke rich. Same strain, different living standards.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I suspect that most Americans tend to prefer to take several long weekends scattered throughout the year rather than one big long vacation every August. There are multiple advantages to this:

Actually, I think most Americans prefer several week long vacations. At least, that's what I see everyone doing.

2)Because our whole country doesn't shut down and go on vacation for a whole month, but instead staggers vacations, our whole economy can keep up and running for 12/12ths of a year instead of 11/12ths;

Few people have enough vacation time to take off for a month. More would if the time was made available.

As to shutting down for a month, that isn't possible. But the last week of August at my office saw 2/3 of the office on vacation. This is not unusual.