Posted on 04/27/2013 7:48:09 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Sociologist Max Weber first advanced the idea of a Protestant work ethic in 1914. A recent study suggests that not only does this ethic exist, it can make the effects of unemployment worse for Protestants than for non-Protestants.
The Dutch survey, which used data from 150,000 people in 82 countries traditionally identified as Protestant — including the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Germany and others — found that while unemployment has a negative effect on everyone, it affects Protestants more, up to 40% more in some cases. Dutch economist Dr. André van Hoorn, who led the study, said, "We found that the work ethic does exist, and that individual Protestants and historically Protestant societies appear to value work much more than others." Cary Cooper, professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University in England, said, "People who had followed the work ethic for years found themselves without a job [after the 2008 crash]; all the sacrifices – working long hours, not seeing the kids – had not worked out…. We may find that's damaged the work ethic and people are putting less focus on work and more on a balance between work and the rest of their life."
"Too hard?" is subjective. I work 50-70 hours a week, rest, get groceries and go to church on my time off and sleep well when I sleep. I also let my government critters know how I feel about what is important to me; they mostly vote the same way.
If you worked 10 hours at McDonalds and cohabitated with the mother of your children, you could live just as good of a life style through government benefits. You could simply learn to do some plumbing or home repairs and work for cash for some tax free spending money. If that didn’t work, apply for SSI.
My point is we have gotten to the point that if you do not make a great deal of money working, you are better off NOT working. The hours are better, there is a lot more free time and you don’t seem to suffer from malnutrition, homelessness or even a bruised ego.
The deadbeats all demand respect. God forbid if you Dis’ them.
The illegals are ALL THIEVES!
They have the cooperation and support of the people we elected to serve us. It is time to replace them all, all in one fell swoop. We need to rid ourselves of the liars and corrupt, greedy legislators.
I spent 18 months unemployed, with about a year on unemployment. I was disgusted by what I became during that time.
Luckily, I found a new job and rebuilt my life and work ethic.
Being on the dole saps your soul. You begin to justify the free money and can create excuses for sleeping late, failing to find a new job and everything else.
When you rob a man and take from him the fruits of his hard labor, only to turn around and give it to someone who would even consider working, you remove any incentive for them to work at all.
Why is the left so blind that they can't understand these basics principles? In the end, these truths that they simply discard will consume them.
It will return when you cannot make a living, albeit modest, on welfare / disability / EITC.
America's social fabric has changed. America's greatest generation who survived an economic depression and won a world war are dead or dying. Necessity builds a common social work ethic and sense of self reliance. That part of the American social fabric is disappearing as the post war generations have not known real hardships or threats. History and demographics influence what we become, a collective society that rejects work and self reliance. There are a great number of individuals today who retain the old character traits, but they are becoming a distinct minority.
NO, public policy has damaged the work ethic. Why work if you can collect funds under a few different identities with maybe non-existent dependents sweetening the pot?
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