Recognize that Working Less Helps the Economy and the World

[Misaki]

People are afraid to admit that we should be doing something different because it means those doing the old thing are unethical or wrong. This is not true because our actions have many different counterbalancing effects, harming one group but helping another. There is no 'perfect action'.

At the most basic level working fewer hours means we could share jobs, reducing unemployment. But it has many other effects...

Helps the poor:

• Shifts national income back to workers from corporate profits
• Less crime
• Can afford health care, housing, etc.

Helps the rich:

• Fewer attacks on children
• Less boredom
• 'Having it all' — a career and time for children

It also fixes war, poverty, and hunger, and allows us to focus more attention on climate change.

Some concerns people might have are resource consumption and social spending. But people are more likely to agree to taxes to help, say, orphans if they are not already being taxed to support adults on welfare who are able to work.

Sign and share - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/231/...working-less-helps-the-economy-and-the-world/
White House petition - http://wh.gov/QXEZ

 

[oldfart]

Well, a complace of developmental economics is that no society can in the long run consume more than it produces. I see no reason to believe that a reduction of working hours will stimulate an increase in productivity sufficient to maintain living standards. Indeed, most families are coping with a debt overhang and are struggling to meet rising costs, especially medical care. So the most likely outcome of a reduction of working hours is to increase the number of workers who hold multiple jobs. Since current jobholders are precieved as better employment prospects than the unemployed, this would aggrevate poverty and unemployment rather than help it.

 

[Misaki]

Well, a complace of developmental economics is that no society can in the long run consume more than it produces. I see no reason to believe that a reduction of working hours will stimulate an increase in productivity sufficient to maintain living standards. Indeed, most families are coping with a debt overhang and are struggling to meet rising costs, especially medical care. So the most likely outcome of a reduction of working hours is to increase the number of workers who hold multiple jobs. Since current jobholders are precieved as better employment prospects than the unemployed, this would aggrevate poverty and unemployment rather than help it.

Productivity is not the problem.

Nearly 11 Percent of US Houses Empty

A Capitalist’s Dilemma, Whoever Wins the Election - NYTimes.com

 

[Wiseacre]

Having a job is better than having no job. Even a part time job, which is most likely minimum wage or close to it. But it ain't much better, certainly not as good as having a full time job.

 

[Katzndogz]

First off you can really help yourself by realizing that you are under no obligation to help the world.

 

[Misaki]

Having a job is better than having no job. Even a part time job, which is most likely minimum wage or close to it. But it ain't much better, certainly not as good as having a full time job.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/783/697/872/tell-the-1-how-they-can-help-the-economy/

 

[PaulS1950]

If the average middle class worker had his hours reduced there woulld be more houses empty because he could not afford to pay his bills. If the hours a person works is reduced to less than 32 then he is part time and receives no benifits so no health insurance, vacations, and no more "extra" little niceties like cable tv or phone or clothes. Without a home to live in I guess you really don't need the other things but you do need really good clothes.

 

[Katzndogz]

Saving the world by working less is what your lazy cousin tells you as he sacks out on your sofa and expects you to support him.

 

[The Rabbi]

Things don't get better with declining incomes and living standards. Greek unemployment is like 25% and national income is dwindling. How is that working out for them?