Richer societies have LONGER VACATIONS than poorer ones do.

[opihimoimoi]

Ole George Will mentions the Europeans whine so much cause they got the time to do it with much longer Vacations. Another thread decimates him for it.

But if attempt to analylze the reason.... the cause and effect thingy?? Could it be they vote with care and that......

THEY VOTE SMARTER???

They reap the results of a smarter Gov't??

Could you see Bush as Prez of Germany, Switzerland, France, UK, and Belgium, etc. No Fucking way. They know a DUMMY Leader when they see one. They saw what happens when a nation goes for the smooze, the rallies, the flags, the jingoism. They know the bad things that can happen.

This is why they take great care to vote wisely and not be bought off, be suckered in. and now look who is looking good....?? Them, not us, we the fools, rush around the world and make foolish decisions??? We pay, they win, we lose.

We got smart bombs, they got looooong vacations, better lives. All GW can do is complain, whine. Fuck that turd, he is a tragic waste of rice/potatos/bread.

[Muddleoftheroad]

1. I only agree in part

America is unique among nations. It is not formed by the confluence of rivers or other geographic features that molded the people. It was formed by the desire of a bunch of unconnected peoples to succeed, to prosper and be free. Americans are driven by this culture to be successful and vacation, although desirable, is less of an issue than success.

[opihimoimoi]

5. Those rich Americans?? Ever wondered where they go??

They go to their Vacation HOMES, their long trips abroad to BUY things and decorate their houses with, etc.

Many of them total their vacation time jus like Bush does, loooong.

That is because they were smarter, worked harder, and in many cases, lucky to be a part of OLD MONEY, the silver spoon thingy.

Us lower guys, the average stiff, she/he works longer and harder than ever, superceded only by the 3rd world slaves of Viet Nam, Philipines, etc.

We voted for this, our poor voting gets us this result of the largest National Debt in the History of Mankind. Only in America. We could sooooo rich and Happy but we get suckered in by the PUBs.

[uptohere]

2. man oh man

have you been taken in !

They are neither smart, incorruptable nor immune to the sublety of looking good on camera and managing public appearances.

Think its all peaches and cream ? Try it. Most Americans don't realize how good we have it here.

Those long vacations also help them not care about the overcrowding, pollution and other negatives of being at home.

[JanMichael]

4. Hmm. Go team go...Let's see: I've lived in the old World...

...and it's a real hell hole:eyes:

I know what it's like here and there so, well, there:-)

I've about had it up to here with blind jingoism on DU.

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. Hmmmm. My family back in Luxembourg lives damn well.

Far better than I do, to be certain. Whenever those of us whose parents or grandparents emigrated go for a visit, we always return with the question: "Why ta hell did they leave?" Adventure, I guess, attending the Sorbonne gave my grandfather a glimpse at a world beyond the prosperous family farm.

My European relatives travel the world, have excellent and affordable healthcare, free university tuition, regular shopping trips to Paris, etc., etc.

[Kellanved]

3. I don't know

For example Kohl isn't exactly a genius - yet he won four terms.

[pasadenaboy]

6. Both places have their plusses

Europe has longer vacations, more stable economic society, but it tends to be more static, and there is less opportunity to get ahead.

America has short vacations, less stable economic society, but it tends to be more fluid, and there is more opportunity to change your situation.

I think the American model is more stressful, and time consuming, but better at producing economic prosperity, although more concentrated.

It comes down to what you value.

I really enjoyed the stability of life when I lived in England, which is much different than Los Angeles. But I do like the economic opportunity here.

[redeye]

9. Opportunity

Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are all more socially mobile than the USA - see a mention of the relevant research here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1224-2003Aug15.html

[rogerashton]

7. Evidence?

I suspect a comparison of countries at different levels of development would show a correlation between, say, NDP per capita and vacation days. After all, when people can have more of it all (including vacations) they usually do just that. But, clearly, the ole USA is an exception.

Sorry, I don't buy the "nation of immigrants striving for success" line. In fact, I find it a little insulting.

So what IS the explanation? From a Marxist point of view, getting and spending yields a margin of exploitation, while vacationing does not. But why are Americans such suckers for "intensifying the exploitation of labor?"

[redeye]

10. From a historical point of view...

...200 years ago the USA underwent an economically blissful but socially destructive process, namely the transvaluation of labor. Up until then, the mentality in the USA was that work was a necessary evil and that the right to be idle was something to strive for - something that's very similar to Europe's secular work ethic. Now, however, following the transvaluation of labor, the USA has a Protestant work ethic, which holds that people must work hard even if they don't have to, because money pays in the afterlife, and because work is a good thing. In other words, money in the USA is more important than quality of life (after all, what's 2 more weeks per year of vacation for 50 years if the opportunity cost is better conditions in heaven?).

[billyskank]

14. That's funny

<because money pays in the afterlife>

No matter what you believe happens after death, be it heaven, hell, purgatory, reincarnation or oblivion, one thing must be agreed on: wherever you go, your money doesn't and cannot follow.

I think the Protestant work ethic was rather more to do with the old truism: the Devil finds work for idle hands. So you're right that work was thought good in terms of achieving redemption, but money has never been thought to pay anything in the afterlife (discounting the Rich and their chantries, a truly vulgar idea if ever there was one).

[LittleApple81]

19. If you consider that the only real claim to immortality is your children

Continuation of your DNA and all that stuff...
money pays after you are dead by allowing your children to have an advantage over other people.

[Nikia]

11. Two weeks of vacation is healthy

I don't know the source. It was on some radio program about how two seperate weeks of vacation taken in a year significantly reduced heart disease and other stress related illness. Many companies do not offer that at all or at least not until the employee has worked there several years. If only health insurance companies would lower insurance rates to companies that provide at least two weeks for all employees, then people might get some decent vacation time.

[redeye]

12. Maybe...

...but four are even more healthy, that's pretty certain - the question is by how much.

[opihimoimoi]

13. I know I would prefer longer Vactions than only 2 weeks.

The State of Hawaii has 1 month vacation per year from the 1st day of employment. I enjoyed my stint with the C&C of Honoilulu and its 4 weeks per year thingy.

Many of my friends were envious, some having to work 5 years before 1 week is granted.

Come, we go vote smart.

[billyskank]

15. !!!

<some having to work 5 years before 1 week is granted>

:wtf:

[Nikia]

16. I had to work two years for one week

I won't get two weeks until I've worked there eight years, which I hope not to be. It will take me twenty years to get four weeks.

[opihimoimoi]

17. there jus has to be a better company out there for you

find it and go for it.

[Nikia]

18. I'm working on it

So far though, I am faced with temp jobs, lower paying jobs, jobs that pay slightly more but require a thirty mile drive, and one's that don't think I have enough experience. My next job will definitely have a good vacation policy. I cannot believe that I was so stupid not to have even asked about vacation benefits when I took the job two and a half years ago. I was rather naive.