The Lost American Work Ethic

By Julia Nelson

Published: August 06, 2008

I chuckle and shake my head whenever I remember one of my sociology professors in college, droning on about how hard Americans work compared to the rest of the world. Of course she was comparing Americans to a certain variety of Western Europeans, in that ignorant Euro-centric way so typical of second-rate academics. Her point was that we, as a nation, need to learn how to relax more, take more time on vacation and stop being in such a rush. Was she suggesting we take lessons from the Japanese or the South Koreans? Not likely.

While I agree that for the very career-driven workaholic American, a lesson in rest and priorities may be in order, I am afraid that the opposite is the case for most. Far too many of my fellow Gen-Xers are disgustingly lazy, as far as I’m concerned, addicted to entertainment and recreation. Now I’m sure that the twenty and thirty-something internet millionaires don’t fall into the category, but last time I checked those were still a minority, albeit a visible one.

The ability of people of any age to sit and watch television for hours on end while procrastinating shamelessly on very important tasks never ceases to amaze me while turning my stomach at the same time. Certainly a lot of it can be chalked up to an affluent society with too much disposable income and not enough concern about starving, but there is more to it than that. The entertainment industry is booming, and they have a bunch of recreation-obsessed thrill-seekers to thank. Many people out there are looking for something to do, while avoiding what they know they should do.

Many in my generation despise work. They don’t hate activity necessarily, but they are utterly unwilling to put in the planning, effort, dedication and self-sacrifice that are vital to meaningful accomplishment. What too often passes for hard work these days is staying up all night to correct a mistake made in laziness or compensate for two weeks of sloth. The end product is almost always late or substandard, for which excuses undoubtedly abound.

And what is it with this endless search for something fun to do? I love a good movie or a weekend activity as much as the next person, but I realize that the old saying is so true “You have to love to work and like to play.” That is because play does not have real meaning unless it is an earned break from work. Only then is rest and recreation it truly satisfying. When entertainment is used as a distraction from work or a tool to avoid it, it becomes like a drug, a temporary high that leaves the user lower than ever.

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