I wondered how all of this applied to Europe. The Europeans have decreased their work week and increased their vacation time over the years. At the same time they have decreased their child-bearing. So as a culture they have more leisure and less responsibility. As a matter of fact, there seems to be a connection between having more money and having less children. Not the obvious connection that not having children gives one more income but rather the connection that more money and free time causes one to not want children. Children hinder one from participating in the lifestyle of choice in Europe. In the meantime, there are less and less Europeans, almost to the point of no return. Mark Steyn's book America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It
covers some of this. In addition, I have read before that American homosexual men have the most disposable income of any one group.
They work and play and they are not hindered by the responsibilities of the traditional dad.
Recently, I heard a statistic that the biggest indicator of eventual bankruptcy is number of children.
And I have also wondered about the role of Mexicans in America and, perhaps, Muslims in Europe. Are they essentially a slave class willing to work at jobs that others find distasteful? Are they genuinely needed to perform these tasks and do we pay them by meeting their medical needs and educating their children? What kind of bargain have we made as both our medical institutions and our schools are in ruin? And if our government run schools are in ruin, how can we even begin to entertain the idea of government run health care? Unless the modern school system is operating apart from traditional definitions of education and is actually succeeding in meeting its unstated goals.
These are the kind of things I am wondering as I think about the meaning of work and leisure. I think this chapter did give me an idea. Leisure and work must be tied to humanity and even worship. Without those moorings neither work nor leisure fulfills its God-given function.
More to come on Chapter 4 in a future post.
7 comments:
Interesting thoughts...
I think that the advent of the BCP has more to do with diminishing population growth vs increased income. But that's really a different topic.
Your visit to the Zoo reminded me of this Pieper obituary, which recounts an October 1943 trip to the zoo with his family.
Here's the link which I commend to your readers.
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2008/11/005-a-philosopher-of-virtue-49
It humanizes our esteemed author.
We have a large Hispanic population here, most of whom work (legally or not, a lot of not, and a lot of migrants) as agricultural workers. Both my in-laws come from local farming stock, and my father-in-law owned & ran orchards until a few years ago. He said it's not just that other folks (not just whites) aren't willing (although most aren't), but that even if they're willing, they are absolutely no good at it anyway.
Since I live in Grapes of Wrath country, I think I will explain that, when I was growing up (not that long ago; I'm only 31), a lot of the farm work was done by teenaged boys. I remember a friend of mine working 12 hours days in the potato sheds in our town. You had to be 17 to work hours like that.
With that said, it is practically illegal for these farmers to hire teens like they used to, even if the teens are willing to work. On top of this, the unions will actually come out and negotiate for workers, meaning that some jobless guy without contacts can't even get an ag job.
I was shocked the other day when I took a different route and saw signs up declaring that such-and-such farm was proudly employing members of such-and-such union. Considering that the union thugs used to shoot actual bullets at my grandfather back in the Caesar Chavez days, I can hardly say I thought this was a good thing.
In other news, one thing to consider is that the method of farming which requires such large amounts of workers is actually an industrial/business model rather than traditional agriculture. My family has farmed here in CA since the Dust Bowl. When my great great grandparents first started here, folks were still swapping work like the Amish. It was the new method--that bigger is better, that the farmer must have one cash crop and buy his own food at the grocery store, etc.--that seems to have led to the need for such a large amount of workers.
We have other ways in which we rely on slaves, though. For instance, I recently found an online database that proved to me that I have only one single item in my closet that isn't made by a slave in a sweatshop. Makes me wish I knew how to sew.
Just received Steyn's book from PBS, by the way. It has taken its place in the official Book Stack.
Move Steyn to the top of the pile, Brandy, he is an easy read.
By my comment, or my father-in-law's, is that Americans don't have the work ethic and stamina to make good farm workers.
The Hispanics sing together while they work, take long lunch breaks, and have practically palpable community while they work.
In WA now it is also practically illegal and definitely too expensive (with a high min. wage) to hire anyone under 18. "Child labor" laws are completely out of hand. Even 9 years ago when I worked 6-8 hour shifts on Saturdays at 16 I was working illegally.
But Brandy, I *don't* want to learn how to sew....why do you have to look these things up? Sigh.... ;)
and apparently I can't write a sentence that makes sense tonight, either. Since I can't edit, I had better stop now. :)
Great point about child labor, Mystie.
In NJ our lawn business was stymied by the fact that boys under 18 were not allowed by law to fill the mower with gas.
This is more than just a little law. It has a sweeping effect on small business. With so many laws against law abiding citizens it is no wonder we need illegal aliens.
It almost seems that the powers that be do not like small business and that takes us full circle back to the evil word "Utility."
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