These days it's hard to get together with friends. During the week it's pretty much out of the question, no matter how well-intentioned the plans may have been. Usually they call back, feeling guilty because they are just plain
too tired. Ah, yes. I've been there.
Some days I wonder if it is not totally
implausible to alter the way we "productive", time-oriented westerners approach the work week. Some South American countries have a siesta mid-afternoon, sensible, since our bodies are naturally attuned to rest at this physical low-point of the day. Europeans in some lucky countries take as long as SIX WEEK holidays (nice!) or employ shorter work weeks(they also watch less tv, eat less crap, but that's another rant!).
Zooming back to N.A...in most cases, people that I know (and know of) go through the rut, er...routine of the 40 hr. week and at the end if it, are absolutely spent, physically, emotionally and mentally with very little feeling of personal "satisfaction".
Why have we all been set up this way? Obviously the underlying reasons are more related to profitability and lessening of calculation and organizational effort (read: time).
The roots probably stem earlier than last century's "Taylorism", which put the grand idea that it might be a nifty time-saver to actually calculate and time the mechanics and precise movements of the (factory) labor worker while doing a task. Obviously, today there are too many human rights implications that this exact measuring, timing and thus, dehumanization of human beings gets into, yet some socioeconomically poorer countries are still employing these methods in an effort to "copy" the supposed economically "matured" capitalist systems. These nations are unfortunately still largely the pawns that were used in early colonialism and the victims of a power-over dynamic residue. Surely our "poverty" is still relative to their REAL life-and-death type poverty and the ever-increasing exploitation of their human and natural resources. Yes, poverty and exploitation does also exist in our backyard, I certainly won't negate that.
That is where my beef is at: the rest of us working Joes and Josephines who are employed by "North America Inc.", a rich and "privileged" continent by the world's standards, are still subject to being caught in the petty web of
exploitation.
Somebody else made the rules and we (seemingly) have no choice but to play along and make our way, sure. But what disturbs me is "Why is our (collective) mentality still so tunnel-visioned and driven by our economic and capitalist systems that we cannot yet mature enough to see the err and shortcomings of
not valuing the HUMAN worker (along with, of course the environment)?" (don't we gain any insight from past follies leading to wars, strife and revolution?) It almost feels like there is too much at stake for the powers-that-be to grant true value to the worker. Perhaps "Give 'em an inch, and they'll take a ruler" might be a silent fear? We get so caught up in fear we
will lose our job, our standing, our favour with the boss, etc. that we start to believe the "screen". We act like they are doing us a favour by granting us a heavily loaded, fully stocked-up 40+ hour work week with no benefits (benefits, if we're *real lucky*). We thank our lucky stars that they are employing our sorry arses, but really, we've got it all wrong:
we are doing THEM the favour! Pushing people to the hilt to save a nickel is pathetic. In North America (esp. "Dubya's" US of A) we have the resources to obliterate exploitation altogether! Corporations would NOT be left crying. The politicians wouldn't have to scrimp on groceries either. (Capital could very diverted toward the social wage and away for the military efforts, for example). We could be, and
should be setting an example of higher way to structure things, of a better, healthier life sustenance. This could be the real moment to shine and prove ourselves worthy of 'praise' as a great powerful nation, live up to the rep, beyond just
buying our way in.
It's frustrating to see very little "advancement" (ie. change) beyond the ever-present dog-eat-dog system, and as part of this, the incredible
demands placed upon the average person.
We have to become a two-income household to provide for our children, or to manage to scrape by off a teeny pension as a senior or a disabled person, or to survive hand to mouth, deeming ourselves "middle class", when we are really the "well-dressed poor" an ever-expanding large underclass. We are faced with so many
OTHER responsibilities and a constant stream of
stimulus at once attacking and demanding of our senses, on a moment by moment basis (ie. think of crossing the lights at a crowded intersection, with cars honking while confirming an appointment by cell phone). In this millenia, we, on average deal with three-fold more stimuli, distractions and demands on our energies than our grand-parents' generation.
We have to work to survive, granted, but not only that, we HAVE to work our
asses off to survive.
We have to work hard enough so that our bodies and minds are so spent, that we can barely remember why we were putting in these hours and energy in the FIRST PLACE! Does this seem logical?? Is this really just "human nature"?? Not to me, I'm not yet "sold" on that one (figuratively nor literally).
From the "elite" owners' perspective (for you Sociologist-minded) getting the most juice out of your people equals gain, but for the rest of us "worker bees", more often than not, there is little to be gained personally and much to be lost in terms of physical ailments, stress-related illness, and loss of quality of life.
When I myself was working steadily at a "low on the totem pole", yet centralized admin-graphics-do-it-all-and-smile-too job, all I started to want was that I would
find a way to balance my life out and come out with
strength and
mental energy at the end of the day to delve more into the
things I really cared about (volunteering, connecting with friends, reclaiming my social life, learning to date, working out, etc). I was lucky if I managed to muster enough snuff to go work out twice a week and make a few strategically-timed calls (between dinner and burn-out) out to the world.
I finally manifested my wish. One day, my boss (very nice man, all in all) talked to me about the struggling finances of the company. He asked me if I would mind that he had to shorten my hours per day. I bettered that one and offered to CUT OUT one full work day instead. He (gratefully) accepted. I had a bigger plan.
I found immeasurable quality earned by this one 'extra' day. In fact, I had time to
think rather than 'react' into my automatic routines, to rest mentally, to read more, to go for walks, to assist my family. I even had the "luxury" of time, to really reflect on my life.
I reflected so well in fact, that I decided to go back to school. I wanted to figure out how this wheel turned and where I was placed among the "cogs".
The next job I take, I will put my foot down on the issue of time and energy extracted at my expense. Let it be a slight "loss" monetarily to me and let others slightly smirk, and let it be a gain to my new (open-minded) boss who will save a nickel, but I will want to discuss the
implementation of a 4 day work week or a
job-sharing program. I intend to gain as much
balance and
peace out of my life. It starts with the decision to claim it back for my self, on my terms. Somebody out there, is gonna want to hire me. And betcha they'll be "my kind of peeps" too.
Here's to a 4 Day Work Week and "taking in" your space!
I have learned so much in the last 4 terms (half-way through the 4th), and the best thing education has given me is it has stimulated my curiousity and my passion for the world again. Although at times I find "it" (the world!) scary, or daunting, or caught up in and endless cycle of abuse and exploitation (blame the media--blame politics!) I at least feel like I can add my (2? 3?) cents to contribute something positive. 
