I agree with Rob's post. I don't think you can categorize people as being hard workers or lazy by their countries of origin. There are lazy Americans yet there are Americans who seldom take vacations and devote all their waking hours to their work. The same goes for every place else.

 

I thought as much, but just didn't want make the French feel lefft out. For all i know, you are French!

 

True. With the last name of Murphy, I get that a lot. ;-)

 

It does have a bit of a French ring to it.

 

I really think it's more up to the individual and how they were raised/what they want to get out of life than their nationality
There are plenty of Americans who are happy to do nothing and just sit back and let social services support them, as there are plenty of Americans who just devote their life to their career and seemingly work around the clock almost every day of the week
But for me, the saddest subset of American workers are those who are ready and willing and massively motivated to work, but they find themselves without a job for no real reason of their own, and I absolutely detest the "you are over qualified" reason for not hiring someone

 

Not to be a grumpy old man, but Americans have had quite a generational shift in child rearing practices vis a vis the work ethic. My generation (in the lower middle class) was motivated to work by not having their goodies handed to them by parents who didn't want their children to want for money as they had done. The middle class became more affluent, and children of my kids' generation seem to have little no experience with postponement of gratification and no notion of having to earn the advantages of the good life.

That is a generalization, of course, and the kids learn a work ethic later in their progress than earlier, but there remains a difference, I think. And I observe a similar phenomenon in Europe as the societies have become more affluent.

 

I agree with you, Jim, but I've also noticed particularly in my youngest daughter's age bracket (over 25, less than 30) a difference in their desire to attain "things". She and many of her friends have often expressed to us that they are not motivated to buy houses, own a lot of "stuff", etc. and would rather spend their money on electronics for entertainment and education, buy books, live in an apartment due to less maintenance/upkeep, etc. They seem to want just enough to be comfortable. We were the generation who wanted excess stuff, liked collections, etc., but they're not into that. They want rewarding work but not necessarily in financial compensation. They want to ENJOY what they do and feel it makes a difference, making enough money to live comfortably but that's about it. I'm really surprised at that attitude.

 

a lot of truth in val's write-up! it generally follows the experience of my son Ben (30 in a 10 days). the only diff is that he doesn't buy books...reads 'em on Nook or Kindle. we have given him some support over the past years since college, but kept it BASIC...no "new car" fluff or expensive trips.

 

Ahem. And what is so surprising about that attitude, exactly? Aside from a few over-indulgences in A/V equipment and a car, that's pretty much how I've lived my life to this point. I've always sucked at the whole capitalism thing.

 

^^ at he who spends soooo much time re-doing his ENTIRE house.