Americans Have Become Lazy!

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   Georgiakevinposted 15 years ago

   Americans have become lazy! In the United States we have more buffet restaurants and fewer gyms than ever before. The gyms that are open have way more members than actually show up. Children in the USA are more likely to be obese than in any time in our history. Seeing children play outside, jumping,running,throwing catching,swimming especially in the summer are harder to find.
   
   Our laziness now extends past physical fitness to our daily lives.If it's not quick and easy we don't want it. Cheating has become part of society not accepted but tolerated by many. Cheating is a shortcut, a lazy way out.
   
   Our laziness goes beyond our daily life to our government. We are no longer willing to demand that our representatives actually listen to us their constituents and vote the way they we ask them to. We no longer are willing to stand and be counted instead we give our law makers Cart Blanche to make laws and policies the way they see fit. Then when they do and we find it makes us uncomfortable we yell and moan a lot, but won't do anything to show our displeasure.
   
   Many of us are so lazy that we can't be bothered to vote,to call or write to our representatives. If our law makers don't make instant changes to make our lives better we complain again, but are too lazy to allow the process to work.
   
   Americans need to be put on fitness program. We need to hear and respond to the call to action. We need to show that we care about that which is wrong or needs to be fixed. We ourselves need to have ideas, willingness and effort to keep our country great. We need to stop squealing from our easy chair when we feel uncomfortable. "America It's Time To Stop Being lazy. It's Time To Stand Up And be Counted On!

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   Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

   I agree with you...I know for a fact that I've become more lazy since I've gotten out of college. But I am going to change that. Hubby and i want to sign up for a gym membership. that'll help I bet. and I will definitely MAKE my kids play outside whetehr they like it or not LOL

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Good for you! I spend more time inside than ever before but am on a new regiment that with diet control and exercise I have lost 20 lbs since May. I am taking it a step further though by becoming more active and more vocal to my representatives. I quit a teacher's organization since I felt that there wasn't anything going on helping teachers in Georgia..........Onward  and pressing forward!

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   Crazdwriterposted 15 years ago

   Good for you Georgiakevin...yea I have sadly added on wait but I am going to lose it. I want to be back at my old weight plus my legs arent' as strong as they once were. and I need to get upper body strength and back strength before i have kids in the near future lilke end of 2010 beginning or sometime in 2011 so yea I need to get my butt off the couch lol

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   Ghost32posted 15 years ago

   Hunh.  Another government program to resist?  The one that will "put us on" fitness programs?
   
   But then, Uncle Sammie's been puttin us on from day one, so....
   
   Attended a personal development seminar one time where the keynote speaker's standard joke (if it could be called that) was about wanting to get back to his original weight...eight pounds, three ounces....

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Really weight loss and exercise is not the biggest concern here. The biggest concern is that by being lazy in how we let our legislature make laws and policies then we get the big government you say you don't like!

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         alekhouseposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         With weight loss and exercise, I have to agree.

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   arunjain1989posted 15 years ago

   I cant believe it...I have always admired Americans for their hard work and enthusiasm..

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      Crazdwriterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      There are still those who do work hard and are enthusatic but sadly the way things are going people are losing it.

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         arunjain1989posted 15 years agoin reply to this

         it is really very sad to hear but I know everything would be better soon.

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            maidouxixiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            well.

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               Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               I agree we have hope for the future but until and unless Americans are willing to be active in their government we will get what we let happen to us.

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            Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I believe that this is all about choice. I can't choose for others but I must chose for myself . It takes one person at a time to create change!

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         Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Very true!

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      Me too until recent years.

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   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   "COUNTRY AVERAGE HOURS
   WORKED PER YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL
                                        VACATION DAYS
   United States 1,966                       10.2
   Japan 1,889                               17.5
   United Kingdom 1,731                       25
   France 1,656                              25–30
   
   
   The good news is that the U.S. still leads the industrialized world in productivity. We are ranked first among the Group of Eight (G8) nations, which are considered the most powerful countries in the world."
   
   http://www.gaebler.com/Productivity-and … ountry.htm

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      That is good news! The bad news is that these figures can really slip if the American public continues to act in the way that they are doing right now!

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      Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting quote, though misleading.

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      ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Firstly, if being lazier means that I get 25 holiday days..... time which I can spend on very lazy trips abroad, then good.
      
      Secondly, a lot of Americans get something called 'Bed days' where they can just call into work because they cant be bothered to get out of bed? A couple of people I know get 8 of these days? So that effectively gives them 8 extra days holiday?
      
      Thirdly, I am very lazy in some respects.... but have no excess fat whatsoever.....

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         tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         They are usually called 'sick days' and are for, you know, when you are sick. How many, if any, you have depends on where you work.

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         Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Bed days are you serious , hell we just called them 'sickies' ( depending on the job ,most allowed 5 per 12 months)

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            ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Oh ok, well we have sick days too.... but most people dont get paid for those sick days here. Do Americans get paid for these sick days? If they do.... then this is effectively an invite to take an extra 5 days holiday?

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               blue dogposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               yes, there's also accumulated sick leave.
               there's maternity leave.
               there are per diams for meals.
               there are company vehicles.
               there are gas allowances.
               there are...
               there's also the policy, in some instances, re: the sick days, use them or lose them. 
               
               i know one woman, with over 400 hours of accumulated sick leave (gotta love those government jobs), whose husband is in the advanced stages of parkinson's, he's had four major surgeries over the last 20 months, and she refuses to take the time to be by his side.
               americans can be a strange lot.  of course, she's got dual citizenship, so she's milking the canadian government as well.  i would only chuckle were she to lose her 400 plus hours.

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   maidouxixiposted 15 years ago

   Not all Americans become lazy.Just some part.I think everyone will struggle for their future .

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   tksenseiposted 15 years ago

   Far from lazy, Americans are the hardest working people in the world.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      We have a history of being that way but we have become slack. It's time to get back on track.

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         tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         "COUNTRY AVERAGE HOURS
         WORKED PER YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL
                                                    VACATION DAYS
         United States        1,966                      10.2
         Japan                1,889                      17.5
         United Kingdom       1,731                       25
         France               1,656                      25–30
         
         "

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   myra636posted 15 years ago

   It's not just that we have become lazy but a lot of Americans have lost pride in our work. I have seen it when I was working I would hear the girls all saying well that's all we need to do even when the job was very neatly done I am talking about work in retail and do displays. they would fold the shirts and just stack them no order, I asked one girl why she did not make it neat and she just said why who cares. I care what people  think of my work.If everyone did it would make a difference

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It's all fixable we just have to want it badly enough. I do, do you?

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    ralwusposted 15 years ago

    I'm just too oldt and tired of it all. I think I'll just sit back and let y'all do it. Dam politicians don't listen to us anyway! They have ears in their pockets.

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    Eaglekiwiposted 15 years ago

    My husband is one unlazy American ,due to a rundown bus system.
    He walks his butt off to a crap job to make minimal wages!
    
    Rundown ,inefficent because we have a Governor that stalled to accept bail out money , and still slow to maintain basic city transportation. Yet the Governor and his family have no problem flying all over the country first class. Going by TK's above figures there is one Governor who gets way more than 10 days vacation ...maybe hes taking ours as well.

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       awsydneyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Maybe it's time to ditch public transport. Do something which is not dependent on this system. I truly hate public inefficiency when we pay taxes for it.

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          Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Yea thats the irony though , we pay taxes for what ?? so someone else can sit on their ass...
          Its just illogical to me. They (state) want to be more 'green' yet encourage more cars on the road.
          
          For a progressive nation in technology delivery, just unfortunate they let its citizens down with some basic transport options is all.

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          Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          
          If you truly feel that way then take action. Start a grass roots alternative to what your law makers are doing!

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       Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       It's time for you and others like you to take action!

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    awsydneyposted 15 years ago

    This forum implies that Americans were hardworking to begin with.

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       Eaglekiwiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       You disagee with this notion?

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          awsydneyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I'm merely stating what the quote implies. There may not be an answer, just like a Beatles vs MJ question.

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             ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Agreed ;-)
             
             I would be interested to know how those figures were calculated too. Is this the average number of hours PER PERSON IN EMPLOYMENT?
             
             I doubt that it takes into consideration the 9.4% of American people who ARE UNEMPLOYED.
             
             As opposed to the 7.8% rate of the UK, the 5.7% Japanese unemployment rate?

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                tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20572828/

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                   ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   Only Americans could title an article 'Americans Are The Worlds Most Productive'
                   
                   and then state.....
                   
                   "American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations"
                   
                   If you definition of 'The World' only takes into consideration rich nations, then your world is a very small place. My world is larger.
                   
                   This only backs up my previous response, which you seem unwilling to respond to?

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                      tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                      Don't feel neglected. What are you looking for?

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                      tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                      Only Americans could rightly make that claim.
                      
                      
                      
                      That's true, and that's what the measure was based on.
                      
                      
                      
                      If you read the entire article you'd see that the measure was among nations of the G8. If you would so much as read the sentence you quoted you'd see that there is no claim that 'The World' is comprised of only rich nations. Read carefully.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 15 years ago

    Vacation time has nothing to do with laziness.
    
    In my opinion, people who take more time away from work due to vacations are more effective workers that those who work 80 hours a week or who cut their vacation time short.
    
    I get 15 days holiday a year, and I take every single one.
    
    Somehow I think that those in third world countries work harder (for less money) than your average American/Canadian/British worker.

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       ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Spot on. This thread is effectively arguing about how Americans work an extra 15 minutes per day than the Japanese and an extra 30-45 minutes a day than the British - but need to work longer?!?
       
       What about those in the third world that have to work all day every day for an absolute pittance just to feed their young?
       
       Its fine say "we work harder than anyone else in the world", but the developed world work hard for holidays, new cars, and to get drunk. Hardly pressure, thats a lifestyle choice..... for many others it is a clear choice between life and death.

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       tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Why do you think that?

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          ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Well the less money bit is blatently obvious. Surely you are aware that America and Britain have made its fortunes, and continue to do so, through exploitation of third world labour. I have a pair of Nike trainers on my feet.... they are hand made, in Bangledesh, and cost me £50. The people that assembled those trainers probably got paid about 20p for the priviledge, if an American had assembled those trainers.... I would have had to have paid a lot more than £50; although Nike would have made a healthy profit at £15 for the ones made in Bangladesh.....
          
          The hours bit is also obvious. I have been in sweat shops in China, Bangledesh, and Thailand.... they work 14-16 hours per day, 6 days per week, for about 40p an hour. Same in India. There are two sides to that argument. That work is essential for their economies, but we could give them that work and quite easily improve their working conditions with minimal impact on our profits.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 15 years ago

    Oh well, all I can say is there is much more to life than work and that if you are spending too much time working, you are losing out.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 15 years ago

    We get 7 sick days and 3 personal days in addition to holidays. If you don't take them by year end, you lose them. I do try only to take sick days when I am legitimately sick

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       ryankettposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Thats exactly what I was talking about
       
       We dont have that over here! The last job I had..... if you were off sick you didnt get paid, if you wanted to get paid you had to lose a holiday day!
       
       Us Brits generally get something between 22-28 days holiday per year, sometimes 30 if your very very lucky, but thats it.... any sickness is seriously frowned upon. I have found myself giving up a few days holiday before to get HR off of my back.

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    annvansposted 15 years ago

    I don't know, but yes I am heavier than I used to be.  I have more stress in my life.  I wouldn't go to a public gym to work out if you paid me since I do not want to get caught up in a violent shootout.  Sure, I could work out at home if I had the time to do so.  Money plays a big issue too.  If I had the money and time to go out and do some sports in an area where I didn't feel like I would get robbed or killed, I would also do that.  My problem is money and time.  I sure wouldn't say that I am lazy, but I have family things to take care of and I cannot always eat right since I do not have the funds to buy anything other than cheap stuff to eat.  When I get on the computer, that is considered my 'rest' since I have been up cleaning all morning, I finally got a break and now I am checking on my online programs.  Believe me, If I could avoid a life like this, I sure would.  It is not by my choice, things happen.

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       tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Do you live in Kabul or something?

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          SweetiePieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Well some parts of LA can get as violent.  There are certain nearby cities where I would not go to certain public places for fear of my safety.

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          annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          lolol....no, just georgia

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    Mishaposted 15 years ago

    Laaaaaaaaazyyyyyyyyyyyyyy is gooooooooooooooood!

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       annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       lmao

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    SweetiePieposted 15 years ago

    I never ask for time off from work because I work two part-time jobs, and write online for extra money.  If I had a full time job I would ask for days off occasionally, but as a part-timer at both of my jobs I have to be willing to work flexible hours.  Also, working flexible hours and being willing to cover people who are off sick means more money for me.  I have time off, but my schedule is one of the weirdest around.  I pretty much am open to working any time one of my jobs calls me to let me know someone is sick, but since I am single I can get away with it.
    
    I have never relied on a gym to stay healthy, and since my transportation is walking I actually can save money on both.

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    readytoescapeposted 15 years ago

    I'll second that, Can we have a vote Mr. speaker?

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    VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 15 years ago

    Americans have become lazy.. yes. But American President laments that unemployment has gone up...
    (What employment is good for lazy people?)
    I think Americans are not lazy.

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    readytoescapeposted 15 years ago

    Most of want to be unemployed, but we choose to do it our way. We call it retirement, many are/were working towards an early unemployment. I just play the lotto...lol

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       VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Ready to escape from employment...?

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    readytoescapeposted 15 years ago

    Absolutely, Still looking for my long lost relative in North Carolina that won the power ball 260 mil.

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    readytoescapeposted 15 years ago

    On a serious note, GeorgiaKevin is on target

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