Readers Write: Time has come for four-day work week

The Island Now

Recently, Marco Rubio in Florida was saying that everyone should again work a 40-hour week. This is in reference to so many working ‘part-time.’

I have said it numerous times that as it stands, there are more products and services available than are being bought: No shortages!

Technology and automatiion is making life easier. I saw on TV how in an automobile manufacturing plant how robots painted the cars and dipped them in degreaser vats.  

All of the heavy lifting and much more done by them. This company also has paid apprentices from schools learning the trade.

Recently, on the PBS Newshour was a man promoting his new book on economics. Artificial economics, if you ask me. The real thing is closer to that of merely counting ‘taters’ and ‘maters.’ 

It amounts to so-called economists hanging on to a profession that is becoming quite misty.

It was around 1922 that a large business adopted the idea of a 40-hour week for itself. The idea caught on and it became the norm but that does not make it sacred. 

The days for that are long gone. Our Creator did not put us here for economy. 

Boosting the economy for that which is not needed merely creates more pollution. It is only those for whom it is a financial racket who are prolonging it as it is.

The following seems to be a sound solution: A four-day work week (32 hours). One way it could work: An example with 20 employees: four are off Friday, four are off Thursday, four are off Wednesday, four are off Tuesday and four are off Monday. The day off could be required to be spent on education. The result would be that everyone has a job (the four day week would take up the ‘employment slack’) and everyone’s skills would improve.

I have mentioned about having a way of determining the mean value of a home so that buyers could not be defrauded by the likes of realtors and banks. 

A way has to be determined so as to know what is the part of the value of produced goods that fairly belongs to those who actually produce them. 

That would answer any wage and salary questions. With a four day week, one’s income cannot leave one in poverty

No one, no matter who they think they are has a right to more than their fair share. No one is better than any of their fellow citizens.

Charles Samek

Mineola

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