There's been too little in my life like that since then.
If it was up to me, Homes, we would do something like "school's out" more often in adult life. It wouldn't have to be every year. It could be every seven, like the ancient Hebrews did Jubilee. Or maybe every leap year we could give folks a couple months extra time off. I think there ought to be something like that, some way that people could be reminded what it was like to be in charge of their own time. A regular little whiff of FREEDOM.
'Course I don't expect Alan Greenspan or Bill Gates to be voting for this one. Just thought I should bring it up. Sort of a confection, an ice cream sundae for your grey matter...
In a world like the one I'm visualizing, after your couple months off, you would be in such a good mood you might forget what an asshole boss your boss was, if he or she is one. You might rediscover why you originally fell in love with your wife or husband, during that free time. Hell! you might even regain the ability to see more beauty in the world, the way kids do. Old grudges might be forgiven, in such a world. Lions might lie down with lambs: we might even turn our backs on the insanity of violence.
Earth calling Raheem! Earth calling Raheem!
Like all hypotheticals, this one can be as utopian as anyone could want.
The clincher is this: THE SUPPOSED LEISURE TIME WHICH OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS SEEMED TO PROMISE TO PROGNOSTICATORS(Pundits) OF EARLIER DECADES NEVER MATERIALIZED. Most of the people I know are working more, rather than less, hours per week. Are they getting more accomplished than before? It depends on who you ask, but the majority of the jury says, "No."
There are more people working harder to accomplish what they used to be able to accomplish in forty hours per week. According to my math, this means that these people are, in fact, working harder to produce less.
Do the math yourself.
There are studies out there which say that if you work longer, and relax less, you're stressed. I could have told you that after breakfast.... BUT SOMEBODY PAID FOR A STUDY! You understand what I'm saying here, about overwork/overdrive?
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS:
- back problems,
- muscle spasms,
- stiff neck
- lack of sleep;
- hypochondria,
- you're testy, irritable, and tend to make more, not less, mistakes.
You ever wondered why "productivity" gains tend NOT to transfer year-over-year? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure this stuff out, Homes! Maybe we should back off, just a bit.
So before you completely write off this idea, Homeboys and -girls, consider this one last fact:
Haven't you always come back a little bit of a better person after every other taste of FREEDOM you have had?
Why should this one be different?
+++ The Previous TRIO +++ Premiere: TABLOID HART +++ PREMIERE: LIFE ON THE STREET +++
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