The importance of leisure
Commonweal, March 10, 2006 by Bob Beezat
John T. Joyce's article was provocative and insightful. I especially appreciated his discussion of the works of Joseph Pieper and Romano Guradini. Pieper's book on the importance of leisure seems particularly relevant today. Back in the 1950s and '60s, leisure was a goal of working Americans. Good paying jobs, a college education for your kids, time to spend with family, pursuing an interest in the arts--all of these things were possible in post-World War II America. One of the reasons we feared communism was because we thought it would turn us all into worker drones. How ironic that while communism has failed as an economic system, America is increasingly becoming a country of worker drones. We need to find a way to combat the work-till-you-drop capitalist mindset of today. We need to lobby lawmakers to pursue labor programs that benefit individuals and their families.
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