Slaves to the Economists?

In a report today, the people who run our country and, by inference, our lives, are advocating that nobody works more than 30 hours per week. I refer of course to economists. This should go down well with the Left Wing press. Unison will be cock-a-hoop in theory. Reflecting on this suggestion, I considered that it may not be quite as half baked as it initially looks.

If people work 30 hours per week to earn their money, they could then work another 18 hours per week in the voluntary sector. They would still be keeping on the right side of those lovable rogues in Brussels with a permissible 48 hours on the clock. This way, 62.5% of a person's working week would be for their own income and livelihood with the remaining 37.5% given to those most in need in their local community.

But wait a minute, this smacks of altruism. Is it possible to imagine those city chaps giving up 18 hours per week to help others and forego their relentless money making? How would politicians spend their 18 hours? How would journalists spend theirs?

I think we might fall a little short in terms of tax revenues although life would become more attractive for the millions who despise their employers. At least this way, they would have to spend 62.5% of their working time to the organisation who pays them. The rest would at least be fulfilling if only from a standpoint of spiritual reward.  

The environmental arguments for such a move are compelling. Less time spent in the car would mean more quality time with family and friends. Indeed, the advice suggests that employers give employees time off instead of a bonus. They acknowledge that the minimum wage would need to be raised for this to actually become reality. This needn't be a bad thing though as the pay gap between the haves and have nots is far too high as things stand.

The down sides aren't as bad as they initially seem. I had visions of our couch potato culture getting even worse but then realised that disposable incomes would be comparativley smaller. Maybe the government could operate TV like it used to be run in the 1970s. There would be little at all in the mornings with just a news bulletin at lunch time. TV in earnest wouldn't even begin until about 3.00pm and would be done and dusted by about 11.00pm. The national anthem would play and everyone would retire to bed ready for another 30 hour week with their employer. It makes you think. Maybe the economists have actually hit on something here. With more disposable time during the week, people might consider walking to their local shops instead of driving the ten miles to the nearest supermarket.

Hold on. That's better. I've just remembered I still had my rose tinted specs on. Back to the land of dreams...