I wonder how much the length of the work week is related to cultural belief in upward mobility, either for yourself or for your children. When I was a kid, my

I wonder how much the length of the work week is related to cultural belief in upward mobility, either for yourself or for your children. When I was a kid, my own family - mostly blue-collar, unionized workers - would've only supported a reduction in the work week if that meant they could start getting overtime sooner. They didn't have to, because they were unionized, but they worked as much as they could. They'd happily work holidays like Christmas because it meant they got triple-time. If you gave them a six-hour day at the same rate of pay, they'd celebrate - and then go looking for a part-time job. They did this because they wanted a better life for themselves and their children - not too many six-year-old working class kids had a TRS-80 in their bedroom, but I did. If they didn't believe a better life for themselves or their children was particularly possible, perhaps they would've wanted to work less - but that cultural trait was such a big part of their lives, they would've been entirely different people without it. I have a hard time even picturing it. Because of this, when I read articles like the one linked, they seem so strange - I'm not judging, not at all, but it really highlights how different cultures are wired completely differently.