3 ms·

Let's be a little careful here. "<X> should do <Y> because most <Z>'s do <Y>" (or some variation thereof) is an incredibly poor argument to make. Most industri

Let's be a little careful here. "<X> should do <Y> because most <Z>'s do <Y>" (or some variation thereof) is an incredibly poor argument to make. Most industrialized nations have stronger restrictions on free speech than America, for example.

toomuchtodo 12y ago
> Most industrialized nations have stronger restrictions on free speech than America, for example. Yet, most have a higher quality of life. France (for example) works the fewest hours per week, yet the highest GDP per capita (EDIT: added hour) hour. They get 5 weeks minimum for vacation per year, plus 22 days more if you choose to work more than 35 hours per week! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_employment_leave_by_country http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_emplo... "Think about it. Nationmaster ranks France as #18 in terms of GDP per capita, at $36,500 per person, yet France works much less than most developed nations. They achieve their high standard of living while working 16% less hours than the average world citizen, and almost 25% than their Asian peers as per UBS. Plus, if you visit France you'll also realize that their actual standard of living is probably much higher than GDP numbers would indicate. Thus, if one were to divide France's GDP per capita by actual hours worked, you'd probably find that the French are achieving some of the highest returns on work-hours invested. Labor Alpha, if you will. We can actually calculate this Labor Alpha using statistics from Nation Master. France has $36,500 GDP/Capita and works 1,453 hours per year. This equates to a GDP/Capita/Hour of $25.10. Americans, on the other hand, have $44,150 GDP/Capita but work 1,792 hours per year. Thus Americans only achieve $24.60 of GDP/Capita/Hour. This puts the French Labor Alpha at about $0.50 GDP/Capita/Hour over the US. It may sound small at first, but add that up across millions of people, and a few decades. Now you've built a lesson for the rest of the world to learn." http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8 http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-produ...
- x0x0 12y ago
  One could only dream, though of course, that requires you to get a job in france; they have their own unemployment problems and a quoted 10% unemployment rate [1]. I'm sure it's much higher amongst the youth and minorities. Does anyone know if that rate is best compared to U3, U4, U5, or U6? [1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11101137/Sick-Frances-economy-is-stricken-by-unemployment-fever.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11101137/Sick-F...
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- spindritf 12y ago
  GDP (PPP) per hour worked is over 10% lower in France[1]. GDP (PPP again) per capita is over 30% lower. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_hour_worked https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PP...
fleitz 12y ago
Well, if by freedom of expression you mean the right walk around in a Nazi uniform then yes. If by freedom of expression you mean the right to be a woman and take off her shirt in the same places men can take off their shirt, then no.
- argonaut 12y ago
  Your words, not mine. I said freedom of speech.

toomuchtodo 12y ago

> Most industrialized nations have stronger restrictions on free speech than America, for example. Yet, most have a higher quality of life. France (for example) works the fewest hours per week, yet the highest GDP per capita (EDIT: added hour) hour. They get 5 weeks minimum for vacation per year, plus 22 days more if you choose to work more than 35 hours per week! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_employment_leave_by_country http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_emplo... "Think about it. Nationmaster ranks France as #18 in terms of GDP per capita, at $36,500 per person, yet France works much less than most developed nations. They achieve their high standard of living while working 16% less hours than the average world citizen, and almost 25% than their Asian peers as per UBS. Plus, if you visit France you'll also realize that their actual standard of living is probably much higher than GDP numbers would indicate. Thus, if one were to divide France's GDP per capita by actual hours worked, you'd probably find that the French are achieving some of the highest returns on work-hours invested. Labor Alpha, if you will. We can actually calculate this Labor Alpha using statistics from Nation Master. France has $36,500 GDP/Capita and works 1,453 hours per year. This equates to a GDP/Capita/Hour of $25.10. Americans, on the other hand, have $44,150 GDP/Capita but work 1,792 hours per year. Thus Americans only achieve $24.60 of GDP/Capita/Hour. This puts the French Labor Alpha at about $0.50 GDP/Capita/Hour over the US. It may sound small at first, but add that up across millions of people, and a few decades. Now you've built a lesson for the rest of the world to learn." http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8 http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-produ...

x0x0 12y ago
One could only dream, though of course, that requires you to get a job in france; they have their own unemployment problems and a quoted 10% unemployment rate [1]. I'm sure it's much higher amongst the youth and minorities. Does anyone know if that rate is best compared to U3, U4, U5, or U6? [1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11101137/Sick-Frances-economy-is-stricken-by-unemployment-fever.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11101137/Sick-F...
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
spindritf 12y ago
GDP (PPP) per hour worked is over 10% lower in France[1]. GDP (PPP again) per capita is over 30% lower. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_hour_worked https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PP...

fleitz 12y ago

Well, if by freedom of expression you mean the right walk around in a Nazi uniform then yes. If by freedom of expression you mean the right to be a woman and take off her shirt in the same places men can take off their shirt, then no.

argonaut 12y ago
Your words, not mine. I said freedom of speech.