I am SO sick of hearing this false rhetoric. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 23/01/2012 05:26:13 AM
That Americans have become lazy and entitled. I can't imagine American workers willingly working overtime like those Asians did without complaining and making a big fuss. We have created a society in which people expect the world on a golden platter. Gone are the days when men worked all day without complaint just to provide for their families.
I know FAR too many Americans working any and all hours they can get to pay bills. My uncle, for example, and my moms neighbor across the street. Their complaints recently have been more about heavy rain prevented them working all day to provide for their families. Although my uncle (who lives down your way, IIRC) has been known to also blame Americas (i.e. his) sense of entitlement, which just goes to show how screwed up things have become.
Last I checked, official estimates of "underemployment" (people working minimum wage jobs 20-30 hours/week because it is all they can get) were nearly as high unemployment. Americans DO feel "entitled" not to have their children kidnapped by the local coal mine while their government ignores frantic pleas to find them (as happened just a few years ago in China.) I think that entitlement reasonable rather than spoiled, but fear not, US industry is working on that problem.
