by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: June 23, 2010

What defines lazy? Is it being a couch potato after a long day of commuting, work, chores, family, then a relaxing evening? Is it sleeping in all day without being ill? Is it a temporary or a chronic series of actions that are intended to avoid physical labor, stressful labor, long hours of labor or anything that is called "labor"?

Average Americans do not fit the category of "lazy" by any stretch of the imagination. While there are some who are spoiled, mentally dysfunctional or disordered to the point where they will not work, take care of their personal hygiene or do even housework, they are not average Americans. Average Americans are the most active, productive and hard charging people on the planet.

Taking judgmental and biased evaluations out of the equation, there are plenty of Americans who push themselves to be the best, to do the best, to exercise the best, to produce the most and to grow, develop, advance and to improve. It does not matter, for example, that a retired person plays cards, then shops, then does the housework and home repairs, surfs the web, and does little to produce a product or to earn a salary any more. That retiree is far from lazy.

Many Americans work for most of their lives, with many starting their work histories as soon as they turn age 16.  It is not possible for most average Americans who started working at a young age to become lazy, suddenly entering lives of leisure, even when on permanent disability. So what if the person retired with enough prosperity to replace hard work with an active retirement lifestyle of hobbies, vacations, post retirement jobs, volunteering, church and community activities?

Many average Americans raised their children and go right into being active and committed parts of their grand children's care and upbringing.

Most average Americans are expected to start working in their teens and to work until they are in their late 60s to early 70s. Most put in a full eight hour day and are no strangers to overtime. After work, most take care of families, communities and other interests and requirements. Most commute at least 20 minutes each way in order to get to work. Most only get a few weeks and a handful of days off for holidays and vacations. The vast majority of Americans do not siesta in the afternoon hours, nor do they take an entire month off for vacation every year.

Americans who would be abandoned to live on the streets in many other countries, work full time jobs,  they take care of themselves, or they work at part time or volunteer pursuits with disabilities of enormous nature.

Those who always seek to find something wrong with Americans in general will find laziness when there is none because America is, even in economic crisis, incredibly successful and prosperous. America's standard of living can only come from someones hard work! Those "someones" are average Americans!

When the British Petroleum oil spill occured, The average American's first complaints were about being stopped from doing some of the hardest work that humans can do!

So, no, the question is ridiculous when we look at the history, the present, and the future of this place. Average Americans are far from lazy.

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