by Carol Gioia

Created on: September 29, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

There is no reality, only perception. The average American, as perceived by the world at large, appears not only lazy, with modern technology literally doing the work for him, but also somewhat spoiled in his oversized house, with every modern convenience and all the trappings of an affluent and upscale lifestyle. Taking a peek behind closed doors of middle class America, however, reveals an entirely different scenario.

Average American men and women are working harder than ever before to keep pace with the increasing demands of our high tech society. The technology which promised to "free us up" has actually created a blur between employment and personal time. Productivity reports are skewed as uncompensated time fluctuates between work assignments performed at home and personal committments carried out during work hours.

Communication is done through the internet and cell phones. Text messaging, e-mail and voice mail have all but eliminated face to face interaction. Sitting in their individual cubicles hunched over glaring computer screens, average Americans pay for their tecnological advances with isolation, eyestrain, carpel tunnel syndrome, chronic back pain and myriad other mental and physical ailments.

Average Americans work fifteen minutes away from their homes, but it takes an hour to get there and back in the glutted traffic on the modern highways and freeways. Travel time in rush hour adds an additional two hours to the workday. They carry laptops and blackberries to activities and social functions to insure they are staying on top of their responsibilities. Before they are finished with one day, they are lining up and organizing the next day with their electronic day planners. They are networking and multi-tasking all during their technology invaded personal time, until they are mentally taxed and physically fatigued.

Due to the government red tape invading school systems, average Americans have the additional task of supplementing their children's activities to make up for the cutbacks in school programs. The "No Child Left Behind Act" has buried teachers under a mountain of administrative paperwork and left chidren without sports, music and art programs within the educational system. Average Americans spend time transporting their children to afterschool functions and programs with prohibitive fees. They spend time fundraising for their children, and volunteering huge blocks of time to insure their offspring are receiving the benefits of healthy and

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