Work Week Reductions

Whatever the office I occupied, I would want to work towards reductions in the standard "work week" - at first, I'd aim for a 5% percent reduction, to 38 hours, and then another 5% percent, down to 36. I seem to recall that as I was growing up in the early 60s, the talk was all about the huge amounts of extra leisure time that developing technology would provide for everyone. Indeed, there was concern that we might find ourselves bored! But instead, it seems that we have been steadily increasing our workloads, at the expense of our families and our health. Take it easier, say I.

The Role of the President

Constitutionally, one of the President's main jobs is to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." He is also expected to "recommend to [Congress'] Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient"-- but it seems to me that this latter duty has taken such precedent over the other, that we now elect Presidents based in large part on what measures we think he/she will recommend. If I were a Presidential candidate, I would emphasize that executive role, carrying out the wishes of the people as expressed through their elected representatives, rather than trotting out a long list of potential programs that may or may not pass Congressional muster.