claykemper (USA)
4-Day Work Week
Virtually all of the discussions on how to reduce gas consumption and traffic congestion involves increasing the supply: Pump more oil, refine more gasoline, build more roads, more busses, new transit systems.



Yes, we need to do those things and more; but, we can make faster, highly effective gains with very little cost through a relatively painless adjustment in our livestyles. Let's institutionalize the 4-day work week.



Here's what it can do:



*Reduce commuting traffic by as much as 20%

*Reduce gasoline consumption and smog from automobiles by a similar amount.

*Give many families the opportunity to spend more time together, including many 3-day weekends.

*Car engines and tires will last much longer.



Here's what it cost:



*Local, regional, state, and federal bureaucracies will have to spend time and energy devising schedules.

*Some agencies and businesses will probably have to remain on the 5-day work week. Schools are one example.

*Longer work days might pose too much difficulty for some families.



Several states are already devising plans for the 4-day work week. Looking at the concept on a national scale might be very beneficial for our country.

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