Opinion by Paul Waldman: There’s nothing wrong with working hard, but it shouldn’t have to be its own reward.
found that Americans’ commitment to a series of traditional values — including patriotism, religion, marriage and tolerance for others — has declined over recent years, in some cases drastically. But “hard work” still came out on top, with 94 percent of respondents saying that it’s either very or somewhat important to them personally .
For many, there is a moral hierarchy involved: Those who work hard are simply better and more admirable than those who don’t. It’s ironic that many of those who hold to this idea with the most fervor also know intimately that the American Dream is a lie.is a vital part of so many communities’ shared ethos. Yet no one understands better than them that hard work does not guarantee success.
If rural Whites who vote overwhelmingly for Republicans have noticed that today’s conservatism defines, not work, as the true sign of virtue, it isn’t readily apparent. As far as Republicans are concerned, work is optional for the wealthy but required for the poor. Republicansto document your hours or risk losing your Medicaid coverage, but if you suggest that we ask the same of those who want to keep receiving the favorable tax treatment of capital gains, they’ll think you lost your mind.
It isn’t hard to understand why the economic overclass and their political representatives would be so invested in the untrue ideas that struggling people must be lazy and that hard work is the only path to virtue and success. Those ideas help justify everything from low taxes on the wealthy to low wages and worker protections, to a weak system of social supports.
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