Reply to NYTimes: In South Korea, Questions About Cram Schools, Success and Happiness

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In my mind - maybe it's because I'm from the international relations sphere in DC - I see this trend as something that has been tremendously powerful in developing into modern economic powerhouses in several countries. It's amazing that we could see Japan dig out of war devastation in a couple generations, China climb out of middling/struggling country status in 40 years, South Korea move from middle income to high income in a generation. But the question of sustainability is really a big deal.

Workforces can break if they are worked too hard. People need family life. You can't have success only happen for the people at the peak of the mountain.

In the U.S. we have a social compact around economic success relatively commensurate with your willingness to work, and some ability to set boundaries and get out what you're willing to put in. It has some major failures, but at least the premise isn't entirely wrong.

These cultures where you have to offer total commitment to school, then to work, have to find a way to dial it back and offer 'some commitment, at least better than subsistence' if they're going to allow people to thrive outside of work.

I think big picture that's what the modern world really needs to be humane - the ability to do better for oneself without having to gamble or make herculean efforts - [b]just keep working in good faith and things will turn out for you, in keeping with how hard you try. 
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I think we walk around with this as something like unspoken natural law, sometimes honored in the breach, but what we see as one kind of justice, and I think it would be better if we said some of this out loud and tried to make it possible.[/quote]

Thoughtful take. I tend to agree.

I think the bold part above is the American ethos - at least, aspirationally.

And it tends to be true for many, many Americans, even now. But there are just too many for whom it's out of reach, and still others for whom it FEELS like it's out of reach, even if that's not quite true.

For me, this is a natural side effect of capitalism and free markets. Overall, a far better system than the alternatives. But there are enough people left out that we need governmental safety nets (including social support and more on-ramps). Otherwise too many people end out outside the system looking in (or feel that way), and are looking for alternatives that undermine or attempt to replace democracy.

Bluntly, inadequate governmental safety net = inseure or unsustainable democracy.

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