Re: measuring systems (was: Selenites)

In a message dated 9/30/98 10:55:23 AM Pacific Daylight Time, fortytwo@UFL.EDU
writes:

<< Anyways, such a change would fundamentally alter the economy.  Changing
 the work day from 1/3 of the day to 1/4 of the day would reduce the
 hours worked by 25%.  Unless wages were increased by 33%, people would
 no longer make as much money.  Hey, I'm all for a 6 or 7 hour day.  And
 maybe we'll get one, one day, but only by changes in the economy, and in
 people's wants.  Not by changing the day itself.  I still stand by the
 idea that time-measurements benefits from being easily divided into
 sections.  The day can be easily divided into 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24
 sections without fractions.  One-fifth also isn't difficult - 4 hours,
 48 minutes.
  >>
We need a historical economist to see if your theory that the work-day cannot
be shortened bears out.  However, my grandfather used to tell stories of a 12
hour work-day. Also, kindly allow me to point out _several_ countries that
limit the number of hours worked per week, offer mega-vacations, and stipulate
overtime pay scales  (Um, Germany anyone? How about a little Sweden?)
Admittedly, crushing taxes accompany this.  In any case, today's work-day is
shorter; who knows about tomorrow's?