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Title: Why Work?
Author: S.L. Lowndes
Date: 1982
Language: en
Topics: anti-work
Source: Retrieved on 7 February 2011 from http://www.eco-action.org/dt/whywork.html
Notes: This letter by S.L. Lowndes, described as unemployed, was published in the “Opinion” column of the Sunday Times (8/8/1982)

S.L. Lowndes

Why Work?

I’ll get the dirt over with first, before it’s thrown at me. I am an

idler. A parasite. Unpatriotic. OK? Now that I have no secrets, let us

begin. I wasn’t made redundant; I gave up work voluntarily. For me, and

people like me, the Protestant work ethic never existed. The problem is

that to counter this apparently simple choice not to work, we have

against us the whole of industrialised western society, and probably the

east as well.

“So-and-So is doing well for himself.” That sentence will always ring

ominously in my ears. I know then, without a doubt, that I am about to

be subjected to a catalogue of some imbecile’s achievements. It’s

usually parents, in this case my parents, who take a sadistic pleasure

in gleefully reciting the exploits of Mrs Whatsername’s progeny. They

appear to be under the impression that the result will be to inspire me

to reach the top in the business world. No chance, Ma.

It’s a confusing situation to be in. On the one hand I do want some of

the material wealth a steady job could bring. On the other hand I

already have some treasure of my own. I have empty tennis courts, long

walks, the library, afternoon kips, peace and freedom. I thought for a

long time that I was alone with this attitude towards work, success etc.

However, on talking to friends I have discovered what could be a whole

new social movement. There is a swing towards the opinion that work is

for donkeys and cowards. Only fools work voluntarily, all the rest are

bribed or black- mailed. As a rough guide I would say that single people

are bribed and married people blackmailed.

Let’s look at someone who fits into this world in the way expected of

him. Bob is an accounts assistant. For six years he has worked

faithfully for his employer, and for what? The commuting is exhausting

and he’s always overdrawn at the bank. To live up to the image a young

working man is required to present, he is forced to live beyond his

means. So why does he do it? He’s not a fool, he’s only like all the

others on that morning train; he’s a coward. The consequences of being a

non- worker terrify him.

I can only feel sorrow for all those young school-leavers scouring the

boards down at the jobcentre. They think a job will be the answer to all

their problems. Someone has been misinforming them. Such dreams they

have! The money, the friends, the clothes, a car, a flat! I would point

out to them the drudgery of clerical work, the agony of labouring, and

the unending grind of repetition. Work is not the answer to any

problems, not even financial ones.

This may be only sour grapes because I am unemployable. There isn’t a

job good enough for me. There isn’t a job good enough for anyone. It

never fails to astound me that in this world where so much is possible,

and where there is so much to take your breath away, so many are

prepared to settle for so little.

It makes my day when I walk down the street on a hot afternoon. There I

am in shorts and tee-shirt, and there are the beasts of burden. The men

all sweaty in their crumpled suits, and the girls ridiculous in the

latest fashion. Go on, buy that new car, get a “nice” home. You’re quite

welcome, but it’s not for me.