Some of these examples seem to boil down to “it’s possible to convince other people to support you, while providing nothing much in return”. If rejecting such lifestyle options is a “Protestant ethic”, then color me Protestant.
Other examples you provide are more like “if you aren’t picky about the lifestyle you want, or where to live, then you can support yourself on less”. Fair enough. Most people are more picky than that. For example, I like indoor plumbing, and can think of very little that I would be interesting in spending much time seeing in other countries. (Note: I have been to a total of 10 countries in my life.)
The reason Americans consider working a de facto biological need is that things people want and need cost money, and jobs are how you get money. There are exceptions to both of those rules, but to imply that the rules are thereby false in the general case is quite silly.
not getting a job isn’t going to kill you or make you less healthy
Some of these examples seem to boil down to “it’s possible to convince other people to support you, while providing nothing much in return”. If rejecting such lifestyle options is a “Protestant ethic”, then color me Protestant.
Other examples you provide are more like “if you aren’t picky about the lifestyle you want, or where to live, then you can support yourself on less”. Fair enough. Most people are more picky than that. For example, I like indoor plumbing, and can think of very little that I would be interesting in spending much time seeing in other countries. (Note: I have been to a total of 10 countries in my life.)
The reason Americans consider working a de facto biological need is that things people want and need cost money, and jobs are how you get money. There are exceptions to both of those rules, but to imply that the rules are thereby false in the general case is quite silly.
This, especially the latter part, is ridiculous.