The Protestant Work Ethic

It is strange how jealous people get when they encounter those of privilege who do not work. While much of the readily available work out there is less than enjoyable (especially so if it involves interacting with humans), it does not follow that the perceived idleness of the non-workers is somehow damaging to themselves.

I remember how some people asserted that the idle people had too much time on their hands, and thus developed mental disturbances from excessive mental ruminations or started doing mean things to other people. I find that an absurd claim, since mental disturbances or mean inclinations are really quite independent of one's work status. Indeed, I think one who commits suicide from work stress is quite mentally disturbed. As is the rich career person doing mean things to subordinates.

The origin of these absurd notions seems to come from some variant of the protestant work ethic, whereby work is not just a means towards an income for survival, but a sort of duty that is somehow cleansing. One would recall the proverb that the idle mind is the Devil's workshop. Yet it must be noted that not all who are NEET are necessarily idle. It may well be that they have a kind of routine going that simply does not earn money. Would that, then, be considered idleness and subject to the absurd notions associated with idleness?