Working hard and working smart are not the same thing. But I will say that in America if you feel you’re not making enough it’s much easier to find something else or move into a different field altogether if you have the will.

Absolutely, once I left working for big corps. I had so much free time I did not even have to file taxes for 2 years. I lived in a really great 3-bedroom house that I remodeled myself, and for those 2 years I collected cans and bottles, and metal. Everyone on my cul-de-sac street would leave their bottles and cans in a bag next to their trash bins. I just took my wagon and went down the street, visiting as I went, one day a week. I went to yard sales and bought stuff I sold on ebay, I had fun.
Once I decided to work again, I only worked 20 hours a week, all holidays off paid, sick time paid, family built and maintained rentals. None of the 5 of us were rich, my salary was $1400 per month. I had free time to help in the community and meet people face to face. ------That is how I know there are more good than bad. Sorry I didn't mean to rant but it felt good. KEK