I've been living in America (East Coast, Bay Area) for the last 54 years, and I don't recognize the America described in about half of the HN comments I've seen recently (including this comment).
That's something you can learn by being involved in the north american corporate workforce.
When I took my very first job at mcdonalds I was told "If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean."
That work ethic is very prominent in american culture.
If you're not working, you're not achieving your full potential. And that needs to stop.