Are Our Streets Still Paved With Gold?

Americans who are cohabitating are becoming a more diverse group

. A 2012 analysis of new Census data showed 15.3 million unmarried, heterosexual people were in live-in relationships. That's 6.5% of all U.S. adults age 18 and older. The highest percentage was among those 25-34 (35%), but it's a growing trend among those 55-64 (9%) and those 65 and older (4%). Forty-one percent of cohabitating couples have children living with them. Twenty-one percent have a bachelor degree or higher, 31% have some college, 35% have a high school diploma and 13% didn't graduate from college. Obviously, cohabitation is not a "two-dimensional" lifestyle.

Some Americans think their job makes the world a worse place. According to a 2012 survey by PayScale, 38.4% of fast food workers felt guilty about contributing to the obesity epidemic. Among gaming dealers 17.6% thought their job made the world worse by taking money from people who couldn't afford to lose it and 9.4% of telemarketers didn't like interrupting peoples' dinners. Among television newscast directors 8.1% regretted highlighting bad news to get ratings and 6.7% of bartenders were concerned about contributing to drunk driving and alcoholism. However, I'm sure 100% of those workers are glad they are working.

Americans are short on holidays. That's according to the consulting firm Mercer, which ranks countries by the number of holidays required by law. In 2012 the U.K. had 28; the Germans, Irish and Italians had about 20; and Hong Kong, Pakistan and Singapore had14. The U.S. had none. U.S. federal law doesn't require pay for time not worked. However, Americans get about 15 vacation days. Federal holidays - when government offices and banks close - are counted separately. The U.S. had 9 compared to India with 16, Columbia with 18 and Argentina with 19. Maybe those countries have more Holiday Inns too.

Twenty-six percent of Americans have used a coupon to pay for a first date. A 2012 Harris Interactive survey of 2,300 random adults found 75% of dates wouldn't be turned off by the use of a coupon; 1% would walk out on the date; 3% would vocalize displeasure; and 12% would say nothing, but not date the person again. Seventy percent thought using a coupon was okay on any date, 37% said it was acceptable for married couples, 31% said students could use coupons and 4% said it was never acceptable. Obviously, Americans differ about where to draw the "dateline".

by: Knight Pierce Hirst

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