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The High Holidays
By Foxed on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 4:01pm
Cross-posted from LMT.
I honestly think that the holiday situation is getting ridiculous. I mean, I benefited from the time off at public school as a kid, and I am in favor of paid time off on principle, but... we're kind of suffering right now, and our state government really thinks that they should get a day off?
The primary argument that the legislators use is that Evacuation Day isn't a "hack" holiday, that it's a real holiday that celebrates our American Revolution.
'“I think it’s important to carry on the traditions that ultimately created this great country that we live in,” said state Sen. John Hart (D-South Boston), at a State House hearing.'1
Yeah, OK, Senator. This from the guy that hosts the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast every year. Fact is, this has never been about Evacuation Day. I've lived here my whole life, and I don't even know how to honor the Day. I don't wave bye-bye at Brits or anything! As I noted this morning, Governor Saltonstall even used green ink to sign this holiday into law.2 March 17th has never been about celebrating Evacuation Day. It's always been an excuse to get St. Patrick's Day off.
The secondary motive is positioning. Basically, March and June don't have other holidays. That's true, but... unfair. March is sandwiched by February, which has Presidents Day, and April, which has Patriots Day and Good Friday. June is an even weaker argument because you celebrate Memorial Day right before June starts, and Independence Day right after June ends. And it's not like they're the only damn months without holidays, either. I suppose there wasn't a good excuse to make an August holiday, though, huh?
There's really no solid argument that can be put forth by supporters of the two holidays because the real reason Sen. Hart wants to keep the holiday is because he gets the day off. I think that's it, plain and simple. But Hart being Irish and the holiday being on St. Patrick's Day doesn't look good.
I'm not a bad man who hates fun. In better days, I'd let the holidays stand. But people are hurting, and the legislature taking a day off when their constituents have to work (if the constituents have jobs!) is just rubbing salt in the wounds.
The AP's Glen Johnson notes that Senator Hart took time out of yesterday's breakfast to remind people about Evacuation Day. He's continuing the charade that he actually celebrates Evacuation Day.
And Conor Yunits reports that state Republicans will be working nonetheless on Evacuation Day. They will be discussing jobs and be available to the press. Good for them! It'll be a harsh image for the Democrats, as the news cuts from the Republicans hard at work to the Democrats taking a holiday, fiddling while Boston burns, so to speak.
I noted before that this tactic would be the way to kill the holiday. Currently, Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin does not take the day off, either.
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[1] Van Slack, Jessica. "Solons fight to keep holidays." The Boston Herald. March 3, 2010.[back to text]
[2] McNicholas, Kevin and Shaw, David. "With a signature in green, St. Patrick's Day becomes a holiday." WBUR. March 12, 2010.[back to text]
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Comments
not sure how this became a repubs vs. dems debate...
i can understand why people have problems with the holidays. but it's not a party issue. the holiday was signed into law by Gov. Leverett Saltonstall (a republican) and Gov. Deval Patrick (a democrat) tried to abolish it last year.
hate it all you want, but i don't think it's party politics at play. it's just a dumb leftover holiday that those who get want to keep, and those who don't want to abolish.
diclaimer: i'm an independant who works for the government who gets the holiday off but will be working nonetheless because my agency remains open. i have no dog in this fight.
More Holidays!
The more holidays the better! The only thing the matter with Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day is that only the hacks get them off. Everybody whould have them off. Geez, in Europe they have 4 weeks, 6 weeks vacation, all kinds of holidays. Here in U.S. we're brainwashed to the point that people are proud when they don't use all of their vacation time. We should be arguing formore time off for everybody!
Yes. This holiday should be
Yes. This holiday should be for everyone in MA. The last post is right on. More holidays for Americans, not fewer! For those who actually DO work--it is killing you slowly not having any time for a meaningful life. Every real job should have at least one two week stretch of paid holiday every year if not more. And Evacuation Day should be thrown in just because you are smart enough to have chosen to live in MA.
Whit
Evacuation Day-Schmevacuation Day
I first heard of this holiday when I got it off as a staffer at Suffolk U. It's an interesting concept, and it's always good to know your American history (which you can't avoid when your parents are Revolutionary War re-enactors, like mine are), but really, it's a silly holiday, and if it can't be used state-wide, it should be abolished.
Sadly, I don't think it will ever happen.
Perspective
As a person who prefers less government, I wouldn't mind if they took the whole year off.
On a more serious note, MY WIFE works for the state.
(Before I go on, feel free to insert "He's a Libertarian, but HIS WIFE works for the state? What a hypocrite!" Whatever. Love is not dependent upon political views.)
Anyway, MY WIFE works for the state, and her take on it is that she would prefer to work on those days. Yes, she has the day off, but it in no way reduces her workload. The net effect is that she has to complete five days of work in only four days during those weeks. She is involved in payroll, and the same tasks must be completed during every seven day period, given five days to complete them or four days. For her job, the taxpayer gets the same amount of service for the same pay, holiday or no. On a week with a holiday, only the stress becomes more plentiful.
(Disclaimer: This obviously doesn't preclude the possibility of many others on the state payroll being slugs.)
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Given the recent weather
One might think that Evacuation Day would be a floating holiday.
good friday
Is not a holiday for all state agencies.