Should There Be Rules on When Stores Can and Can't Open on Holidays?

Posted by Hiraghm 12 years, 2 months ago to Culture
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What I found disturbing when I saw this news article on the tv in the breakroom this morning, was the number of people who actually said that yeah, there should be rules... and the reasons given? Because *they* didn't want to work that day.

And this is in the heart of conservative country!

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  • Posted by YogaDuchess1982 12 years, 2 months ago
    "I shop all year. People need to be with their families on Thanksgiving,"... this would make Hank Rearden roll over in his grave!!!
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  • Posted by CTYankee 12 years, 2 months ago
    No rules! The market can decide. Managers might be inconvenienced, so might shoppers... Oh well!
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  • Posted by $ minniepuck 12 years, 2 months ago
    stores are open because people show up to shop, right? no business wants to operate at a loss. to the folks who want rules, I'd say, "then don't shop on Thanksgiving. if enough people stay home, businesses won't have a reason to open." let the free market decide.
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 2 months ago
    Some of the most antiquated laws businesses have to abide by in cities are Conservative-pushed. think Blue Laws, for example.
    As always," take your hand out of my pocket and leave me alone" should be the smell test for such ideas.
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  • Posted by iroseland 12 years, 2 months ago
    Back in the day I worked mostly food service. Places like Ponderosa, which was close on Thanksgiving and Xmas. Then when I went to college I was a cold food prep guy in the kitchens at the University, since I needed to pay for school.. Again, closed for holidays, and mostly closed on weekends and running on a skeleton crew during breaks. I would have probably killed for more hours back then. So, if people are willing to work the hours and other people are willing to buy the product It seems like that should be the only thing that determines weather a place will be open or not..
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  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 12 years, 2 months ago
    Rational self-interest. What is in your best interest? What do you value more? You may opine that commercialism has overtaken 'traditional' values but your choices determine what you value. I choose not to participate in the post-Thanksgiving frenzy, although my daughter went to work at 5AM today as a condition of her employment. She was glad to get the hours and said she would volunteer to work extra hours if they allowed her to. She understands that work is a concomitant to her further education in college. She has defined what is in her best interest.
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I should have said "originated"
    There 's enough law making going around on both sides. Sigh
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  • Posted by Hiraghm 12 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My initial two comments to the conversation:

    "I need to eat on Thursday, just like every other day of the week. In fact, Wednesday morning, Walmart fed me pizza; Thursday morning, Walmart fed me turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes and ham. Friday morning Walmart fed me hot submarine sandwiches and McDonald's cheeseburgers. If not for working for Walmart on Thanksgiving, my thanksgiving meal would have been a tv dinner, alone in my apartment. Instead I spent it in good camaraderie with my co-workers. There's what *I* give thanks for."

    "That's not quite accurate; if not for working for Walmart, my Thanksgiving meal would have been whatever I could scrounge out of garbage cans. because I wouldn't have a roof over my head or food in my refrigerator, that I can call *mine* because I *earned* it."
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  • Posted by Hiraghm 12 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Read the comments. Conservative people are opposed to the blue laws; the people supporting the blue laws are the ones with a disconnect between the people buying goods and the people selling the goods being able to eat.
    They're liberals, coming up with priorities such as spending time with the kiddies.

    Sorry, I've been arguing in that comment thread for a bit now, and I'm still angry.
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