ANOTHER MONDAY LOOKING FOR A HOLIDAY

Consider for a moment the number of government sanctioned “holidays” we celebrate by closing down banks, and anything at all having to do with governmental offices be they local, state or federal, in order to take off a Monday by declaring it a “legitimate” holiday. There’s Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, “Presidents’ Day,” Memorial Day, Labor day, and Columbus day (which wasn’t even a holiday at all when I was a kid growing up—but then, neither was “Presidents’ Day” or Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday).

Of the many “holidays” we give homage to in this country many have been invented in the last fifty years just for the benefit of being able to have more three day weekends.

Well, I’ve got a couple more we could think about adding to the roster of “national-keep everything closed on Monday” holidays. One is HALLOWEEN! This would be a “everybody gets a reprieve” day. Children and adults alike would appreciate calling a day off on the day after Halloween for obvious reasons. Problem is having Halloween held every year on a Sunday. I’m not sure how well that might go over. Especially for the extreme religious types who may have a problem with celebrating “all hallows eve” every year on a Sunday. I can just see it now—Catholics and fundamentalists’ gathering on the street sidewalks to protest Halloween! But from the stand point of making more Monday sanctioned holidays, the day after Halloween would be ideal. Kids could sleep in after spending half the night trick or treating, then staying up until the wee hours taking inventory of the loot they scored. Needless to say, parents would love this day off as well, for obvious reasons.

Another day I’m actually surprised has not been legitimized as another “Monday-forget-it-the- country- is- shut- down –today holiday” is the Monday following Superbowl Sunday! Now that is a wasted day for productivity for certain! Even I would vote yes on making the day after the Superbowl a holiday and the only time I have sat and watched an entire Superbowl game is when the Vikings have been playing and only then to see how badly they lose. Oh—hold your letters and emails. Now ask yourself when was the last time the Vikings EVER won a Superbowl game? Rrrright. That is why I keep watching, too. Just like you, I figure sooner or later even the Purple People Eaters will go all the way.

This year’s extravaganza Halloween Party in Moorhead is being sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 941 from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., at Bennett Park located on 17th Street and 4th Avenue south. It’s easy to find, just cross over to 17th Street south from Copy Kat Printing off of Main Avenue and you will literally drive right by it. Kids and adults are welcome to join in to eat hotdogs, grab a cola beverage and remember to bring candy to swap! For more information call Larry Nicholson at 218-236-0959 or Joe Bennett at 218-287-8818.

REMEMBER THESE FACTS WHEN YOU VOTE

In 1980, when Ronald Regan took office, the United States unemployment rate was at 6.3 percent and the rates of the unemployed went up every year after that until it hit the highest the country has ever endured in 1984 when the unemployment rate in the US was at 10.4 percent.

In 2000, when George W. Bush took office, the United States government had a surplus of money and the unemployment rate was 4.0 percent. In 2001, it went to 4.2 percent; in 2002 it was 5.7 percent, in 2003 it was 5.8 percent where it teetered back and forth between 5.7 percent until in 2009 the unemployment rate hit a high of 7.7 percent. By the time George Bush and Dick Cheney left office the United States was falling into a dire depression as the melt down had started.

In August of this year the unemployment rate was at 8.1 percent across most of the country. Granted it is still far too high, but at least, it’s beginning to come down. One might ask the $64 million question: progress is beginning to emerge. Is this really the time we want to throw our marbles up in the air and start all over —especially when we know in most social respects in as far as progressive versus 1960’s conservative leanings and for women in particular we will be taking giant steps backward?

I’m a 58 year old woman with most of my life behind me. My daughter is a 27 year old law enforcement officer who has the majority of her life and chosen career ahead of her. She and the new generation of female leaders we need for the future is what I will be considering when I vote in November. I hope each of you will as well.