BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead

Subject: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Cruiser
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 12:24 PM

I had a moral dilemma last Friday when I was told I had to take the day off because it was declared a National Holiday for the observance of Reagan. I was told if I worked I MUST be paid extra Holiday pay and could not work for the straight 8 hour pay. I was being forced to observe a day that I was strongly against.   The taxpayer should not have to pay for such a questionable observance. I am a Republican, not a liberal Democrat, and I voted for Reagan so politics was not my motivation.

I worked anyway and put in a very long day and worked for nothing the next day, Saturday until 11:30. I will only be paid for the Holiday off pay that we all get. Out of principle, I would give that money back if I could. Since I can't "return the salary" I worked 1.5 times as long as I needed to on Friday and worked on a regular day off (Sat), without pay, as a matter of principle.

This is just one example of how some employees are forced to comply with questionable policies from Washington. A better way around this would be to allow a waiver for an employee to sign if that person wanted to work, out of principle, and for the benefit of the taxpayer. What I did was volunteer my time, which is against policy. I could not be hypocritical in this case, because I knew I would not be observing Reagan's honor or memory. Had I spent the day in his honor by actually doing something (not just driving to grandma's house) then I might have considered taking the Holiday off.

I had to act out of conscience. I did not break any laws, but did go against policy and I could be reprimanded.

Cruiser

P.S.
One of my greatest concerns is Mr. Bush, in the back of his mind (?) is thinking he will be afforded the same honor at his death because of his part in declaring last Friday a Holiday.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Gern
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 12:27 PM

Some of us can only hope... Me, I mourned Ray Charles instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 12:32 PM

G W Bush Memorial Day. Has a nice ring to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 12:34 PM

Delegate to Diocesan Convention. Oh so happy.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Cruiser
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 12:34 PM

That is a good point Gern. Had the Holiday been for Ray Charles I would have observed it. I felt true sorrow at his death even though he was imperfect, like us all.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 01:13 PM

I had to work anyway, though the state also declared a holiday for state workers. We had a seminar scheduled months in advance so went along with it. Instead of holiday pay I'll receive comp time. Interesting idea, Cruiser--a personal approach for the psychic un-doing of Bush's extravagance. I can simply neglect to note the comp time on my time card.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 04:54 PM

The city offices didn't close and neither did we. No holiday time, no overtime, just regular work. I heard some of the small towns* in Idaho closed their offices, but no others.


*We're about 51,000 people, and one of the four biggest cities in the state. You can figure out "small town" from that.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 08:44 PM

I don't think that I understood Cruiser's posting well. I do, however, compliment him for his idealism from what I gathered from it.

It did seem to me that a really big rip-off of the tax-payer was in play. Not to mention the mandatory observance that some people find offensive.

The deaths of MLK, JFK, Lincoln were one thing---this is a politcal travesty to further the Republican (Read Dubya) agenda and Nancy R. was the perfect one to orchestrate this amazing week of "spin".


Here is a slogan to think of (OK--I made it up) ---The Reagan Funeral---coming to a place near you soon.   Seemed more like a road show. You should have asked for a stop.

Now---Ray Charles. Him I do miss and mourn. Would that more people had paid him tribute for what he brought to our culture---and it was not redefining Ketchup, Iran Contra, and smoke and mirrors with tax cuts. Just great music with Soul.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 08:52 PM

That little PR stunt cost the American taxpayers $66M... Throw in the rest of the dough for security, blah, blah, blah, ect. and this has been the most expensive funeral in the history of mankind!!!

And for what? An uncompassionate, petty crook?

What am I missing here...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Blackcatter
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 09:47 PM

Cruiser,

I have never been Christian, but I have been required by nearly every employer to observe Christmas and Easter. Any of my religious holidays are vacation days or even worse sick days depending on the employer.

So on behalf of all Jews, Pagans, Muslims, Athiests, Buddhists, Hindus, etc, I'd like to welcome you to the club.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,D.C. Drudge
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 12:12 AM

I had to work last Friday, and hence missed all of the Reagan Funeral Day sales, not to mention the many movie matinees the local theatres scheduled to accommodate the many local workers who had the day off. My friends who headed to the beach reported that the cool rainy weather made it not much of a beach day.

D.C. Drudge

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 05:49 AM

No national day of mourning in the UK last Firday, I'm happy to report, but from the looks on the faces of most of the guys on the street today, it should have been a day of mourning for the England Soccer Team. Poor babies, they take these things hard here...xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 03:44 PM

National Day of Mourning for Reagan in the U.K.?

Geez - That'd never happen the other way 'round. When Thatcher dies, most of the English Pubs won't lower their Union Jacks (or ale prices).

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: mg
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 05:23 PM

a ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money, especially to honor one who was against taxes...and a dangerous precedent...now, if he had died tragically in office it might be a different thing, although I don't think it should be for that either....

mg

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Casual Observer
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 06:04 PM

The way I understand it, all U.S. Presidents are allowed a state funeral, if they want it. Ford and Carter and Clinton and Bush the Elder will all probably get theirs too.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Casual Observer
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 06:06 PM

In fact, here's a link:

History of State Funerals

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: DougR
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 06:40 PM

Yes, CO, your are right. Reagan wasn't afforded a funeral any different than any other president has a right to. As we all heard multiple times (those of us who did of course)the last State funeral was for LBJ in 1973. I did not click on the blue clicky, but I think a president can opt out of having a funeral as grand though.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 06:52 PM

Mary Garvey,

Nice try on the taxes bit... RR didn't mind taxes jsut so long as he and his rich friends got their massive tax cuts... The working class, just like under the the currnet guy, didbn't fare as well. Reagannomics! Remember trickle down? Didn't quite trickle down, did it? Ain't trickling no better this time around either. Maybe that's why after it failed under Reagan it was called vooddo economics. But nice try in trying to sneak that one by us...

I doubt very seriously if any other living president will get this much attention when he dies. I mean, I turned on the television one afternoon with the sound off while I was working and for well over a half an hour there was nothing more than a picture of a herse driving at 5 mph... This went on 24 hours a day for days and days... If Jimmy Carter had died only the most partisan Repub. here would say he would have gotten 24 an hour media coverage for, what was it, 5 days?

This was nothing more than a 5 day long political commercial for the Republican Party...

And it backfired on them 'cause Bush's ratings went down during the circus...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: mg
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 07:18 PM

get a grip. I have no idea what I was trying to sneak by. I am not a suppporter of trickle down economics, but there has been a huge trickle down effect with lower interest rates which means way more people can buy homes and that generally is thought to lead to more stability in other areas etc. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,skeptic
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 08:06 PM

With all the bullshit spread about over his death, I am surprised he hasen't risen from the dead...

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 04 - 09:51 PM

the U.S. Embassy Norwegian page?

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Casual Observer
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 09:51 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Casual Observer
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 09:53 AM

Oops. Hit the wrong button.

Yes, the US Embassy in Norway. I Googled for "state funeral US" and that's what came up. I'm sure if I had troved through all the thousands of hits, there may have been something a little more local.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 09:58 AM

Let me just say this. It doesn't matter who's President, my personal situation NEVER changes. I still have to send the IRS a check in April whether there's been a tax cut or a tax increase. I don't own a house or any great stock portfolio, so capital gains this-n-that doesn't apply to me anyhow. I don't have any kids, so tax credits don't mean squat to me either.

It's always the same for me, whether there's a Democrat or a Republican or a Martian on the Hill. Sometimes I wonder why I bother to vote. Maybe I'm still an optimist at heart.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Casual Observer
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 10:02 AM

Here's an AP story on MSBNC. Maybe that will suit you better, although it says pretty much the same thing as the US Embassy in Norway.

State Funerals

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 10:53 AM

I wasn't bothered by the fact it came from that U.S./Norwegian page, CO, just surprised. The eddies that search engines travel are frequently surprising.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 10:54 AM

Sounds to me, Kim, like you need to work through that witholding worksheet on the back of the W-4 Form another time (or two).

Also, the notion that a citizen has no responsibility to pay taxes is really pretty puerile and idiotic.

(And to forestall the inevitable "ad hominem" cacophony, I say the IDEA is idiotic, not YOU personally).

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 11:08 AM

Where did I say that a citizen has no responsibility to pay taxes? I never said that, nor even implied it.

I have been round and round with the W-4 for all my adult life. It's either have less throughout the year, or pay more at the end. It makes absolutely no difference. I've even tried claiming no exemptions at all, and still had to pay at the end of the year.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 15 Jun 04 - 02:56 PM

Gee,

I had hoped this might have been a discussion of the issues of holidays and the modern face of the workforce. How many of us get off days we don't choose and that aren't connected to our religion?

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST,Lenin
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 01:38 PM

Cruiser
you're proud to support a right wing shit like Reagan and then work when you could have had a day off! Look at what he did. There a couple of wars we could have avoided if he had not financed some dodgy punters - the body bags are coming home now as they did from Afghanistan. Then you wonder why America is looked on as a danger by many countries.

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 03:17 PM

Oddly enough I was in the US last week. In the state RR was born in (Illinois) to boot! All the people I was with were turned off completely by the media overkill but that could just be the circle I moved in.

I will certainly shed no tears when the Thatch pops her clogs but I will not celebrate either. Anyones death is a sad affair for someone.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Nat'l Reagan Holiday: I Worked Instead
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 04 - 04:22 PM

Can't do the blue clicky thing but here's a website that had a great cartoon by Kirk on 6/7/2004:

http://cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=7430

Sorry it's not better; I'm technologically challenged.