59 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 55 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H4'ed 11/12/12

Let's make Election Day a national holiday

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   3 comments
Message Mike Kirchubel
Become a Fan
  (13 fans)

Make Election Day a National Holiday

You can open your eyes.   It's finally over.   Truth, justice, and the American way won out over lies and all that money.   Finally, scientists have discovered how to get those billionaire "job creators" to let loose with a little bit of their cash, unfortunately, we'll have to have national elections every year.  

Voting last Tuesday was quick and easy, in and out in five minutes.   I've never had any trouble voting here in Fairfield, California, but my TV kept showing me sad images of voters in other areas waiting in long lines for many hours.   In his acceptance speech, President Obama said, "We've got to fix that."   I agree and, naturally, I have a few suggestions.   Congress should enact a basic set of Federal Election Laws that specify a minimum number of days and hours for early voting, a minimum number of voting booths and poll workers per thousand registered voters in a precinct, and paper ballots, like we have here in California, that can be manually counted to verify the accuracy of any questionable voting machine or tabulating system.   

One more thing: Election Day should be a national holiday.   The words, "Election Day" are already capitalized, so we're halfway there.   I can hear bosses everywhere howling: "You lazy workers just want another day off."    Of course, but what if I told you we could have an Election Day holiday with no adverse effect to your business?   What if Veteran's Day was celebrated on Election Day instead of on November 11th?   Now, before you start sending me nastygrams for daring to mess with Veteran's Day, answer this question:   Why is Veteran's Day on November 11th?    M any of us know that hostilities officially ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, ending "The War to End All Wars."   President Woodrow Wilson proudly proclaimed "Armistice Day" on November 11, 1919.   In 1954, acknowledging that "Armistice Day" did not actually signify the end of all war and as a way to honor all American veterans, Congress changed "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day."   Interestingly, from 1971 to 1978, Federal observance of Veterans Day was on the fourth Monday in October.   I have no idea what day future generations will label as the day mankind ended all war, and that day does decidedly deserve a national holiday, but I can guarantee you it won't be November 11, 1918.   My point is this: Is it more important to celebrate the date, November 11th as the day fighting stopped in one of our nation's many, many wars, or should our focus be more on honoring all American veterans?   By the way, are you observing Veteran's Day today, November 12th?

As a veteran, I feel there can be no greater honor bestowed upon those who served to keep our great republic free, than to remember and honor them by observing Veteran's Day as we Americans exercise our greatest freedom, on Election Day.   In a very real way, our former servicemen and women would again be actively fighting to help ensure Americans are able to freely cast their ballots.   And, I hope, by using Election Day to recognize the tremendous sacrifice given by our veterans to keep America free, millions more citizens would be inspired to make that very small effort required to vote.   I think Congress should make Election Day, Veteran's Day, so we Americans can honor our veterans the best way possible, by voting.   What do you think?        

Interesting 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Mike Kirchubel Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Mike Kirchubel writes a weekly Progressive/Economic column for the Fairfield, California Daily Republic and is the author of: Vile Acts of Evil, a look at the hidden economic history of the United States. Vile Acts of Evil almost wrote itself. (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

How Benjamin Franklin Caused the Revolutionary War

The REAL "Entitlement" Programs Benefit the Rich

This Financial Mess - Causes and Cures

The Civil War and the National Debt

Let's make Election Day a national holiday

Paul Ryan: The Paris Hilton of politics

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend