Hutchinson Leader - Polls - Comments

For the record, the Leader

Doug Hanneman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:08:20 -0600

For the record, the Leader asked this same question two years ago. We wanted to see if people's views had stayed the same or changed.

Early in the polling last week, it looked as though the results were going to be the same. But as more discussion took place (see above), the results changed significantly. We don't know if the discussion had any bearing on the results, but it's worth pointing out.

Here are the results from 2009:
On Veterans Day, should employers be required to give veterans a paid day off?
Yes: 52%
No: 41%
Undecided/No Opinion: 7%
Total Votes: 248

Here are the results from 2007:
On Veterans Day, should employers be required to give veterans a paid day off?
Yes: 64%
No: 29%
Undecided/No Opinion: 7%

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)

Since we've gotten to this

Doug Hanneman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:33:30 -0600

Since we've gotten to this point, it's time to close this thread. Thank you to all of those who offered constructive comments.

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)

Struggling to come up with

fiscallyconservative — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:35:58 -0600

Struggling to come up with any constructive comments are we? Ok, I will bite... "No, it is ALL about YOU!". Ah, that felt good...just like I was in the 2nd grade again. :)

It's ALL about fisc and his

mj — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:10:50 -0600

It's ALL about fisc and his money!

My husband was in shield and

justlisahere — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:04:30 -0600

My husband was in shield and storm. he fought alongside people who he watched die. If his employer offered him a day off with pay because he was an vet he would take it. To have a day off with pay and relax would be nice.

A big HOO-AHH for

morristhecat — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:06:45 -0600

A big HOO-AHH for Applebees!!

Now that's the way to really honor those who've served!!

With all the back and fourth

MOVEON — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:53:49 -0600

With all the back and fourth on this topic, I would like to express my appreciation to Applebee's. I recieved an email (along with former/retired veterans and even the military currently serving our country) from Applebee's and I was invited to stop in and recieve a free meal on Veterans Day. I went in there on Wednesday and the place was decorated in Red, White, and Blue, the servers were wearing red, white, and blue. They really had gone all out for us Veterans. They had a limited menu with I believe 6 items on it to pick from, a nice variety. I was just amazed at how a company could do such a nice gesture for the people who have served this country. Thank you again to Applebees for your outstanding service and appreciation towards us Veterans.

How to Honor Vets I guess

morristhecat — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:58:25 -0600

How to Honor Vets

I guess one good place to start would be for all employers to voluntarily give them Veteran's Day as a paid day off. That would be a real tribute I think, and a very tangible one. Everyone else works, Veterans get to go hunting (or whatever). Heaven knows it has been the other way around enough...

I gather that your an employer Fisc - how about making that a policy? If you ever have veteran employees in the future, get a copy of thier DD214 for the file, then every November 11th is a paid day off. Now that would be leading by example!!

Regarding me "putting my money where my mouth is," hey, I've got 21 years of service in. Plenty of weekends and holdiays on duty, called up to active duty three times, fought floods, deployed overseas, chased ist types around, "been all I can be" as the slogan goes: at various times more hungry, more thirsty, more dirty, more tired, more stressed, you name it, than ever in my life. Risked my life more times than I can count...I think that I've "put my money where my mouth is..." I don't need to prove anything to anyone.

M-Feline, how do you suggest

fiscallyconservative — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:17:59 -0600

M-Feline, how do you suggest that I honor our vets? I do my best to thank every vet I see or know, on a regular basis, for serving our country. I'm curious, what do YOU do to show your thanks? Do you sponsor a parade every year or something?

Oh, by the way, did you know that there were/are many other people outside of the military service that made our country what it is today? Some people think that freedom comes exclusively from those that join our armed services. You aren't one of those are you?

I tend to think that it was a team effort between our military and civilians. Shouldn't we honor those folks that support the military behind the scenes as well? I bet if you looked hard enough, you would find more people that support the military than are in the military. This, of course, is just a logical guess.

Again, I think we should implement a new tax to reward everyone with more paid vacations. I believe that every American, in some direct, or indirect way, has a degree of involvement with the freedom of our country. Hey, I vote for things that are pro-freedom so shouldn't I get a little credit too? Can I have a day off with pay as well?

Yes, your talk is cheap. Put the money where YOUR mouth is. And... have a great weekend! :)

Talk is cheap. I'd have to

morristhecat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:14:43 -0600

Talk is cheap.

I'd have to say that I find the whole discussion rather disappointing.

There shouldn't be any need for mandating that Veteran's Day be a paid holiday for all Vets - people should be falling all over themselves to voluntarily give them the day off. Especially folks like fisc, who claim to revere veterans and the sacrifices they make.

Literally from Day 1, every freedom we have in this country comes courtesey of the service members who WON it 200+ years ago and have kept it safe every day since.

Come on fisc, don't just **SAY** you honor vets, try actually DOING it!! Talk is cheap after all.

The REAL defenders of freedom (soldiers, not bloggers) would appreciate it.

Ouch, now that makes my head

fiscallyconservative — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:53:37 -0600

Ouch, now that makes my head hurt. ;)

Since many people want to force me to give money to the veterans, I have a better idea. I think that our government should tax ALL non-veteran Americans and send the money to the business owners so we can give them another paid day off. Additionally, we should increase that tax to deal with the litigation that we will incur for discriminating against the rest of the employees. Or, if we want to make it really simple, we should give everyone more paid holidays off and just tack that expense on to this new proposed tax.

How about that? Let's add another tax as we all have plenty of money to go around. I think we should call it the Obama Vacation Stimulus plan or "Cash for Vacationers". Are those of you that voted "yes" ok with this concept? If so, you should contact your representatives and get something rolling. If not, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

So Fisc, you don't want the

just1opinion — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:14:32 -0600

So Fisc, you don't want the freedom that the Veterans fought for taken away to 'honor them'. Who can't understand that?

That is EXACTLY what I am

fiscallyconservative — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:39:40 -0600

That is EXACTLY what I am trying to say. Thank you very much! If I'm forced to give the vets a paid holiday, my freedom to operate my business is restricted and I'm forced to incur a cost with no voice in the decision whatsoever. Instead, I'd like to make this gesture if I deem it good for the company/employees.

Well said Morris. I look at

bosoxguy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:21:16 -0600

Well said Morris. I look at it as giving these veterans their holiday for the many they may have missed while serving our country. How much value do you place on a holiday with your family? While I am hesitant to say we should require employers to pay the holiday, I also wonder how many employers would actually give veterans the day off with pay if it was optional. There are worse things we can spend our money on, like paving the luce line trail!

What Fisc is trying to say

dragonflylady — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:43:48 -0600

What Fisc is trying to say is that the poll is asking if employers should be "required" to give veterans a paid day off. I believe he is saying that if it would become a requirement, then his Freedom of choice to give a veteran a day off would be taken from him. It would be a nice gesture for Employers to give their Veteran workers a paid day off, but I do not believe they should be forced to do it. Yes, many people get Christmas day off but it's not a requirement that employers MUST give every employee who is a Christian that day off with pay. Am I even making sense?