Bryant, Charlie.

Why can't it be MLK Day?

I noticed you left off Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Labor Day, President's Day, and Columbus Day.

If you consider the background and purpose of each, I feel MLK Day or Columbus Day.

I'd say drop MLK because we already have a holiday in Jan, and that holiday (IMO) is a distinct tribute for one group of Americans, and not rooted in any particular tradition. Columbus Day isn't either, but all Americans are common benefactor of Columbus.

(having popped out of the foxhole to offer his part, Charlie hunkers back down for the onslaught)

Charlie, just left them off because I didn't want to go through the whole list. And, Thanksgiving is the one holiday I left untouched since it justifies getting rid of two days.

I would consider three days - MLK, President's Day, and Columbus Day. MLK because there is already a holiday in January. President's Day because 1) not every president deserves to be honored, and 2) who really cares? Columbus Day because his contribution to the United States is minimal and his accomplishments greatly overrated.

I would not consider Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, or Christmas. And the reasons for not considering those particular holidays should be self-evident. (Although I, too, now duck).

Bryant, Charlie.

We're pretty close, I guess.

You're right - not all presidents deserve to be honored for a number of reasons, but the office deserves respect and we have been fortunate to have some truly remarkable men serve. I remember when Lincoln and Washington's birthdays were separated. However, I doubt I could wax sentimentally on either Aug 19th (clinton) or Mar 29 (tyler).

I will give Columbus credit for having the conjones to sail into the unknown, but losing his holiday would not be that big a deal.

Bryant reasonable government went out the window when we as a people stuck our heads up our butts and decided that we were only going to elect the most self serving wing nuts. Left or Right it does not really matter cause they are all a bunch of cowards too afraid to compromise for the good of the country. What is needed is a Moderate revolution but I just can't see it happening can you?

Nut, no I can't. The extremists of each side seem to drive policy. And big money and PACs drive the candidates. Compromise is not a dirty word but is treated as such. We chastise Europe to get their financial house in order while our politicians are rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Americans work longer hours and take fewer holidays than citizens of any other developed country.And governement is not the source of all of our woes.Germany,for example, imposes more regulation on industry, and German workers take longer holidays than Americans,and yet Germany remains an economic powerhouse.In light of this, working more and taking fewer holidays cannot be the problem.

What we need is an industrial policy and robust regulatory apparatus which would force our vainted "entrepreneurs" to become entrpreneurs in fact.Businessmen who move jobs offshore that could be done here are not entrepreneurs.Businessmen who produce substandard products and abuse employees are not entrepreneurs.For all the lofty talk of the free market, precious few of our overpaid, hothouse CEO's would be successful without gaming the system.

What we have in spades is a rich and powerful elite all too willing to subvert our democracy in order to take easy profits and find shelter under a complaint government. I think we need to take a long hard look at corporate America and the business practices that have lead to our continuing decline.

OOps! "woking more and taking fewer holidays cannot be the ANSWER."