Election Tuesday

Why hold elections on Tuesday? Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Day_(United_States) for a detailed explanation, but suffice it to say the original reasoning no longer really applies. The original logic is ascribed to details regarding travel times via horse and buggy and what day was 'Market' day. The way gas prices and the economy are currently going this may become apropos once again, but for now Tuesday seems an illogical choice. Interestingly enough, there is a bill currently pending before both Houses of Congress (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Day_(United_States)) which would establish election day as a National Holiday known as Democracy Day. Probably the most straight-forward, least-wordy piece of legislation I have ever encountered. I like the idea, but would propose we take the idea even further. Rather than Tuesday (as the bill proposes), let's move the election to Monday instead. Although the usual suspects ... schools, banks, the post office ... would observe the (Tuesday) holiday, businesses would not be keen to interrupt the work week. Let's make it Monday. People love a three-day weekend, so let's give them one with some with some real significance. For many, Memorial Day and Labor Day hold real meaning, but for most they simply provide a much-needed break from the normal weekly, work grind. Let's have Election weekend ... a final hurrah for candidates to make their speeches and to stump their last stumps. To take it even further, I would call for a mandatory 'cease-fire' come Election Day Monday starting at 12:01am. No more pontificating, no more advertising, no more speechifying, no more glorious self-aggrandizement. Just a day of simple reflection on the sacrifices, past and present, that allow us to take part in the continuing shaping of our nation that happens inside the polling booth.

Woof