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A new poll by The Opinion Research Corporation finds that more than two-thirds of Americans support a law that would guarantee paid vacations for American workers.
The poll found that 69% of Americans say they would support a paid vacation law, with the largest percentage of respondents favoring a law guaranteeing three weeks vacation or more. Americans under 35 (83%), African-Americans (89%), Hispanic-Americans (82%), and low-income Americans (82%) were the strongest supporters of such a law, as were residents of the Northeast (75%) and the South (72%). 75% of women and 63% of men support a paid vacation law. 74% of families with children support such a law. Every demographic showed majority support for a law, and overall, only 27% of those polled were opposed to a paid vacation law. In a country as diverse as the United States, it’s painfully rare that a clear majority agrees on anything. That almost 70% of Americans want paid vacation leave should send a pretty clear message to our elected officials. In a democracy, that’s how it’s supposed to work, right? That is, of course, unless special interest groups and businesses matter more to elected officials than the rest of us. More probably, the former have made their views known, through lobbyists and the like. Now, it’s time that everyone else makes their voices heard. You can start by going to www.right2vacation.org. My final question is this: who the hell are the 27% of people who oppose paid vacation? Okay, one more question: Why? Dearest Americans, isn't it time to drop the whole “corporate mystique” thing (that whatever is good for business, is good for the individual)? Let's take a page from our European brethern and admit that working so much that you’re in poor mental and physical health is not good for you or for business. I’m as big a fan of the Protestant work ethic as the next guy, but I’m an even bigger believer in “diminished returns.” - Vetta
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