Free Time Makes Happy Act (Failed)

[Marokai Backbeat]

I oppose this for several reasons. And while a bad idea in any time, it is especially bad right now with 12% unemployment. This will be an unconscionable drain on our small businesses at a time when they are coping with reduced sales, higher taxes, and exceedingly high standards with regards to credit, are we to know say, Do this also? How can we do that and not expect a rise in unemployment. It is time this Senate stop taking one step forward and then two steps back with every action it takes with regards to job creation. It is time we stop the castration of small business and instead work to fine ways to improve their situation.

The primary driver and reason why we can work less is advances in productivity to the point where it is economically beneficial to reduce the number of hours worked because the vacationing and tourism boosts the economy more then is lost in the production. However this is not the case here, no incentives to do anything differently or increase efficiency, just an arbitrary, unfunded, feel-good, counter-productive measure, the full force of which will full directly on small business and decrease the wages and employement of the poorest Americans.

And how would you feel about shortening the work day by an hour, then?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Keep the slaves in line! No fun time for them! Back to work, you freeloading cashiers!

*cracks whip*

[Marokai Backbeat]

While I don't exactly agree with your assessment (Atlasia takes alot of it's initial junk from the US, which in comparison to other countries, has meager vacation and sick-leave time) I can agree to do it at a time when the economy is in better shape and more able to adjust.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'll look up what the situation is like currently later on and see if I can think of something a bit more palatable, then.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I certainly see no need or benefit from joining Europe's dance of death at any point. For future reference, a damn good way of ensuring I be certainly opposing something is to say "Europe does it, so we should as well". God save us from the mess they are in.

In the future we can add maybe some paid vacation and sick leave but we have to keep in mind that some industries aren't suited to affording that. I will oppose fervently any attempt to reduce the work week.

At least we're actually having a discussion here, aren't we?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Let me randomly stroll into the Senate, here, seeing as I've been gone for a good while.



Ahem. I move to amend the bill as follows:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

How's this sound, everybody? Two weeks of guaranteed paid vacation starting in 2012 is a bit small, yes, but I do agree that six weeks effective immediately is a bit much for the economy to handle. This bill will be a nice foundation if the Senate in the future wants to raise the two weeks to something more.

I like this! If there was an inclusion of some sick days clause in this it'd be perfect. Or can we really legislate that sort of thing? (Or, for that matter, limit them at all, assuming the person is actually sick?)

[Marokai Backbeat]

I do not support government managing private companies' labor policies. Hence I oppose this bill.

This, over and over again.

Listen, honestly the idea sounds like a great one.. but how are we going to ask some of the smaller companies, who are really just scraping by hoping that things will get better, to have pay for these vacations. I know it sounds harsh, but some employees have to take the cut of a paid vacation right now in order to keep their job.

Do you think we should abolish work hour laws, while we're at it?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Nothing controversial is ever introduced anymore! Everything always passes or fails by large majorities! [/Vepres]

[Marokai Backbeat]

Nothing controversial is ever introduced anymore! Everything always passes or fails by large majorities! [/Vepres]

I'm sorry, but I don't exactly consider vacation time to be the most interesting topic.

Oh, so now Vepres gets to be the person that defines what is controversial or not.

'Kay.

You can't just admit that, you know, you were wrong, or anything.