The debate rages on in America over the damage that entitlement programs are having on our nation. Let's face it: Our vast and expensive entitlement programs breed laziness, complacency and an entitlement mentality that will prove to be the demise of this great country.
Why should people work if the federal government is going to pay them not to? Why should they spend time away from their children in order to earn a living, like so many of us do, when their government feels sorry for them and not only pays them, but encourages them to stay home? Our nation is adopting the attitude of, "Why work hard if I can get paid not to?"
America was founded on the idea that its citizens could have sole control over their destiny. They could make as much money as they want to. They could achieve any dream for themselves and their families that they could imagine. Unfortunately, many Americans have lost sight of these principles. Again, it's because we have adopted the entitlement mentality. People are left with a misguided concept of what their rights truly are, what they are truly entitled to as an American.
I was recently reminded of this when I learned about the petition that more than 40,000 Target employees signed. Apparently, they are upset that the powers that be for Target believe in the principles that America was founded upon.
They are upset that their employer intends to open stores on Thanksgiving Day. Many of their employees will have to show up to work at 11 p.m. in preparation for Black Friday. They are upset because their holiday will be inconvenienced by the opportunity to earn a living.
The petition, which was launched by Anthony Hardwick of Omaha, Neb., is an attempt to protest Target's decision to open its doors a few hours early.
"All Americans should be able to break bread with loved ones on Thanksgiving," said Hardwick. "With the midnight opening, employees like myself will have to leave for work right in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. We don't mind hard work, but cutting into our holidays is a step too far."
Mr. Hardwick, I've got news for you. Your job is a privilege, not a right. Your employer is not required by law to employ you. They have given you the opportunity to provide for your family, so stop complaining.
Also, the majority of Target's employees are being asked to report to work at 11 p.m., far later than when most people are "breaking bread" with their loved ones. In truth, your protest is against what America stands for ... freedom to earn a living.
I understand that it is a bummer to have to work on a holiday. I spent many years working in the food service and retail industries and had many holidays inconvenienced by the demands of my employers. I even complained a bit, but I never asserted that my employer was greedy or unfair in deciding to make a profit. Profits are the American way. It's what makes our nation viable. Higher profits ensure job security.
What Mr. Hardwick is really asserting is that Target should be denied its rights in order for his "fictional" rights to be honored.
I guess that's what happens when you live in a country whose citizens walk around dazed and confused by a crippling entitlement mentality. But, who can fault them? This is the culture the federal government has created.
You are entitled to be paid without having to work. If this weren't so, 39,999 of Mr. Hardwick's fellow employees wouldn't have followed suit in signing this ridiculous and anti-American petition.
Mike McClellan posted at 5:00 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
The way Weinstein began, I was waiting for him to dredge up the Welfare Queens of Reagan Lore.
But nope, he soon enough pivoted to the Target petition.
A question, Winey (or whatever your nom de radio is):
Do any of the stores really need to open so early? Or is this just the rapacious need to exploit consumers as much as possible?
I understand we're in a tough economy and the competition drives this, but really, if we chose not to act like so many Pavlov's dogs and salivate at the idea of staying up until midnight or waking up at 3 in the morning to get the deals, the stores wouldn't do this.
But we do, so they do. And the workers have to show up, petition or not.
Your point, though, about their petition being a part of the entitlement culture is so much hooey. Why don't you write about the entitlements of the wealthy?
Oh, no, not that, not corporate welfare or tax breaks for the rich. That's not entitlement, right, Winey? That's free enterprise.
mesateacher posted at 6:16 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
Mr. Weinstien: I'm likely older than you are. I grew in up an Arizona when there were some days when everything was closed on at least three days a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Yes, there were some essential service employees who worked: hospital workers, police, fire fighters, some bars. But back in the 60's if you needed something for Thanksgiving you forgot, you went to your neighbor or went without. And there was Circle K. But slowly over the years everything was opening. Now I'm not opposed to commerce and making a buck. And there are some people who will want to work. But let me just tell you that life back then was better. We took time to be with each other, to stay out of the malls, to talk, to worship. It was a better America. When I go to parts of Europe, they have mandatory state-imposed closing times on weekends for stores. You would probably hate that, but you know what? Their society is so much more civilized. They take time and build a real community. They talk, smoke, drink, listen to music. We Americans are too busy always chasing the buck and junk we do not need. I will not ever shop on Thanksgiving. I will not go to a movie, and I don't even watch a football game. Thanksgiving is a time to go to church and thank God for what I have, to be with the people I love, and to slow down. I think people who get up at midnight to save a few bucks on some cheap Chinese made c r a p are out of their minds and need to get their priorities straight. There. I said it.
geekette posted at 6:59 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
This must be tongue-in-cheek.
Rich posted at 7:31 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
Many years ago I worked for a one horse radio station. Only ten of us. We played music, sold spots, and worked between us 24/7. We handed you a media, and frankly didn't get rich at it. You've got two teachers, or ex-teachers, who stayed in school since kindergarten and basically had a make work welfare job, especially since all statistics on Arizona education show how bad a job they did, who think you're a spoiled brat. geekette thinks you're a joke. Me, being probably the oldest of the group, from back when playing Elvis on the radio was considered politically subversive, I'm just sad that all that work, believing and trying to stay awake to play the next song after a day pounding the pavement for ads ended up with things like you.
samkat posted at 8:27 pm on Wed, Nov 16, 2011.
Michael: You hit upon a key subject that the left wingers, especially those who belong or belonged to public unions do not understand. Times have changed and like it or not we have to change with them. I am not one of the fools who get up before the crack of dawn or even stay up past midnight to shop for a bargain and by the way, our corporate leaders have seen to it that the Chinese have been given the tools and knowledge to out produce and out design us. That cheap Chinese stuff is no longer cheap or shoddy.
Now with that said, retailers are trying to capture as much business as possible and the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas has historically been their biggest earning period of the year. There are over 14 million Americans who would take those jobs and gladly work the entire day for a job.
During my military career, I was away for many holidays so while I might have a little empathy, it is not enough to get my bowels in an uproar.
Now, as to the welfare queens Mike McClellan, we now have multi generational welfare families. They know how how to milk the system. Our liberals have created this situation and we have to regain some sanity in the welfare system. I have no issue with people who have to depend on the welfare system but I say remove the professional welfare cheats. Clinton had the right idea with the welfare to work program and it needs to be reinstated.
Dale Whiting posted at 12:44 am on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
Anyone care to explain how Whiney jumps from complaints about Hardwick's attitude towards Target's scheduling work on Thanksgiving and the Federal Government's role in this situation? I'd observe that where Target, Wallmart, etc. pay employees so modestly, the alleged "welfare state" excuse would lead these employees to not want to work at all. But Whiney is not know for his flawless logic, is he! Whatever happened to Whiney's set of conservative "family values?"
I used to work as a supervisor for a convenience store chain here in town. Some of us allowed employees who wanted to pick up extra hours on holidays to substitute in for those who did not. Typically college students who were out of class and yet away from home would volunteer to make it possible for those with families to have time off on holidays. But the employer would not agree to pay time and a half when forty hours was exceeded. That was too much of a "Christmas" present! So some of us turned our backs on the employees' playing with the official worked hours schedule while those getting time off paid these students straight time under the table.
And like Target, the chain was open 24/7, not 24/6. Now the owner of that "C" store chain is running for US Senator against Jeff Flake, a fellow Mormon! So much for keeping the Sabath Day holy for your servants, Mr. Cardon! But don't expect many of your former employees to be voting for you. "That's business!" [sad]
CSalafia posted at 7:28 am on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
Wow.
Shorter Whiney - You'll work when we say you'll work and you'll like it.
Guess he's not a big believer in 'family values'.
Arizona Willie posted at 7:49 am on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
Slavery is still alive and well in America.
The slaves no longer wear chains around their ankles, but they are slaves just the same.
America practices economic slavery.
Got to work every second, answer the cell phone when the boss calls at 9:30 PM and don't put it on the time sheet, skip vacation and if you do go take the laptop with you and make sure you are always in a hot spot so you can work from wherever you are. Company wants to open the store at 2 am for a stupid sale -- well by golly I don't need to sleep not if it interferes with the company profit .. boss says sleep when I'm dead.. boss is always right ... profit uber alles !!
Suelee posted at 3:19 pm on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
I don't understand how Target employees are demonstrating the demise of America. Stores have been CLOSED on Thanksgiving AND Christmas day for decades without America dying! Now being closed on the only 2 days of the year that it seems to be OK to be one's family is fatal to the US?? How can that be? Why didn't our crafty enemies from WWI, WWII, the Cold War, etc. use this tactic to bring us down sooner?
sockratties posted at 4:50 pm on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
Target should be able to be open when they want. It’s their business. Employees can choose to work or to not show up. There are a lot of people who would be glad to take their place. Common practice is that if an employee doesn’t like the way things are at work they can quit. By the same token, if an employer doesn’t like the performance of an employee they can fire them and hire someone else. That’s called freedom. All the hooey about entitlement mentality and the like is just Whinny’s usual lack of focus and clarity. These are different discussions, neither of which the author understands. This is not a political argument unless someone wants another law.
If you don’t like the open at midnight “Black Friday” gimmick, don’t join the rush to save a few bucks. If you don’t want to work at Target, let someone who needs the job have it. If it’s not profitable for businesses who are creating this false shopping craze they won’t continue to try to be open earliest and longest. I expect Target employees will be showing up to work and they’ll be earning a premium wage when they do. And we can see if Anthony Hardwick of Omaha, Neb. puts his job where is mouth is.
CSalafia posted at 8:30 pm on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
It's not a matter of whether or not Target has the right, it's an issue of they have a responsibility to their employees.
The position of "employees should be grateful to have a job" is the same as those who opposed things like...oh....vacation time, a 40 hr work week, and outlawing child labor. It's an irrational deference to "the company", essentially making them into corporate slave masters.
mnjcpa posted at 6:25 pm on Fri, Nov 18, 2011.
Reading the comments makes me so glad I sold my business a few years ago. Because what I experienced was exactly what some are commenting. At that time I had 20 employees & I would never do it that way again. I outsource everything to other entrepreneurs so I don't have to deal with entitled Americans that just want a check with no obligation.
And "entitled" is the correct word because it's some bizarre assumption that just because you show up that you can call the shots. Responsibility to your employees? An employer carries 100% of the grisk. If you don't like a job or it's benefits - get another one. I would fire every one of those Target employees.
remo303 posted at 2:48 am on Wed, Nov 14, 2012.
I've chuckled over the years watching Mike turn every comment section into a diatribe against human values and moral integrity, insinuating employers are evil, rich bass-turds who exploit the system and deny employees a decent living, that Conservatives are a group of Bible-thumping/homophobes/Luddites/you-name-it pejoratives and that the world would somehow be a sunny and happy place if we would just embrace their version of cosmic-karma and salute the collectivist flag.
Too bad the real world just happens to intrude on his Skittle-flavored Unicorn ride and draw some ugly and all-too-real conclusions:
Life is hard. Life isn't fair. Life is about making yourself do what needs to be done to accomplish a task, which enables you to achieve a goal. If you aren't willing to step up and man the post, whatever the circumstances, don't expect the others who do to have sympathy for your sorry justifications and excuses.
Life does not hand out participation trophies. Life hands out death. What you make of it in between is entirely up to you.