Voices: Vacation Proclamation

Blame the proximity of Labor Day if you must, but stories lamenting America's vocational challenges are dripping from every news orifice.

Congress is still trying to pass a piece of doublespeak-laden legislation called the Family Time Flexibility Act. It ironically would create a new category of middle managers exempt from overtime. Step right up for an empty promotion with the potential for mandatory overtime. But wait, there's more - instead of being paid you can get "comp time" to be used at your employer's discretion.

Even if the time were to be used at the employee's own discretion, he probably wouldn't use a fraction of it. Americans aren't taking vacations like they used to. It's just too hard to get away, so they're shortcutting much needed rest and relaxation just to keep up.

We're working to showcase our resiliency as much as do our jobs. Time management is an art. We must become more efficient. Sick days are for sissies. I'll play with the kids tomorrow. I'm too tired to cook tonight; fast food O.K.? Let's just stay home and watch TV.

Has the American dream become an American nightmare? Someone pinch me.

The situation has apparently gotten so bad that a network of activists has declared October 24, Take Back Your Time Day and organized a movement. What a cool idea! Who couldn't use a little more of their time back?

But did you ever notice how the founders of these movements just happen to have a corresponding book that you can buy?

In the case of "Take Back Your Time" handbook, editor John de Graaf (producer of the Affluenza series) just happens to be on the "steering committee" of The Simplicity Forum , the organization responsible for TBYTD. Who else heads up this "alliance of simplicity leaders committed to achieving and honoring simple, just and sustainable ways of life?" Let's just say that out of the 12 of them, half are published in the 250-page paperback TBYTD handbook.

The movement's list of "50 plus pretty quick things you can do for take back your time day," reads like the ultimate grassroots-marketing plan. The top ten might as well read - give us free advertising, buy our book and get other people to buy it, too and then buy and wear our merchandise so we can make even more money and you can give us even more free advertising. TBYTD's September newsletter thoughtfully suggests, "Remember your group can sell the handbook to raise funds for local Time Day activities."

Let's not make any assumptions here, but "order materials" is the top link on The Simplicity Forum's website rail. This movement may want to simplify things, but at the end of the day, they're still capitalists.
Still, it's not exactly a scam. The organization is also selling social change, doing advocacy work and encouraging people to take action. And that's positive, right?

I only wish Senate Resolution 210 was a little more inspiring. What good would it really do to declare October "National Work and Family Month?" Passing such a resolution is the perfect smokescreen for our legislative body - half of those newly elected to Congress last year, according to the Public Interest Research Group, are millionaires.

We're talking about the same senators and representatives who have given themselves four, $5,000 pay raises in the last five years without raising minimum wage a dime - It's been a steady $5.15/hour since September 1997.

Asking for National Work and Family Month is an empty gesture. It's the opposite of consciousness raising. Let President Bush sign a proclamation encouraging thematic ceremonies and activities. Let's all take the day off. I have no doubt that America would be a much happier, healthier, probably even more productive place if we all got that entire month of vacation like they get in Europe.

But I bet the 30 million Americans who earn poverty-level wages at full-time jobs would settle for a "livable wage."

There's another nine million that would be happy just to have a job.

-- alicia grega-pikul, 11 September 2003


Send e-mail to:apikul@timesshamrock.com.