Blue Laws

[GhostWriter16]

So at church today I got one of the older members of my church reminiscing about the old days and saying "We should go back to having blue laws."

Now, I, of course, as a small government libertarian, object to any such thing as absurd, but after I thought about it, I wondered why the heck we don't have them.

No, we shouldn't, but since they fit both conservative and liberal interests, I'm pleasantly surprised that we actually don't.

Its pretty obvious why conservatives would support them, but for liberals... its good for labor isn't it? So why don't liberals support blue laws?

Do you support blue laws of any kind? Poll coming.

I don't.

 

[Chimera Kitty]

Google it for us. We're too lazy.

 

[bhsup]

Just FYI , one of the last ones in effect in Missouri is that car lots cannot be open on Sunday. Never quite got that one, but oh well.

I'd like some Europeans to jump into this thread as well because I know some European nations have them as well, but not actually for religious reasons. Like Germany, yes? A lot of things cannot be open on Sunday?

Anyhoo, I do think it is good for society to take a day of rest overall even if not for religious reasons, so yeah I'm okay with them.

 

[BvBPL]

Your presumption that Blue Laws are good for the labor movement, at least in a contemporary context, seems flawed.

I believe you're thinking of the Blue Laws that address whether or not stores can open on Sundays. Most stores are not unionized (supermarkets being a notable exception) and, consequently, are not of much concern to the unions.

If you're thinking of some other type of Blue Law, of which there are several, then you may wish to illuminate the wise oracle of CFC as to what Blue Laws you're talking about.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Yeah, I was thinking precisely of when stores can open.

 

[BvBPL]

So why would unions care about a largely non-unionized industry, retail?

 

[GhostWriter16]

I wasn't asking about unions themselves, but liberals. I'm surprised the Democrats and Republicans haven't (Note: For a Libertarian my reaction is "Thank goodness") gotten together and passed these laws bipartisanly.

 

[Tee Kay]

Well what's the point? It's arbitrarily enforcing something that really doesn't need to be enforced.

 

[Old Hippy]

So why would unions care about a largely non-unionized industry, retail?

because Unions care about the intrinsic value of people... and believe everybody should get to go to the footy on Saturday afternoons

 

[GhostWriter16]

Well what's the point? It's arbitrarily enforcing something that really doesn't need to be enforced.

For Conservatives: So people won't have any darn reason not to go to church

For liberals: So everyone will have a day off.

Win win.

For a Libertarian? Screw them both and keep such stupid laws off the books

 

[Mosher]

I'll accept stores not opening on Sundays if every American is forced by law to undergo Hajj.

 

[Tee Kay]

For liberals: So everyone will have a day off.

It says a lot about you that you think liberals care that much about not working to outlaw businesses operating on certain days of the week.

I'll accept stores not opening on Sundays if every American is forced by law to undergo Hajj.

 

[Camikaze]

If the object is to prevent employers forcing people to work for too many consecutive days, that can be built into an award in a far less arbitrary and far more flexible manner.

 

[azzaman333]

What the hell are blue laws?

 

[Old Hippy]

If the object is to prevent employers forcing people to work for too many consecutive days, that can be built into an award in a far less arbitrary and far more flexible manner.

the object is that a family can spend the day together,maybe go to church or the beach with the kids, without being forced to go to work on sundays... just like the rich people do on the weekends.

 

[Arwon]

What the hell are blue laws?

Religiously motivated restricted trading hours, mostly. I think the expression is an Americanism.

 

[Gigaz]

I'm not a huge fan of Germany's blue laws. But I can spend time with friends at the weekends because hardly anyone must work. I don't know whether that would be the case if I were in America.

 

[Grisu]

Because the colour blue is an abomination unto Nuggan, duh

no, really. I have never heard of that term before, but apparently we have such things (though they're of course not called that) here in Switzerland...Originally, I think they were indeed religiously motivated, but nowadays most of the reasoning to not repeal them comes from social democrats (the argument being worker protection, etc.) Personally, I don't mind either way, there's enough places exempt from it that are open on sunday that you can get what you need.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Right now I'm ambivalent.

Ask me next Good Friday when I've forgotten to stock up the night before and I've got no beer on a public holiday.....I'm sure I'll feel violently different.

 

[Old Hippy]

Right now I'm ambivalent.

Ask me next Good Friday when I've forgotten to stock up the night before and I've got no beer on a public holiday.....I'm sure I'll feel violently different.

put a reminder in your phone/computer or a note on the fridge door, its only one day a year you have to stock up for