When it comes to national holidays (federal in our case) Uncle Sam is way behind many, if not most, nations. Serbia and Greenland, for example, leave us in the dust.

There are some countries where people are partying, praying, building bonfires or otherwise observing something-or-other more often than contributing to their nation's Gross National Product.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Some of my best friends count the hours to Guy Fawkes Day.

Which brings us to a suggestion from reader Gail Collins. She thinks the country ought to tighten its belt a couple of notches by perhaps eliminating two or three holidays. The primary cost of a federal holiday, to the government, is in paying (many) people who must work premium or holiday pay.

In a 1983, Time magazine article about the debate over the Martin Luther King Jr., holiday said the Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost (in 1983 dollars at 1983 federal scales) at $18 million per holiday in premium pay.

Eliminating a holiday, and therefore the need for premium pay, wouldn't be easy.

Congress would have to do it. She agrees that holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and July 4th and Veterans Day shouldn't, couldn't or wouldn't be touched. But she said it might be possible to eliminate George Washington's birthday (aka Presidents Day) or Columbus Day.

She added:

"And if they wanted to honor George or Chris, they can use their leave. There is a sense of entitlement with government workers, and most Americans, that we're ENTITLED to paid time off to celebrate... (which) is financially irresponsible at this time. Have the celebrations on Saturday or Sunday. You don't need a paid day off.

"I'm a former postal employee, and my husband works for the federal government. But first and foremost, I'm a taxpayer and would much rather see your tax $$$ go to a better place than holiday pay for the federal government. It's really ludicrous." G.C.

So do we have too many holidays? Or not enough?

Would it make sense to drop one or two? Or move them to a Saturday or Sunday?

Is it fair to feds who must work on those days (most don't) to somehow eliminate premium pay? What about private sector workers who get premium pay (many don't) if they have to work a federal holiday.

Would eliminating one, two or three holidays work? And if so, which one or ones? Or is this as practical as poking a political/cultural/ethnic hornet's nest with a short stick?

Let us know what you think: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Due to H1N1 concerns, Catholic churches around Italy are pulling the drain plug on traditional holy water fonts in favor of high-tech replacements. DiscoverMagazine.com reports they work like those new fangled automatic soap dispensers: the user waves a hand under a sensor and the machine spurts out holy water. Bless you!

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