Celebrating the United States: A
Tomorrow marks 232 years since the U.S. adopted the Declaration of Independence. It also makes for a great day of spending time with family and friends, barbecuing, playing at the beach and watching fireworks (legally, of course).
With all the celebration, however, there should also come some thought on how we can make this a better country so our descendants can enjoy the day as we do.
If you have a grievance, take a few minutes to write your congressman or state representative. If you support a cause or organization, find a way to become involved and make a difference.
One way to help the country and yourself, is to celebrate locally to avoid spending money on gas. At nearly $4 per gallon, a trip to your backyard can be far more fun than heading to an out-of-town destination.
No matter your stance on the state of this country, we should all be thankful for it and remember how well off we are when compared to some other places. It is more than OK to take a day to celebrate it.
Mandatory four-day work week: B
On Aug. 14, Utah will become the first state to implement a four-day workweek for most state employees in order to save money, energy and resources, a report in Wednesday’s USA Today said.
About 80 percent of state employees will be affected by the change. However, public universities, the state court system, prisons and other critical services will retain their current work schedules.
Although many states offer four-day options to their employees, Utah is the first state to mandate it.
Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman told USA Today he’s making the change to reduce the state’s carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.
Whether this works or not, Utah should be applauded for making an effort to cut energy costs and allow its workers more flexibility. With more states looking at following Utah with this move, the country could save quite a bit in energy costs and cut down on terrible rush hour emissions.
