What are your plans for Presidents’ Day? Enjoying a day off? Exercising? Reading? Binge-watching TV programs? Shopping? Working? Cleaning house?
I bet not many people are thinking about their favorite president today or about citizen participation to help our government work better.
Again this year, I’ve been seeing the Mount Rushmore presidents on Presidents’ Day articles. In addition to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, many people are adding the two other Mount Rushmore presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, to honor.
In addition, many others say Presidents’ Day is a day to celebrate the lives and work of all presidents.
Officially, it’s George Washington's Birthday that’s celebrated as a federal holiday on the third Monday in February. President’s Day is one of 11 permanent holidays established by Congress.
Washington's Birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th Century, according to the National Archives. However, in 1968 Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law. It changed the observance of Washington's Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. This guaranteed that the holiday would never be celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, as the third Monday in February can’t fall any later than February 21.
Neither Congress nor the president has ever taken action so that the name of the holiday observed as Washington's Birthday was changed to "President's Day."
I’m sticking with George and Abe.
Best wishes to consumers and all Americans on Presidents’ Day. Do take some time to think about how you can help our nation have a more effective government. We are in an unusual time when we have a president who has a big disregard for consumers and the everyday citizen.
In the past, I’ve encouraged people to take part in government and help make it work better.
Today, I’m suggesting people call their state and federal representatives to stem the tide of anti-government, anti-consumer, and anti-environmental policies coming out of the White House almost daily.
In addition, join organizations such as the League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, the Environmental Working Group, AARP, Common Cause, the National Organization for Women, and the Sierra Club. Take part in their action programs.
It’s disappointing that so many people believed Donald Trump’s lies on the campaign trail and voted him into the presidency. President Donald Trump's actions show that he wants to help the big businesses get even richer, not help the average American.
