Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!yunexus!geac!alias!kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca
From: kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca (Socrates)
Newsgroups: ont.general
Subject: Re: Sunday shopping
Message-ID: <691@alias.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 89 14:44:37 GMT
References: <656@crk56.bnr.ca> <1989Dec20.122639.1563@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> <25900FAC.1DA4@telly.on.ca>
Sender: kpicott@alias.UUCP
Reply-To: kpicott%alias@csri.utoronto.ca (Socrates)
Distribution: ont
Organization: Alias Research Inc.
Lines: 61

In article <25900FAC.1DA4@telly.on.ca> evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) writes:
>That's not the point. There are lots of laws that get broken each day,
>and the politicians (and ranking policemen) get to selectively determine
>how to allocate their limited enforcement mechanisms.
>
Who is better qualified to make this judgment?  You?  It *has* to be made,
since there is such a manpower shortage.

>The point is that cop's time is better spent punishing
>or preventing crimes that really hurt people.
>
Meaning that "honest" citizens are free to break any laws that they consider
petty because the police should be occupied with more important things.
This sounds like the argument used by anyone who has ever received a traffic
ticket.

>How is a cop's time best spent helping society? Going undercover to stop
>a drug importer, or giving out summons to people providing a service
>many feel is useful?
>
How many cops on the beat are qualified to go undercover to stop a drug
importer?  Besides, a lot of people feel that the drug importer is providing
a useful service too.  They might even be against Sunday shopping.

>Fine. Why does it have to be the same day for everyone?  If we can
>encourage staggered work hours, why can't we offer staggered work DAYS?
>
This is a good idea.  Unfortunately I have never seen staggered work hours
offered for Loblaws employees.  (Other than; work Monday this week, then 2
hours a week from Tuesday..:-)

How would the public react to a different "day of rest" like in many parts
of the US, where stores close Monday?

>Business traffic would be less on any given day
>if it was spread across more days.
>
Oops, we aren't worried about business traffic.  Offices are free to open on
Sunday (as far as I know).  How about comparing Saturday traffic to Sunday
traffic?  Still a big difference, but not in the 5 to 1 margin.

>I would welcome the opportunity to do some of my configuration and
>installation work on Sunday, when I can bring a client's computer down
>for rebooting without bringing the company to a standstill.
>
Why can't you?

>Fine for you. Nothing is preventing you from choosing a job that gives
>you Sunday off.
>
Except if you work in the retail sector you would not have a choice.  (The
old "work or go under" argument.)

I would like to see any further ideas on the alternate day off idea.  Would
the pro-Sunday shoppers have any objection to the stores all closing on
Mondays?

--
 Kevin Picott   aka   Socrates   aka   kpicott%alias@csri.toronto.edu
 Alias Research Inc.  R+D          Toronto, Ontario... like, downtown
 "There can be no offense where none is taken" - Japanese proverb