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Citizens of the Republic,
Welcome back – so why focus on annual paid leave for all Americans? Regardless of industry.
Why not parental leave? Why not sick leave? Surely, they warrant our attention as well.
And I for one agree with you – but I am suggesting that we focus our efforts on annual paid leave first. Why?
Two reasons: Law and politics. Let me explain.
From a legal standpoint, and again please see my disclaimer below, if you create a general universally applicable rule that applies to everyone. It is easier to understand, follow, and enforce.
Think of it like breathing air. We all know that it is good for us. We all know that human bodies require it to function. So, we naturally do it. We want a law that is so well known, understood, and enforceable – that it’s like breathing air.
From a political standpoint, let’s turn to coalitions. So, as we know, 71% of all voters support our country adopting an annual leave policy.
Yet if we break up that issue – into its constituent parts – we risk weakening our coalition.
For example, I believe in parental leave. So might you. But what about your world-traveling friends – who chose not to have kids and like to spend their days sipping mimosas on the beach. They might not vote for parental leave.
Turning to sick leave. I believe in it. So might you. But don’t we all have that one relative with an iron constitution who boasts, “I never get sick!” Well, they might not vote for sick leave either.
Yet if we create a universal baseline standard that applies to everyone. You can use that paid leave for anything.
Now, warranted two weeks of leave is not much for a new parent or for someone who is sick – but at least something is better than nothing.
Therefore, it begins with opening the door on this issue.
It begins by creating the largest coalition we can muster – for once a national law on paid leave is passed – we can see about parental leave and sick leave.
But that battle – that possible domino effect – can be left for another day.
For now, we need a universal standard, backed by the largest coalition we can muster.
So, what do we need? Just Two weeks.
For if our sister democracies, in Europe, and Australia, can guarantee their people 20 days of paid leave per year, how it is objectively unreasonable for hard-working Americans to ask for just ten days?
So, if you believe, as I do, that this policy matter needs to be raised in our public discourse, please like, subscribe, ring that notification bell, share with your friends – and stay tuned, for more videos on this subject.
Feel free to tag us here on your social media accounts at hashtag Citizen of the Republic, alongside the hashtag, Just Two Weeks.
Finally, if you are interested in learning more about this problem, please refer to the cited materials below, the first of which has a world map which highlights this issue.
This is James David Miller, relinquishing the stage but not the field.
Be well, be safe, stay strong, and keep the faith America.
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© 2021 James Miller, President & Founder, Citizen of the Republic, LLC. All rights reserved.
