Do we still need bank holidays?

much as i enjoy getting bank holidays off from work, do they really still play a valuable and fair part in todays society?

I mean, is it fair that banks, services, dentists, doctors,office workers,  civil servants, teachers etc get a day off yet the sales industry etc still have to carry on.

You can argue that with the office workers all off revenue will go up, but so does the wage bill as many sales staff get double time and/or an extra day off. And if you really want to buy something, you will find a time to go whether you get bank holidays off or not.

But, is it fair. Surely all of the sales related industries should get the same opportunity? They have a non working day, yet can visit a dentist, bank, doctor etc?

police cuts... get a grip

yes the police do a crap job at times, dealing with the low life's, the dreg's... the problems that today's society has created. But, no-one forced them, they chose that career path. so the fact that to save money some of the perks are being cut, or tighter controlled, is no different to any other job - especially if they worked in the private sector. Their pay isn't being cut, despite what the unions are trying to say. Just the extra's that some of them have come to expect, to take for granted, to think that they are their's by rights rather than reward. Overtime, by definition, is an extra payment on a adhoc / as n when needed basis. NOT an expected part of your pay packet. same with other allowances - the give away is in the name! As to the job cuts etc, they are facing a 20% cut, other parts of the civil service are facing up to 40% cuts and do you hear them threatening action or complaining so publicly?

how much more can we take?

with the midle east etc all goin to rat shit, dictatorships crashing down, governments and societies crumblimg...

how long before they use this as yet anotehr excuse to put uf fuel prices - so our petrol / diesel will go up, as will our home enerbgy supplies of gas and electricity. this will result in retailers putting their prices up to cover the extra costs, etc etc and everything will spiral out of ocntrol

the only thing that doesn't seem to be going up is wages! I haven't had a payrise in 2 years as profits etc are so low, so how can we keep paying these stupid high prices?