Yeah, yeah, yeah... I WANT BLUE LAWS BACK!
I remember a time, not so long ago that you planned ahead because gas stations WEREN'T open except very limited hours on holidays it at all!
They don't kill the economy! Just ask the Europeans. The Euro is about to take over as the world currency!
But all the items you mentioned: food, travel, fuel, are more necessities really.
Shopping for that one perfect gift can wait 1 day. Retail stores have been closed on Thanksgiving for ever because they are not necessary and, until recently, the owners cared about their employees. Now that everything is corporate, the one chain that was going under thought they would get a leg up on the competition and open on Thanksgiving for the all mighty buck! Well, they may succeed, but NEVER with my buck!
I worked retail for many years and it was bad enough when I had to work until Midnight Wednesday and have to be at work at 5:30am on Friday, thanks!
I can also tell you from experience that as more and more places start opening these holidays, the mythical "triple time" (never seen it personally) and other perks to work vanish! I remember when stores started opening sundays on a regular basis! We used to get time and a half plus a few other perks. After 1 year, that vanished too.
See ya
Tony