Thanksgiving and Black Friday is Synonymous Now?

By Megan Trawick

Thanksgiving, as you can probably guess, is a day devoted to being thankful. Black Friday, ironically, focuses on buying more, more, more!

Stores are not opening at 2 a.m. anymore; now those sales have been extended, reaching into prime Thanksgiving dinner time.

Target opens at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and online sales will be held all day.

Best Buy, in true holiday spirit, is having a 3day sale this week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are open on Thanksgiving from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

The Westfield Valencia Mall will also open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. When asked about their Black Friday hours, store clerks at Francesca’s, JcPenney and Teavanna all said the store was open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Many chain stores claim they want to make shopping easier for the customers or reduce the number of Black Friday accidents. But is this the best way?

"When you're forced to come into work and leave your family on that one day of the year, it really strikes at basic family values," Rep. Matt Lesser of Connecticut told the Hartford Courant.

So this year, next year, or ten years in the future, remember: Thanksgiving is a time for family. The only thing you should be shopping for is a turkey and some pumpkin pie.

Fight Voter Apathy!

2014 Midterm Elections

Americans love to complain about government, particularly politicians. So why do so few Americans vote?

California was expecting record low voter turnout for 2014 Midterm Elections, according to The Field Poll. Santa Clarita was not about to mess with that prediction.

At one Santa Clarita polling place roughly 150 of 450 registered voters had cast their vote by 7:50 p.m., said a polling place organizer, Tim Pluma.

Historically, Santa Clarita voter turnout has fallen even lower than California’s disappointing average of 55.47 percent. In the November 2013 elections Santa Clarita voter turnout was less than 7 percent, according to The Signal.

Clearly voter turnout is a problem in our city.

Many political scientists attribute American’s lack of voting to disinterest caused by an overload of negative advertising, lack of education, or feeling that their vote does not count. So how can a community counteract this disinterest?

“People are motivated by their own self-interest,” said Pluma.

For local campaigns, he suggested local debates between candidates, wine and cheese parties, or even get out the vote events by corporations to draw more voters.

Voter-apathy has infected America, but you can help break the cycle.

“The government you elect is the government you deserve,” said Thomas Jefferson.

Your vote counts.