I just received this link from The Research Department, and it seems I’ve under-stated the problem: Thanksgiving Day 2011 Store Opening Times for…All Major Retail Chains – Complete List of Stores Open on Thanksgiving Day November 24, 2011 in the U.S.. I’m willing to give grocery and drug stores a pass because they carry essential goods, but for the big retailers, it just looks like further encroachment.

Here’s the spin from retail giant Shopko:

And to think they’re doing it all for us! How sweet.