So why do we have a Labor Day anyway? What is it about “labor” that deserves a day off (isn’t that ironic) and a three-day weekend, but not (say) Entrepreneurs Day, or “People Who Have To Meet A Payroll” Day?
I know, I know, it was a reaction to some of the brutal labor practices and strikes of the later nineteenth century, particularly Pullman. But as Detroit exemplifies, we went too far in glorifying labor, and we don’t seem to care enough about the people who actually create the jobs, to the point of abuse. It’s not surprising that, in the wake of ridiculous overregulation (capped by ObamaCare) they’re going on strike, and we’re becoming a part-time nation, at best.
One of my annual blog traditions: “Abolish Labor Day.”
http://alankhenderson.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html#9198885838108872968
Happy Commerce Day! Drink a toast to the Bill of Rights, peaceful citizens, Bill Gates, Wall Street, and all your coworkers.
I remember being called up on Labor day by my manager who wanted me to talk through something-or-other with some associates in the US – it obviously wasn’t Labor day there. I said something like “gee, don’t know if I can work on Labor day, wouldn’t feel right” and the line went silent. I waited for what Penn and Teller call “perfect comedic timing” and then started laughing. He put through the call.
Have a nice long weekend.
Maybe there were honoring people like this guy.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wzL7ZYUOQ8c/TNBryjz9cTI/AAAAAAAAA9A/gJm-1HCRarM/s320/The+Little+Coal+Miner+-+Vintage+Print.JPG
or maybe them
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jYbBpmssDO8/UM-cSYu9BDI/AAAAAAAAAfg/J7yskMhnvmM/s320/childminers.jpg
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/08/15/timestopics/2child-labor_395.jpg
What? You’re not one of these people who think parents should let their children starve to death before sending them off to work, are you?
Leave it to dcguy to honor the concept of child labor. Do you still want to whip them too, dcguy?
newt gingrich does
A better way to think of Labor day, avoiding the class struggle crap, is as an indictment of the moochers – those who want to reap without the sowing. Got what follows below from a welder, Jody @ Welding-tv.com:
Since it’s Labor Day here in the States, I thought I would share this comment someone left on my website.
It really stuck with me.
“Some say the unexamined life ain’t worth living.
“I say the easy life ain’t worth living.
“Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than building stuff with my hands and the best quality i can muster. The process alone is good for the soul, the finished product gives pride. Hard ass work, sore hands, back and shoulders builds character.”
It also reminds me of a quote from Morgan Freeman playing the role of God in the movie Bruce Almighty:
“Nothin wrong with rollin up your sleeves, son.
“People underestimate the benefits of good ‘ol manual labor.
“There’s freedom in it.”
Here’s one that bugs me: Why do we not celebrate Constitution Day (September 17)? That should be, by far, the biggest federal holiday. In many respects, it’s more important to our history than even independence. I know why the government doesn’t care about it, but why not the rest of us?
To ask the question is to answer it. Today, the Constitution only means what you can get 5 Supreme Court justices to say it means. Any correlation between their rulings and the actual text of the Constitution is at best a coincidence. Meanwhile, the real government is composed of millions of unelected, unfireable and unaccountable bureaucrats. The elected politicians are largely for show. The real power is in the bureaucracies.
Hmmm, how about making the Friday before Labor Day, Meet A Payroll Day?